Senior Manager, Benefits

Senior Manager, Benefits Summary The Senior Manager, Benefits serves as a strategic and hands-on leader responsible for the design, administration, governance, and continuous improvement of the organization's employee benefits programs. Reporting to the Director, Compensation & Benefits, this role partners closely with People & Culture, Finance, Legal, Payroll, and external vendors to deliver competitive, compliant, and cost-effective benefits programs that support employee wellbeing and business objectives. This position requires a player-coach approach, balancing strategic leadership with direct involvement in program administration, vendor management, compliance, employee support, and operational execution. The Senior Manager will lead key functions including health and welfare benefits, retirement plans, leave of absence administration, accommodations, wellness initiatives, and benefits communications while helping to build scalable processes and a memorable employee experience. Primary Responsibilities Benefits Strategy & Program Design Lead the development, implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of employee benefits programs, policies, and procedures. Develop and execute benefits strategies aligned with organizational goals, workforce needs, and market trends. Evaluate benefits offerings against industry benchmarks to ensure competitiveness and support attraction and retention efforts. Utilize data and analytics to assess program effectiveness, identify opportunities, and make recommendations regarding plan design and cost management. Drive enterprise-wide benefits initiatives and change management efforts to support business priorities. Benefits Administration & Vendor Management Oversee the administration of health and welfare programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, voluntary benefits, and retirement plans. Manage relationships with brokers, consultants, insurance carriers, retirement plan providers, and third-party administrators. Lead vendor performance reviews, contract negotiations, and service delivery assessments to ensure quality, value, and accountability. Partner with vendors and consultants to identify emerging trends and innovative solutions that enhance employee experience. Retirement Programs Provide oversight for the organization's retirement programs, including 401(k) plan administration, governance, compliance, and employee education. Partner with retirement plan providers, consultants, and internal stakeholders to ensure effective plan operations and regulatory compliance. Support retirement plan committee activities, audits, annual reporting, and ongoing evaluation of plan performance and effectiveness. Recommend plan enhancements that support employees' long-term financial wellbeing and retirement readiness. Leave of Absence & Accommodations Oversee leave of absence and accommodation programs, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. Manage third-party leave administrators and internal processes to deliver consistent and positive employee experience. Partner with HR, Legal, and business leaders to support complex leave, disability, and accommodation cases. Continuously improve leave administration processes and employee support resources. Wellness & Employee Experience Lead the development and execution of wellness and wellbeing programs that promote employee engagement and healthy outcomes. Design and implement communication strategies that improve employee understanding, appreciation, and utilization of benefit offerings. Enhance employee education and self-service resources to support informed benefits decisions. Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local benefits regulations, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, ADA, and related requirements. Monitor legislative and regulatory changes and assess their impact on benefits programs. Partner with legal counsel to maintain compliant policies, plan documents, employee communications, and required filings. Oversee benefits-related audits, reporting requirements, and compliance reviews. Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership Serve as a player-coach leader by providing strategic direction while maintaining active involvement in the day-to-day administration and execution of benefits programs. Partner closely with the Director, Compensation & Benefits to develop and implement benefits strategies that align with organizational objectives. Lead, mentor, and develop benefits team members while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer service. Act as an escalation point for complex benefits, leave, accommodations, and retirement plan issues, providing practical solutions and guidance to employees, managers, and HR partners. Build strong partnerships with HR Business Partners, Finance, Payroll, Legal, Internal Communications, and externa #J-18808-Ljbffr