Senior Benefits Manager

Senior Benefits Manager

Unifi is the nation's largest aviation services provider, with over 45K team members and a global footprint spanning over 250 airports in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, and continental Europe. We deliver reliable, high quality aviation services that support global travel and the world's leading airlines. At Unifi, you'll be part of a diverse, inclusive team where passion, integrity, and empathy are at the core of what we do.

Position Overview

The Senior Benefits Manager is a strategic leader responsible for the design, governance, and continuous improvement of comprehensive U.S. and Canadian employee benefits programs, including health & welfare, retirement, and leave of absence. This role owns program strategy and philosophy, manages vendor partnerships, leads financial analysis, and ensures regulatory compliance across all benefits offerings. As a senior member of the benefits team, this role partners with the Director of Benefits and works collaboratively with the Benefits Manager to drive operational excellence and an exceptional employee experience.

Key Responsibilities

Benefits Strategy & Program Design

• Lead the strategic design, development, and governance of U.S. and Canadian benefits programs, including health & welfare plans, retirement/401(k), and leave of absence, with a focus on data-driven decisions and continuous improvement.

• Conduct market research and detailed financial impact analysis to recommend new or enhanced benefit plan offerings that remain competitive, cost-effective, and aligned with organizational goals.

• Own the benefits program philosophy and ensure all initiatives are designed to meaningfully enhance the employee experience.

• Partner with the Director of Benefits to define multi-year benefits strategy and roadmap, ensuring alignment with the organization's growth and workforce objectives.

• Partner with the Benefits Manager and Director of Benefits to review current business processes and lead recommendations to streamline operations and improve the benefits delivery experience.

Financial Management & Compliance

• Develop and oversee the U.S. and Canadian benefits budget, including detailed budgeting, financial analysis, and monitoring of high-cost claims to ensure accurate forecasting and expenditure tracking.

• Ensure full compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations (ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, FMLA, and applicable Canadian regulations), including preparation and timely submission of required filings to regulatory agencies such as the IRS and DOL.

• Monitor regulatory developments and proactively implement program, policy, and procedural changes to maintain compliance and optimize offerings.

• Develop, monitor, and enforce service level agreements (SLAs) and performance metrics for all third-party service providers and brokers, holding them accountable to agreed-upon standards.

Vendor Management & Partnerships

• Serve as the strategic relationship owner for all U.S. and Canadian benefits vendors and carriers, ensuring competitive pricing, high service quality, and alignment with Unifi's expectations and engagement targets.

• Lead vendor performance reviews and escalate unresolved service issues to ensure continuity and quality of benefits delivery.

• Collaborate with internal functions including HR, legal, payroll, HRIS, and finance to ensure seamless, integrated program administration.

Communications & Open Enrollment

• Develop and oversee the annual U.S. and Canadian Open Enrollment strategy and communication plan, including all plan documents, summary plan descriptions, employee-facing materials, and required legal notices.

• Act as the strategic liaison with internal communications to ensure benefits messaging is consistent, timely, and aligned with the broader HR and organizational narrative.

• Serve as primary point of escalation for complex or sensitive employee benefits issues that require senior judgment.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Build and maintain strong relationships with regional leadership, HR business partners, legal, payroll, HRIS, and finance to support the effective administration of all Unifi benefits.

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and day-to-day guidance to the Benefits Manager and broader benefits team.

• Support special projects as directed by the Director of Benefits, including M&A due diligence, system integrations, and workforce transformation initiatives.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field.

• Minimum 10 years of progressive benefits experience encompassing program design and strategy across health & welfare, retirement, and leave of absence within a large organization.

• At least 8 years of experience in a managerial or supervisory capacity, including management of shared services resources.

• Strong functional expertise in U.S. and Canadian benefits in a multi-national organization.

• Demonstrated expertise in benefits financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting.

• Experience working in a unionized environment is highly desirable.

• Proficiency with HRIS platforms (UltiPro/UKG preferred) and advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with Alight preferred.

• Professional certifications such as CEBS or CBP preferred, or demonstrated progress toward certification.

• Comprehensive knowledge of employee benefit program concepts, compliance requirements (ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, FMLA), and industry best practices.

• Exceptional data analysis skills with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and recommendations.

• Ability to adapt and lead through evolving benefits philosophy and organizational change.

Preferred Experience and Competencies

• Strategic thinker with proven ability to balance long-term planning with operational execution demands.

• High level of integrity and discretion in handling highly confidential information.

• Proven leadership skills with experience developing, motivating, and mentoring remote or distributed teams.

• Has experience in benefits change models like Rx Carve out, familiarity with Reference Based Pricing model, knowledge of ICHRA

• In-depth experience managing RBP medical plans, including navigating balance billing, educating members on provider choice, and working directly with TPAs to ensure 120-150% Medicare benchmark compliance.

• Exceptional stakeholder management and executive communication skills.

• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and consultative abilities.

• Commitment to continuous improvement and staying current with industry trends and regulatory developments.

Unifi is committed to equal opportunity employment regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or veteran status.