Sr Benefits Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Benefits Manager

Location: Atlanta, GA – Inside the Perimeter

Hire Type: Direct Hire

Base Salary: $160,000–$180,000 (target approximately $170,000)

Annual Bonus: 15% of base salary at target, based on company performance

Work Model: Onsite / In-Office

Schedule: Monday – Friday, Standard Business Hours

Recruiter Contact: Samantha Marranca | View email address on us.fitly.work

Nature & Scope:

Positional Overview

Our client is seeking a highly experienced Senior Benefits Manager to lead the administration, execution, and ongoing management of its non-compensation employee benefit programs. Reporting to the Vice President of Human Resources and managing one Benefits support position, this leader will own benefits operations, vendor and broker relationships, employee benefits education, open enrollment, compliance, audits, and health and welfare plan administration.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring someone who can move comfortably between plan design and strategic initiatives and the detailed execution required to keep benefits programs accurate, compliant, responsive, and employee-focused. The environment values approachability, adaptability, accountability, speed, and strong follow-through.

Two significant near-term priorities will be leading the annual Open Enrollment process and preparing for a potential 2027 change to part of the benefits structure that may require vendor selection/change, implementation, systems integration, employee communications, and change management.

The ideal candidate brings deep health and welfare expertise, strong vendor and broker management, proven Open Enrollment leadership, benefits compliance and audit experience, and the ability to independently resolve complex employee, eligibility, carrier, and plan issues while partnering closely with HR, payroll, finance, and HRIS teams.

Role & Responsibility:

Tasks That Will Lead To Your Success

• Administer and oversee all non-compensation employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement/401(k), leave, wellness, and voluntary benefits.
• Ensure accurate enrollment, eligibility, deductions, carrier feeds, record-keeping, and benefit-related data; partner with payroll and HRIS on reconciliations and issue resolution.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex employee benefits inquiries, claims issues, coverage questions, and eligibility matters.
• Manage relationships with benefits carriers, brokers, and third-party administrators, including service levels, renewals, implementations, escalations, invoices, and administrative fees.
• Plan and lead annual Open Enrollment from end to end, including project timelines, system configuration and testing, vendor coordination, employee communications, enrollment support, and post-enrollment accuracy.
• Lead or support benefits vendor evaluations and changes, including implementation planning, data/system integrations, testing, communications, and change management.
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, Section 125, and applicable IRS/DOL requirements.
• Manage required filings and reporting, including Form 5500, ACA reporting, nondiscrimination testing, plan amendments, and documentation.
• Coordinate and support benefits and 401(k) audits, address findings, and maintain audit-ready records.
• Contribute to health and welfare plan design, benefits problem-solving, and implementation of strategic benefits initiatives.
• Develop and deliver clear benefits communications, training, guides, and informational sessions for employees and managers.
• Supervise, coach, and develop one Benefits Coordinator, setting priorities, reviewing work, and ensuring accurate and timely execution.
• Use Excel and benefits/HRIS platforms to reconcile eligibility, deductions, invoices, and vendor data and identify discrepancies.
• Partner effectively with HR, payroll, finance, HRIS, brokers, carriers, and vendors in a fast-paced environment.

Required Experience

• 7+ years of progressive employee benefits administration experience, including at least 2 years supervising or leading benefits staff.
• Proven experience personally planning and leading annual Open Enrollment in a multi-plan and ideally multi-state environment.
• Demonstrated ownership of benefits carriers, brokers, and third-party administrator relationships.
• Hands-on health and welfare benefits experience spanning administration, plan design, employee escalations, renewals, and vendor management.
• Experience with benefits compliance, required filings, plan amendments, Form 5500/ACA reporting, nondiscrimination testing, and 401(k) audits/audit support.
• Experience with vendor implementations and benefits-system/data integrations; experience leading a vendor change is strongly valued.
• Working knowledge of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, Section 125, and DOL/IRS reporting obligations.
• Proficiency with HRIS and benefits administration platforms such as UKG, Workday, ADP, or comparable systems and online enrollment platforms.
• Strong Excel and data-reconciliation skills for eligibility, deductions, carrier feeds, and invoice validation.
• Strong project management, communication, judgment, attention to detail, and employee-service orientation.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Non-qualified Deferred Compensation experience.
• Experience leading significant benefits vendor transitions or integrations.
• Experience implementing strategic health and welfare initiatives in a complex or multi-state organization.
• CEBS, SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, PHR/SPHR, or related professional certification.

Team & Environment

• Reports to the Vice President of Human Resources and directly manages one Benefits support position.
• Highly collaborative environment with regular partnership across HR, payroll, finance, HRIS, brokers, carriers, and third-party vendors.
• Hands-on role requiring both strategic judgment and detailed operational execution.
• Immediate focus includes annual Open Enrollment and preparation for a potential 2027 benefits structure/vendor change and integration.
• Fast-paced organization that values responsiveness, accountability, adaptability, strong relationships, and execution.