Benefits Director

Role Description

The Director, Benefits is a strategic leader responsible for designing, implementing, and managing comprehensive employee benefits programs that align with organizational goals and enhance employee well-being. This hands-on role requires both strategic vision and operational expertise to oversee health and welfare plans, retirement programs, leave policies, and wellness initiatives, ensuring compliance, cost-effectiveness, and competitive positioning in the marketplace.

Essential Functions

• Develop and execute forward-thinking benefits strategies encompassing health, welfare, retirement, wellness, and leave programs, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and industry benchmarks.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives to enhance the employee experience through innovative benefits offerings.
• Oversee the strategic planning and execution of the annual Open Enrollment process, including renewal strategy, employee communications, and educational materials.
• Build and manage relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, and third-party vendors to optimize service levels, cost efficiency, and program effectiveness.
• Monitor legislative changes and assess their impact on benefit programs.
• Collaborate with Finance to forecast and manage benefit budgets.
• Analyze cost trends and recommend plan design changes to optimize value and control expenses.
• Develop clear communication strategies to educate employees on benefits offerings.
• Serve as a resource for escalated employee inquiries and complex case resolution.
• Lead and mentor a team of benefits professionals.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and service excellence.
• Oversee and ensure appropriate controls are in place to safeguard personnel data, maintain continuity of operations, and maintain data accuracy and integrity.
• Maintain knowledge of HR requirements and regulations affecting human resources functions and ensure policies, procedures, and reporting are in compliance.
• Ensure plans are compliant with local, state, and federal regulations, including timely and accurate completion of all required government filings, and distribution of required participant plan disclosures.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position leads a team of up to 1-5 regular employees, interns, and/or contractors.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
• Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Qualifications

• Ten (10) years of progressive experience in benefits administration with five (5) years of people management experience.
• Deep knowledge of compensation analysis and benefits structures, and benefit regulations, including health care reform (Affordable Care Act – ACA), HIPAA, Workers Compensation, ERISA, etc.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to organize and lead a project to completion.
• Effective problem-solving, decision making, and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate sensitive and confidential matters effectively.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Proven success managing benefits strategies for an employee population of over 8,000 employees.
• Focus on customer satisfaction.
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Project, and Visio; Intermediate to advanced Excel user.
• Experience with benefit module(s) of HRIS applications such as Workday, Ultimate Software, Oracle, etc.
• Web proficiency.
• Ability to clear required background check.

Certificates and Licenses

• None required.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in human resources or related field.
• Attainment or pursuit of Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS).

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• This is a home-based position.

Compensation & Benefits

• Stride, Inc. considers a person’s education, experience, and qualifications, as well as the position’s work location, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value when determining a new employee’s salary level.
• Salaries will differ based on these factors, the position’s level and expected contribution, and the employee’s benefits elections.
• We anticipate the salary range to be $113,480.25 - $155,000.00 per year.
• Eligible employees may receive a bonus.
• Stride offers a robust benefits package for eligible employees that can include health benefits, retirement contributions, and paid time off.