HR Benefits Manager

Job Summary:

The HR Benefits Manager is responsible for the strategic oversight, administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of employee benefits and leave programs. This position serves as a subject matter expert in health and welfare benefits, retirement programs, leave administration, and employee wellness initiatives. The HR Benefits Manager provides leadership in plan design, compliance, employee communications, vendor management, and benefits operations while ensuring a positive employee experience.
The HR Benefits Manager will also support client organizations with broader HR needs, including employee relations, performance management, policy interpretation, employment compliance, and HR operations. The ideal candidate brings deep benefits expertise along with broad HR experience and is comfortable working across both specialized benefits work and broader client-facing HR responsibilities.
Location & Schedule Requirements:  This is a remote position. The role will primarily work Central Time hours and requires flexibility to support clients and business needs during Pacific Time hours as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

May hire, train, and oversee staff in the department
Provides constructive and timely performance coaching
Duties/Responsibilities:
Administer and oversee employee health and welfare benefit programs across all 50 states and Canada, ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and provincial regulations.
Manage complex benefits structures, including multiple employee eligibility groups, varied plan designs, and diverse workforce populations.
Serve as the subject matter expert on ACA compliance, including eligibility determinations, look-back measurement periods, stability periods, administrative periods, and reporting requirements.
Lead the administration of health and welfare, retirement, deferred compensation, leave, and wellness programs, including annual open enrollment and qualifying life events.
Partner with brokers, carriers, third-party administrators, payroll providers, and internal stakeholders to ensure effective plan administration and issue resolution.
Provide leadership and guidance related to benefits plan design, policies, employee communications, compliance, and ongoing benefits operations.
Lead benefits due diligence efforts for mergers, acquisitions, and organizational integrations, including plan analysis, compliance reviews, vendor coordination, employee transition planning, and benefit harmonization strategies.
Analyze benefits utilization, costs, trends, and HR data to identify opportunities for program improvement, cost containment, and an improved employee experience.
Manage complex and escalated benefits matters involving eligibility, plan interpretation, compliance, and employee concerns.
Provide HR guidance to client organizations on employee relations, performance management, policy interpretation, employment compliance, and other day-to-day HR matters.
Support sensitive or complex employee relations matters, including investigations and disciplinary processes, as appropriate.
Manage multiple client priorities while maintaining responsiveness, accuracy, and consistent service delivery.
Lead or support HR projects, process improvements, and documentation of policies, procedures, and workflows.

Qualifications:

Demonstrated experience administering employee benefit programs across all 50 states, with a strong understanding of federal and state compliance requirements.
Expertise managing complex benefits structures, including multiple employee eligibility groups, varied plan designs, and diverse workforce populations.
Advanced knowledge of ACA eligibility and measurement periods, including the administration and interpretation…