Benefits Manager - Americas

Benefits Manager - Americas

Avantor is seeking a Benefits Manager - Americas to join our organization! This role is accountable for the design, governance, and execution of benefits programs within the Company's Global Benefits Governance Framework. You will provide senior-level leadership for health, welfare, retiree medical, and retirement plans, translating global strategy into compliant, cost-effective, and competitive benefit solutions in the Americas.

The role holds decision-making authority for specific, defined categories of U.S. benefits changes and for insured coverages in Canada and LATAM, within established governance and authority thresholds. You will oversee complex benefits operations and vendor relationships, as well as partner closely with HR, Legal, Sourcing, Finance, Payroll, and external vendors to ensure benefits programs are delivered accurately, compliantly, and in alignment with organizational priorities.

How you will thrive and create an impact

• Own benefit program execution and decision-making for specific, defined categories of U.S. benefits changes, including plan design adjustments, operational enhancements, and vendor actions that fall within established governance and authority thresholds.
• Own benefits program execution and decision-making for Canada and LATAM within the Global Benefits Governance Framework and applicable authority thresholds.
• Translate global benefits strategy, market trends, utilization data, and regulatory requirements into executable U.S. benefits recommendations, decisions, and implementation plans within approved governance parameters.
• Provide end-to-end accountability for benefits administration, ensuring accurate, compliant, and controlled execution across enrollment, eligibility, vendor administration, employee issue resolution, and ongoing operations.
• Oversee compliance for federal, state, and local health, welfare, and retirement plan requirements, including required filings, audits, valuations, testing, disclosures, and annual legal notices, in partnership with Legal, Finance, and third-party administrators.
• Serve as the senior escalation point and subject-matter expert for complex benefits matters, applying policy interpretation, risk assessment, and governance requirements to resolve issues or escalate when authority thresholds are exceeded.
• Lead large-scale and complex benefits projects and recurring processes, setting priorities, resolving issues, managing risks, and adjusting execution approach within approved governance and authority thresholds.
• Govern carrier, administrator, broker, consultant, and other vendor relationships to ensure service quality, contractual compliance, operational accountability, and timely resolution of escalated issues.
• Drive continuous improvement of benefits processes, controls, documentation, and operating procedures to strengthen compliance, scalability, employee experience, and operational effectiveness.
• Own benefits cost stewardship by monitoring utilization, cost drivers, vendor performance, budget performance, and emerging risks within established financial governance frameworks.
• Execute approved cost-management actions and support vendor negotiations, contract renewals, and pricing reviews in alignment with financial governance, sourcing requirements, and approved authority thresholds.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and controlled benefits data transmission across HRIS, payroll, vendors, and internal stakeholders, including identification and resolution of systemic data integrity issues.
• Direct U.S. benefits communications for approved program changes, open enrollment, compliance notices, and ongoing employee education to ensure clear, accurate, and timely messaging.
• Directly manage and develop benefits analysts by providing coaching, prioritization, performance management, workload planning, and decision support.
• Build team capability, accountability, and resilience through clear expectations, effective delegation, knowledge sharing, and consistent leadership practices.

What we're looking for

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• 8–12 years of progressive experience in benefits administration, analysis, or management.
• Demonstrated experience owning complex benefits programs, vendor relationships, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience with Workday highly preferred
• Experience with Businessolver a plus
• Knowledge of benefits legislation and processes is necessary to ensure plan compliance and appropriate plan administration
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and to adhere to tight deadlines is necessary in order to manage projects and processes within the timelines allowed by law and projects with various contingencies attached to tasks.
• Ability to clearly communicate key messages to target audiences whether carriers, consultants, Company leadership, HR, or associates.

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor?

Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science. The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor. We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world. Apply today!

Pay Transparency:

The expected pre-tax pay for this position is

$97,500.00 - $156,975.00

Actual pay may differ depending on relevant factors such as prior experience and geographic location.

EEO Statement:

We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at View email address on click.appcast.io and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the Know Your Rights poster.

Privacy Policy:

We will use the personal information that you have submitted to us in order to consider your application for the relevant role.

Your privacy is important to us. Please click here for our Privacy Policy which explains the purposes for which we will use your personal information and the ways in which we will handle and retain your information. It also explains the rights you have in relation to your information, and how to contact us with any queries or requests.

3rd Party Non-Solicitation Policy:

By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation.

Avantor offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, wellness programs, health savings and flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with company match, and an employee stock purchase program. Employees also receive 11 paid holidays, accrue 18 PTO days annually, are eligible for volunteer time off and 6 weeks of 100% paid parental leave (except in states that offer paid family leave). These benefits may not apply to employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement or those subject to other eligibility rules.