Retirement Program Manager

Job Description:

Providing for loved ones, planning rewarding retirements, saving enough for whatever lies ahead - our policyholders count on us to be there when it matters most. It's a big ask, but it's one that we have the power to deliver when we work together. We collaborate and innovate - pushing one another to transform not just Pacific Life, but the entire industry for the better.

Why? Because it's the right thing to do. Pacific Life is more than a job, it's a career with purpose. It's a career where you have the support, balance, and resources to make a positive impact on the future - including your own.

We're actively seeking a talented Retirement Benefits Program Manager to join our Benefits team within Total Rewards, based in Newport Beach, CA, Omaha, NE or Charlotte, NC.

As the Benefits Retirement Program Manager
, you will lead the end-to-end framework and administration of Pacific Life's US-based retirement benefits, deliver deep operational and analytical support, and contribute to the long term strategy that guides our plans.

The ideal candidate is highly-skilled, self-driven, and capable of leading initiatives independently while contributing to the overall success of the retirement programs.

• Lead the U.S. framework, administration and analysis of retirement plan benefits, including compliance with plan documents and regulations for the 401(k), Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP), and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP).
• Monitor retirement plan vendors to ensure performance aligns with agreed upon scope and service levels.
• Use best practices and industry knowledge to provide analysis, make recommendations, and lead the implementation of changes or enhancements to benefit programs.
• Contribute to the annual budget process by forecasting retirement plan expenses and tracking budget vs. actual costs.
• Oversee and administer a variety of ancillary benefit programs, such as the financial wellbeing programs and other related offerings.
• Collaborate with the Internal Communications team on the creation of communication tools that enhance employee understanding of our retirement benefits. This includes developing presentations, FAQ guides, and other resources.
• Manage the DCP annual enrollment event, as well as annual and ad-hoc Non-Qualified (NQ) distributions.
• Complete benefits compliance activities, such as the 401(k) annual audit, reconciling and filing required forms (e.g. Form 5500/8955-SSA), conducting non-discrimination testing, updating and distributing plan documents and required disclosures.
• Oversee retirement plan Investment Committee meetings by scheduling meetings, establishing agendas, preparing meeting materials, reviewing notes, and ensuring compliance with Committee guidelines.
• Resolve escalated benefits inquiries from employees, retirees, and other HR stakeholders, ensuring timely and satisfactory resolution of each issue.
• Manage actuarial valuation data requests by working with external consultants and PL's Finance team.
• Collaborate with employees, advisors, auditors, leaders and benefit vendors.
• Partner with International Benefits to support the governance and administration of global pension plans, ensuring alignment on plan design, regulatory requirements, and ongoing operational needs.
• Resolve retirement plan (401(k), DCP, SERP) corrections as necessary.
• Stay current on retirement plan regulations.
• Participate in internal process improvement initiatives and team projects.
• Support additional ad-hoc benefits projects as they emerge.

• 7+ years of experience in end-to-end U.S. retirement benefits (401(k) and NQ plans); international retirement or global pension experience is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.
• Strong analytical skills that drive data-driven decisions and comprehensive problem-solving.
• Excellent vendor management and communication skills.
• Strong project management skills to effectively plan, prioritize, and deliver initiatives on time and within scope.
• Strong attention to detail and highly organized, with the ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and effectively prioritize work.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, especially Excel, ensuring streamlined data management and analysis.
• Understanding of benefits, general HR processes, regulations, and compliance.
• Hands‑on experience with platforms like Workday or similar HRIS systems.

The base pay range noted represents the company's good faith minimum and maximum range for this role at the time of posting. The actual compensation offered to a candidate will be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to experience, qualifications and geographic location. Also, most employees are eligible for additional incentive pay.

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• Prioritization of your health and well-being including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Wellbeing Reimbursement Account that can be used on yourself or your…