Benefits Manager

Office of Human ResourcesFLSA Status:
Exempt

Reports To:

Director of Human ResourcesFTE: 1.0

Department:
Human Resources Effective Date:
October 2026

Join Our Team Linfield University is seeking an experienced and knowledgeable Benefits Manager to serve as the university’s subject matter expert and primary owner of employee benefit programs. This is an excellent opportunity for a benefits professional who enjoys combining employee service, data analysis, compliance, vendor management, and strategic program improvement in a collaborative university environment.

Job Summary The Benefits Manager serves as the university’s subject matter expert and primary owner of employee benefit programs. This position independently manages the administration, compliance, analysis, and continuous improvement of employee benefits and retirement programs. The Benefits Manager partners with employees, Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, brokers, carriers, retirement vendors, and third-party administrators to ensure accurate administration, strong employee service, regulatory compliance, data integrity, and effective benefit strategy.

Essential

Job Duties Provides functional ownership and subject matter expertise for the university’s employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, flexible spending and health spending accounts, and the 403(b) retirement plan.

Leads annual benefit renewal and open enrollment processes, including plan evaluation, system configuration and testing, employee communications, enrollment support, carrier coordination, and post-enrollment reconciliation.

Partners with insurance brokers and benefit vendors to evaluate plan performance, utilization, cost trends, market competitiveness, vendor performance, and opportunities for plan design improvements.

Analyzes benefit utilization, enrollment, cost, benchmarking, and financial data and develops recommendations regarding benefit strategy, plan design, employee contributions, and cost management.

Owns benefit data integrity and reconciliation processes across HRIS, payroll, carriers, retirement vendors, and other benefit systems, identifying discrepancies and ensuring accurate employee deductions and employer contributions.

Conducts regular benefit audits and reconciliations, researches discrepancies, determines root causes, and coordinates timely corrections with internal teams and external vendors.

Maintains benefit administration processes and records in accordance with applicable requirements, including ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, FMLA, PLO, OFLA, and other applicable federal and Oregon requirements.

Provides retirement plan administration support and serves as a key resource for the university’s 403(b) plan, including eligibility, enrollment, contribution administration, vendor coordination, reconciliation, employee education, and compliance support.

Participates in retirement plan committee meetings and supports required plan governance, audits, reporting, documentation, and follow-up activities.

Serves as the primary HR liaison with benefit carriers, brokers, retirement vendors, and third-party administrators, monitors service levels, resolves escalated issues, and holds partners accountable for timely and accurate service.

Provides employees with clear information and assistance regarding benefit eligibility, enrollment, qualifying life events, plan provisions, claims questions, and available resources.

Supports employees with leave-related information and directs employees to the university’s third-party leave administrator for leave intake, documentation, eligibility, certification, and administration. Coordinates benefit-related information with the third-party administrator…