Lead – Benefits

About the Role:

Success Academy is looking for a driven and experienced Lead, Benefits, to join our People Function. In this key role, you'll lead a team (3-6) to manage and optimize our comprehensive benefits programs, including health insurance, retirement plans, and other employee perks. You will also oversee the administration of all leave programs, such as medical and parental leave, with a focus on improving processes and ensuring compliance.

Reporting to the Leader of People Operations, you will be responsible for ensuring our benefits remain competitive and our immigration processes are efficient, compliant, and seamless for all employees. Your work will be critical in supporting the well-being and stability of our diverse workforce.

Key Responsibilities:

• Team Leadership: Lead and develop the Benefits team, setting clear expectations and fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement. You'll hold both yourself and the team accountable to key metrics to drive better business and employee outcomes.

• Benefits Program Management: Implement and manage all benefits programs, from health, dental, and vision insurance to life and disability plans and our 403(b). You'll also lead the annual open enrollment process and employee engagement initiatives.

• Leave Administration: Oversee the leave of absence program, resolving escalations and streamlining processes to enhance efficiency and the overall employee experience.

• Immigration Management: Manage all immigration processes, data, and communications, partnering with external counsel and leadership to ensure full compliance. Note: Minimal to no prior immigration experience is required for this role due to low volume.

• Vendor Relations: Cultivate strong relationships with benefits brokers, insurance carriers, and other third-party administrators. You will also evaluate and negotiate service agreements to ensure cost-effectiveness and quality.

• Data & Reporting: Maintain accurate benefits and immigration records through regular audits. You will also create and manage dashboards to track team and program performance, providing executive summaries with clear analysis and insights.

• Compliance: Ensure all benefits and leave plans comply with federal, state, and local regulations, including ERISA, ACA, ADA, and FMLA. You'll also stay current on evolving immigration legislation.

• Continuous Improvement: Proactively identify and resolve inefficiencies by leveraging technology, data analysis, and automation. You'll lead initiatives to continuously improve all benefits and immigration processes.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field

• 8+ years of experience in benefits and leave administration

• Minimum 5 years of management or team leadership experience 

• Knowledge of federal and state-specific benefits and leave laws (e.g., New York, New Jersey)

Required Traits:

• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

• A collaborative and service-oriented mindset

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

Preferred Qualifications & Traits:

• Experience working with a diverse, multi-state workforce

• Experience in a fast-paced, high-growth environment

• Experience with U.S. immigration processes and regulations

• Proficiency with Workday and ADP; ticketing systems such as ServiceNow