Benefits Program Lead

Responsibilities

• Administer health, welfare, retirement, and wellness programs for U.S.-based employees.
• Help lead and design ongoing transformation and integration of company benefits.
• Process benefits transactions and ensure accuracy and integrity of employee benefits data.
• Cook up project plans and drive transformation for benefits administration activities.
• Support annual open enrollment activities, including employee communications, system testing, education sessions, and issue resolution.
• Own benefits continuation and employee communications during leave events.
• Respond to employee and manager benefit inquiries while delivering a high level of customer service and support.
• Serve as one of the primary points of contact for employees and managers regarding leave-related inquiries and processes.
• Coordinate leave cases with external vendors, ensuring timely initiation, case management, and resolution.
• Act as liaison between employees, managers, vendors, Payroll, and People & Culture throughout the leave lifecycle.
• Maintain accurate, audit-ready documentation and records related to benefits and leave administration.
• Escalate potential compliance concerns, risks, or process gaps to appropriate stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations including FMLA, ADA, COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, and company policies.
• Utilize SuccessFactors, ServiceNow, and vendor systems to support benefits and leave administration activities.
• Ensure data integrity, process accuracy, and adherence to service level agreements (SLAs).
• Maintain and audit employee records within HRIS and benefits systems to support operational excellence.
• Maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), process documentation, and knowledge base materials.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, operational efficiency, and enhanced employee experience.
• Support benefits and leave administration standardization initiatives across the organization.
• Participate in projects, system enhancements, and process improvement initiatives as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 6–9 years of progressive experience in benefits administration, leave administration, HR operations, or total rewards support.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. employee benefits programs, leave administration practices, and compliance requirements.
• Experience working within a vendor-supported leave administration model preferred.
• Experience utilizing HRIS, case management, and benefits administration systems such as SuccessFactors and ServiceNow.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information professionally.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• CEBS, PHR, SHRM-CP, or related certification preferred.