Sr Manager, Benefits
$110,000–$165,000 year
HybridWilliamsburg, Virginia, United States
Job Summary
Lead, manage, and develop the benefits team by setting priorities, coaching members, and supporting professional growth. Oversee day-to-day administration of the full portfolio of benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, 401(k), and pension plans. Provide strategic leadership for benefits programs, balancing employee needs, plan competitiveness, and cost management while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws. Manage relationships with brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators, and lead annual renewal and open enrollment processes. Optimize the Workday Benefits module as a subject matter expert, partnering with HRIS, IT, and vendors on configuration and integrations. Partner with Finance and Payroll for accurate funding and reporting, and monitor utilization trends to improve plan effectiveness. Serve as the escalation point for complex benefits matters and develop educational materials for employees.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field
- Seven+ years of progressive experience in employee benefits, with demonstrated experience managing comprehensive benefits programs
- Two+ years of people management experience, with a track record of developing and leading high-performing teams
- Broad knowledge of U.S. employee benefits, including health and welfare plans, retirement plans, life and disability programs, and leave administration
- Strong understanding of benefits compliance and regulatory requirements, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and ADA
- Experience overseeing leave administration and workers' compensation programs
- Experience managing relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, consultants, and third-party administrators
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate plan costs, utilization, vendor performance, and other benefits data
- Experience with HRIS and benefits administration systems, including system implementations, integrations, testing, and data validation
- Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple complex programs and deadlines
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively partner with employees, HR leaders, Finance, Payroll, HRIS, vendors, and senior leadership
- Strong judgment and problem-solving skills, particularly when handling sensitive or complex employee benefits matters
- Ability to balance strategic program management with hands-on operational oversight in a dynamic environment
Desired Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field preferred
- Experience managing benefits programs in a mid-sized or large organization with a diverse employee population
- Experience with both defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plans, including 401(k) and pension administration
- Professional benefits certification such as CEBS, SHRM-CP/SCP, or related credential
- Experience leading benefits technology implementations or significant process transformations
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