Benefits Manager - HR Benefits

Key Responsibilities

The Manager, Benefits reports to the Director, Benefits and Absence and is responsible for the strategic design, development, implementation, communication, and ongoing administration of the Company’s Health & Welfare benefit programs for active employees and retirees. This position provides leadership and subject matter expertise across the full Health & Welfare portfolio and is accountable for

Health & Welfare Strategy and Plan Management

• Lead the strategy, design, implementation, and ongoing administration of the Company’s comprehensive Health & Welfare benefit programs, including:
  • Self-insured medical plans
  • Prescription drug benefits
  • Dental and vision plans
  • Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance
  • Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and other tax-advantaged benefit accounts
  • Employee wellbeing programs and initiatives
  • Voluntary and supplemental benefit programs
  • Educational assistance programs
  • Catastrophic Assistance and Relief (CARE) program
  • Other Health & Welfare programs and employee benefit offerings
  • Retiree medical plans
• Develop and execute Health & Welfare strategies that support the Company's Total Rewards philosophy, business objectives, workforce needs, and employee value proposition.
• Evaluate plan design opportunities, emerging benefit trends, utilization, employee demographics, market practices, and cost drivers to develop recommendations for benefit enhancements, changes, or new programs.
• Lead the evaluation of opportunities to improve quality, affordability, access, employee experience, and administrative efficiency across the Health & Welfare portfolio.

Financial Management and Analytics

• Manage multi-million-dollar Health & Welfare benefit budgets, forecasts, funding activities, and financial analysis.
• Partner with Finance, actuaries, consultants, and vendors to evaluate program costs, utilization trends, claims experience, and emerging cost drivers.
• Monitor benefit program performance and identify opportunities to manage healthcare costs while maintaining competitive, high-quality benefits for employees and their families.
• Develop business cases, financial analyses, and recommendations to support benefit strategy and investment decisions.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators and metrics to evaluate program effectiveness, vendor performance, employee engagement, utilization, and financial results.

Vendor and Partner Management

• Develop and maintain strong strategic partnerships with health plans, pharmacy benefit managers, benefit administrators, consultants, wellbeing partners, and other benefit vendors.
• Lead vendor governance activities, including performance reviews, service-level monitoring, issue resolution, implementation activities, contract renewals, and ongoing vendor management.
• Partner with Procurement, Legal, and Finance on vendor selection, contracting, renewals, competitive bidding activities, and evaluation of benefit solutions.
• Hold vendors accountable for delivering contractual commitments, service standards, financial guarantees, and a high-quality participant experience.

Benefits Administration and Employee Experience

• Provide leadership and oversight for the day-to-day administration of Health & Welfare benefit programs, ensuring accurate, efficient, and consistent service delivery.
• Oversee annual Open Enrollment, new program implementations, plan changes, and other benefit enrollment activities.
• Lead the development and execution of benefits communications that educate employees about their benefits, increase awareness and engagement, promote healthcare consumerism, and help employees make informed benefit decisions.
• Monitor and resolve complex or escalated benefits issues involving eligibility, enrollment, coverage, claims, and vendor service.
• Identify opportunities to simplify benefits administration and improve the employee experience through technology, process improvements, automation, and vendor capabilities.

Governance and Compliance

• Ensure Health & Welfare benefit programs are administered in accordance with applicable federal and state requirements and Company plan provisions.
• Maintain and oversee benefit plan documentation, including Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs), plan documents, policies, procedures, employee communications, and required notices.
• Coordinate required Health & Welfare compliance activities, filings, notices, audits, including applicable Affordable Care Act reporting, Summary Annual Reports, PCORI requirements, OPEB and other benefit-related requirements.
• Partner with Legal and external advisors on benefit compliance matters, plan documentation, regulatory developments, and interpretation of benefit plan requirements.
• Maintain appropriate governance processes and documentation to support effective benefit plan administration and fiduciary oversight.

Market Competitiveness and Benefits Strategy

• Lead benchmarking and market analysis of Health & Welfare programs to evaluate competitiveness, identify trends, and support recommendations for changes to the Company's benefit offerings.
• Monitor emerging healthcare and benefits trends, regulatory developments, vendor solutions, and innovative approaches to healthcare delivery and cost management.
• Develop recommendations that balance market competitiveness, employee value, financial sustainability, and organizational objectives.
• Support the broader Total Rewards strategy by ensuring Health & Welfare programs help the Company attract, retain, engage, and support employees.

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of benefits professionals responsible for Health & Welfare program administration and strategic initiatives.
• Establish clear priorities, goals, and performance expectations and ensure successful execution of key benefit initiatives and operational deliverables.
• Build team capability and subject matter expertise while creating opportunities for professional development and career growth.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and innovative team environment aligned with Company Core Values and Behaviors.
• Build strong working relationships across HR and the business and serve as a trusted benefits subject matter expert to HR leaders and key stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business, Finance, or a related discipline and a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience required. In lieu of a degree, a high school diploma and a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience required. 
• Demonstrated experience managing or supporting a broad portfolio of Health & Welfare benefit programs.
• Strong knowledge of employer-sponsored medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance, wellbeing, spending accounts, and voluntary benefit programs.
• Experience with self-insured health plans, benefit plan design, vendor management, financial analysis, and healthcare cost management strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of applicable Health & Welfare benefit regulations and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex benefits and financial information and translate findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Experience leading complex benefit implementations, annual enrollment processes, vendor initiatives, and cross-functional projects.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results within established timelines.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders across multiple levels of an organization.
• Strong problem-solving skills and sound judgment, with the ability to independently address complex benefits issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to confidentiality and appropriate handling of sensitive employee and benefits information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience leading or developing benefits professionals.
• Experience managing large, complex Health & Welfare programs and vendor relationships.
• Experience with benefits benchmarking, healthcare analytics, plan design modeling, and vendor procurement activities.