Human Resources - Benefits Manager Specialist - Hybrid

NOW Hiring Heroes•Kansas City, KS

17h•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Benefits Manager to lead the administration, strategy, and continuous improvement of our comprehensive employee benefits programs. This position oversees health and welfare plans, retirement programs, executive benefits, leave administration, vendor management, and total rewards initiatives for a large, multi-site workforce. This is an excellent opportunity for a strategic HR leader who combines deep technical expertise in benefits administration with strong leadership, compliance knowledge, and analytical capabilities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
8+ years of progressive experience administering employee benefits, including health, welfare, retirement, and leave programs.
Experience managing regulatory filings, including Forms 5500 and 1095.
Experience working with online benefits enrollment platforms and HRIS systems.
5+ years supporting benefits in a multi-site organization.
Experience managing relationships with brokers, carriers, third-party administrators, and investment partners.
Strong analytical skills with advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.
Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
Exceptional organizational, problem-solving, and attention-to-detail abilities.

Nice To Haves

5+ years of people leadership experience.
Extensive experience administering pension and retirement plans.
Experience chairing retirement or investment committee governance.
Experience supporting unionized workforces and collective bargaining agreements.
Strong leadership and coaching abilities.
Strategic thinking combined with operational execution.
Deep knowledge of employee benefits regulations and compliance.
A customer-focused mindset with the ability to communicate complex benefit information clearly.
The ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

Lead the administration of comprehensive employee and retiree benefit programs serving a large multi-site workforce.
Manage retirement plans, including multiple 401(k) plans, pension plans, and deferred compensation programs.
Oversee retiree medical, life insurance, and related benefit programs while serving as a primary resource for retiree inquiries.
Chair retirement plan governance committees and coordinate committee meetings, documentation, and fiduciary responsibilities.
Conduct benchmarking and market analysis to recommend enhancements that maintain competitive and cost-effective benefit offerings.
Oversee all health and welfare benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, and voluntary benefits.
Manage annual open enrollment activities in partnership with HRIS, Payroll, and Communications teams.
Analyze utilization, costs, and trends while presenting recommendations to senior leadership.
Ensure effective administration of company leave programs, including federal and state leave compliance.
Partner with HR leadership to evaluate and enhance total rewards strategies.
Manage relationships with insurance carriers, brokers, third-party administrators, investment managers, and other benefit vendors.
Negotiate vendor agreements and monitor service levels and overall performance.
Identify opportunities to improve service delivery while managing benefit costs.
Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including: ACA ERISA HIPAA COBRA FMLA
Oversee preparation and filing of regulatory reports, including Forms 5500 and 1095.
Coordinate annual audits, nondiscrimination testing, and compliance reviews.
Prepare executive reports, metrics, and recommendations based on benefits data and industry trends.
Support labor negotiations related to employee benefits and ensure compliance with applicable collective bargaining agreements.
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of benefits professionals.
Foster a culture of accountability, customer service, and continuous improvement.
Serve as the primary subject matter expert for employees, retirees, managers, and HR partners regarding complex benefits matters.
Develop employee communication materials and lead educational sessions to improve understanding of benefit offerings.