Company Overview
[$COMPANY_OVERVIEW]
Role Overview
[$COMPANY_NAME] is hiring a Benefits Manager to own benefits strategy, vendor partnerships, compliance, and end-to-end benefits operations for a growing employee population based in [$COMPANY_LOCATION]. In this role you will design and execute total rewards programs (health, welfare, retirement, leave, commuter, and voluntary benefits), drive benefits analytics to inform compensation and retention strategy, and lead cross-functional delivery with HRIS, payroll, legal, and finance. The ideal candidate combines strong technical fluency with benefits regulations (ACA, ERISA, COBRA), proven vendor negotiation experience, and a data-driven approach to improving employee experience and benefits ROI.
Responsibilities
- Strategy & Program Design: Develop and iterate comprehensive benefits programs aligned to business objectives and compensation philosophy; present proposals and ROI analysis to senior leadership.
- Vendor Management & Procurement: Lead RFPs, negotiate commercial terms and SLAs with carriers, third-party administrators (TPAs), brokers, wellness vendors, and benefits platforms; manage vendor performance and escalations.
- Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure benefits programs comply with federal, state, and local regulations (ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, state-mandated leaves); maintain documentation, Plan Documents, SPD updates, and audit readiness.
- Operations & Administration: Own benefits enrollment lifecycle, off-cycle events, eligibility rules, COBRA administration, claims escalation workflows, and annual open enrollment execution.
- HRIS & Systems Integration: Configure and maintain benefits modules in HRIS/benefits platforms (Workday, ADP, SAP SuccessFactors, or similar); manage payroll integrations, APIs, SFTP feeds, and data reconciliation processes.
- Analytics & Reporting: Produce monthly and quarterly benefits spend reports, utilization analyses, benchmarking against market data, and predictive models to optimize plan design and total cost of ownership.
- Employee Experience & Communications: Create clear, accessible benefits communications and decision-support tools (cost calculators, plan comparison guides, onboarding materials); lead enrollment meetings and trainings.
- Leadership & Cross-functional Partnership: Coach and mentor benefits specialists or coordinators; partner with Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition, Finance, Legal, and People Operations to align programs with workforce strategy.
Required and Preferred Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of hands-on benefits experience, with at least 2 years in a benefits program leadership or manager role.
- Deep knowledge of benefits regulatory frameworks (ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA) and experience managing compliance and audits.
- Proven experience managing carrier relationships, TPAs, brokers, and benefits technology vendors, including RFP and contract negotiation.
- Strong technical skills with HRIS and payroll systems; demonstrable experience with benefits integrations (APIs, SFTP, CSV feeds) and data reconciliation.
- Experience building reports and dashboards using SQL, Excel (including advanced functions), Looker, Tableau, Power BI, or equivalent analytics tools.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience designing employee-facing benefits content and training.
Preferred:
- Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, PHR/SPHR, or other relevant certification.
- Experience at a fast-growing technology company or high-growth startup environment.
- Familiarity with international benefits programs and global mobility policies.
- Experience leading open enrollment for 1,000+ employees or managing multi-state compliance programs.
Technical Skills and Relevant Technologies
- HRIS: Workday, ADP, UKG, SAP SuccessFactors or equivalent—experience configuring benefits modules and business rules.
- Benefits Platforms: BenAdmin systems, Benefitfocus, Ease, Darwin, bswift or comparable platforms.
- Payroll & Integrations: ADP, Paylocity, Rippling, or integrations via APIs/SFTP; experience validating payroll feeds and gross-to-net reconciliation.
- Data & Reporting: Proficiency with SQL, Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, advanced formulas), Looker/Tableau/Power BI for benefits analytics.
- Compliance Tools: Knowledge of platforms/tools used for COBRA administration, ERISA filing, and ACA reporting (Form 1095/1094 workflows).
Soft Skills and Cultural Fit
- Strategic operator: track record of translating benefits data into actionable program changes and cost optimization.
- Cross-functional collaborator: experience leading initiatives across HR, Finance, Legal, and IT with strong stakeholder management.
- Customer-focused communicator: ability to simplify complex regulatory and plan design topics for employees at all levels.
- Detail-oriented and process-driven: establishes and documents repeatable, auditable processes for benefits administration.
- Change agent and coach: mentors team members, drives continuous improvement, and leads change management during benefits transitions.
Benefits and Perks
Annual salary range: [$SALARY_RANGE]
Comprehensive benefits package may include:
- Medical, dental, and vision plans with employer contributions and HSA/FSA options.
- 401(k) or pension plan with company match and retirement guidance.
- Generous paid time off, parental leave, and flexible paid leave policies.
- Wellness stipends, mental health benefits, and employee assistance programs (EAP).
- Equity or long-term incentive opportunities (where applicable), professional development stipend, and certification reimbursement.
- Commuter benefits and voluntary supplemental benefits (life, disability, critical illness).
Equal Opportunity Statement
[$COMPANY_NAME] is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. We also encourage applicants from non-traditional career paths and those who may not meet every listed qualification to apply.
Location
This is a hybrid position. A successful candidate will be expected to work from the office in [$COMPANY_LOCATION] at least three days per week to support cross-functional collaboration and benefits events; some remote work is permitted.
How to Apply
We encourage applicants who may not meet every qualification to apply. To apply, please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant benefits program experience and most impactful vendor or program negotiation. Applicants may also include links to dashboards, examples of benefits communications, or a one-page case study demonstrating program optimization results.