Vice President of Benefits & Retirement

Job Details

Accountable for the design, strategy, financing, and administration of all employee benefits and retirement programs across the Jefferson enterprise. This role provides strategic leadership over a comprehensive portfolio spanning medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, life, disability, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs, 401(k) and 403(b) plans, defined benefit/pension obligations, non-qualified deferred compensation, and executive benefit arrangements. Leads a high-performing team and serve as the enterprise authority on benefits strategy in a complex, multi-entity, multi-state health care environment — including union and non-union populations, diverse workforce segments, and the unique benefit obligations inherent to an employer that is simultaneously a health system, a health plan, a university, and a care delivery organization.

Job Description

Summary
Accountable for the design, strategy, financing, and administration of all employee benefits and retirement programs across the Jefferson enterprise. This role provides strategic leadership over a comprehensive portfolio spanning medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, life, disability, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs, 401(k) and 403(b) plans, defined benefit/pension obligations, non-qualified deferred compensation, and executive benefit arrangements. Leads a high-performing team and serve as the enterprise authority on benefits strategy in a complex, multi-entity, multi-state health care environment — including union and non-union populations, diverse workforce segments, and the unique benefit obligations inherent to an employer that is simultaneously a health system, a health plan, a university, and a care delivery organization.

Job Duties

• Develop and execute a multi-year benefits and retirement strategy aligned with enterprise workforce and total rewards goals.
• Lead design and ongoing evaluation of all health, welfare, and retirement programs to ensure competitiveness, quality, and financial sustainability
• Partner with CHRO and CFO on annual and long-range benefits budgeting, financial modeling, and scenario planning.
• Lead renewal negotiations with carriers, PBMs, TPAs, and stop-loss partners to optimize plan economics.
• Direct strategy for retirement programs including 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit/pension plans, NQDC, and supplemental retirement plans (SRPs)
• Oversee ERISA compliance, plan document maintenance, Summary Plan Description (SPD) accuracy, and Form 5500 filings across all qualified and non-qualified plans
• Direct the defined benefit/pension program, including actuarial assumptions, asset-liability management, investment policy compliance, and PBGC obligations where applicable
• Partner with investment consultants and record keepers to optimize 401(k)/403(b) fund lineups, participant education, and retirement readiness outcomes
• Ensure enterprise-wide compliance with ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, SECURE Act 2.0, Mental Health Parity, No Surprises Act, and all applicable state and local mandates
• Oversee compliance calendar, plan audit processes, discrimination testing (ADP/ACP, top-heavy), and corrective action under IRS and DOL programs
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary benefits team across plan management, leave administration, retirement operations, analytics, and vendor governance.
• Oversee benefits communication strategy, open enrollment, and year-round education across digital and in-person channels.
• Partner with HR technology teams to optimize benefits platforms and self-service capabilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance or related field
• 15+ years of progressive benefits leadership experience and
• 7 years in a senior or executive benefits leadership role
• Deep technical expertise in health and welfare plan design, self-insurance, actuarial concepts, and pharmacy benefit management
• Mastery of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, SECURE Act 2.0, Mental Health Parity, and No Surprises Act compliance requirements
• Strong financial acumen, including benefits budgeting, actuarial modeling, claims analytics, and total compensation costing
• Exceptional executive presence and communication skills; ability to present complex benefit strategy to the Board, C-Suite, and frontline employees alike
• Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and inspire high-performing teams in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment
• Strategic thinker with an evidence-based orientation and comfort with data, analytics, and benefits technology platforms
• Collaborative and politically savvy; skilled at building cross-functional partnerships with Finance, Legal, IT, Risk, and Clinical Operations
• High degree of personal and professional integrity; trusted steward of confidential and sensitive information

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Health Administration or related field
• 5 years in a large, complex, multi-entity health care enterprise (health system, integrated delivery network, or payer/provider organization) strongly preferred

Additional Qualifications

• Proven experience managing self-insured health plan programs with annual spend of $250M or greater
• Experience as a named or functional ERISA fiduciary, including retirement plan governance, DOL/IRS compliance, and investment committee leadership
• Direct experience managing defined benefit pension plans, including actuarial oversight and PBGC compliance, preferred
• Experience leading benefits integration
• Exposure to union benefit plan management

Physical Demands
Lift and carry 25 lbs. frequent sitting/standing, frequent keyboard use, *patient care providers may be required to perform activities specific to their role including kneeling, bending, squatting and performing CPR.

Job Description Disclaimer: This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities, requirements and working conditions for the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, however management reserves the right to revise or change as necessary to meet organizational needs. Other responsibilities may be assigned when circumstances require.

Work Shift

Workday Day (United States of America)

Worker Sub Type

Regular

Employee Entity

Thomas Jefferson University

Primary Location Address

1101 Market, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Nationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the greater Philadelphia region, Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value. Jefferson is more than 65,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow's professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and three schools offering 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,300 students. Jefferson Health, nationally ranked as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 32 hospitals campuses and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Jefferson Health Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years.    

Jefferson is committed to providing equal educa­tional and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, handicap or disability or any other protected group or status. 

Benefits

Jefferson offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time colleagues, including medical (including prescription), supplemental insurance, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, tuition assistance, as well as voluntary benefits, which provide colleagues with access to group rates on insurance and discounts. Colleagues have access to tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full time service or two years of part time service. All colleagues, including those who work less than part-time (including per diem colleagues, adjunct faculty, and Jeff Temps), have access to medical (including prescription) insurance.

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