Benefits & Wellness Manager

Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) • Orlando, FL

23h • $124,000 - $155,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

OUC - The Reliable One is presently seeking a Benefits & Wellness Manager to join the Employee Experience division. At OUC, we don’t just work – we’re building a bright future of innovation and transformation for future generations. We are seeking a experienced and analytical professional to lead the strategy, design, and administration of employee benefits, wellness programs, retirement plans, and leave/accommodation processes. This role ensures programs are competitive, compliant, fiscally responsible, and aligned with organizational goals. The Manager partners across the organization and with external vendors while leading a high-performing team that provides exceptional support to employees and retirees. OUC is an industry leader and the second largest municipal utility in Florida committed to innovation, sustainability, and our community. OUC’s mission is to provide exceptional value to our customers and community by delivering sustainable and reliable services and solutions. Join a team of visionary Change Agents, Strategists, and Community Ambassadors who understand the vital role of diverse experiences in powering creativity and industry transformation. At OUC, each position contributes to the success and achievement of our goals. Click here to learn more about what we do.

Requirements

• Deep knowledge of total rewards, benefits compliance, Section 125, and retirement plan administration.
• Experience with wellness program design, leave administration, and ADA accommodations.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and drive strategy.
• Proven vendor management, negotiation, and budgeting experience.
• Exceptional communication and partnership skills, with history of developing teams.
• Strategic thinker who is also comfortable operating in the details when needed.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, or related degree from a publicly accredited college or university (required).
• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in Human Resources and/or Benefits Management to include:
• Five (5) years of experience specifically in Benefits Administration.
• Five (5) years of formal management/supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience creating comprehensive health, retirement, perks and wellness programs.
• Experience with HRIS platforms, open enrollment management, vendor negotiations, and metrics reporting.
• Experience navigating ADA interactive processes, medical documentation assessment, and disability/FMLA program structures.
• Deep understanding of total rewards concepts, modern wellness strategies, preventative health programming, and industry best practices.
• Strong understanding of general human resource management principles, employee experience frameworks, and talent retention strategies.
• Deep knowledge of Section 125 Cafeteria Plans.
• Deep knowledge of pension and retirement plan administration, including both defined contribution and defined benefit pension plans.
• Working knowledge of: FMLA, ERISA, HIPAA, ADA, COBRA, ACA, and other applicable local, state, and federal employment regulations.
• Budget development, benefits financial auditing, and process improvement frameworks designed to drive workflow efficiencies.
• Advanced skills in creating department roadmaps, setting long-term goals, identifying market opportunities, and leading organizational change.
• Proven negotiation skills to secure cost-effective contracts with healthcare brokers, carriers, and third-party wellness vendors.
• Strong skills in developing health data metrics, measuring program ROI and VOI, and leveraging HRIS platforms to optimize open enrollment workflows.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to prepare and deliver high-impact presentations to executive leadership.
• Highly developed emotional intelligence and cross-functional collaboration skills used to build strong partnerships across all business units.
• Ability to: Effectively lead, coach, mentor, and evaluate a specialized team of benefits and wellness professionals.
• Act as a trusted subject matter expert, providing strategic counsel on complex benefits issues to all levels of management.
• Direct multiple large-scale projects simultaneously, manage competing priorities, and meet critical deadlines.
• Evaluate complex medical documentation, facilitate the ADA interactive process, and design creative, equitable workplace accommodations.
• Translate enterprise talent needs into actionable benefits structures that directly support recruitment and retention goals.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Benefits Professional, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR designation (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a long-term benefits and wellness strategy aligned to business needs.
• Oversee plan design for health, welfare, retirement, wellness, and leave programs, ensuring compliance and cost stewardship.
• Monitor market trends, claims data, and benchmarking to recommend enhancements and future plan strategies.
• Lead administration of defined benefit, defined contribution, and cash balance plans.
• Manage FMLA, disability programs, and ADA accommodations.
• Drive data analytics, reporting, and HRIS workflows, including open enrollment.
• Lead vendor selection, performance management, and contract negotiations.
• Oversee budget management, ACA/state reporting, RDS, nondiscrimination testing, and regulatory compliance.
• Develop, coach, and upskill a team of benefits professionals; foster a culture of service, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a collaborative and trusted advisor to leadership and stakeholders.
• Build a comprehensive strategic roadmap for the Benefits and Wellness department.
• Establish long-term departmental goals that align business needs and strategy.
• Evaluate external market offerings regularly to maintain a highly competitive market position.
• Collaborate with Employee Experience leadership on complex plan designs and modifications.
• Formulate and implement a comprehensive benefits strategy that balances cost-effectiveness with workforce and retiree needs.
• Conduct market research and benchmarking to evaluate plan effectiveness and competitiveness. Propose new or revised benefit plan design to meet evolving organizational needs.
• Balance traditional health offerings with progressive initiatives, to build a streamlined benefits portfolio that appeals to a multi-generational workforce.
• Host targeted events and workshops to build deep employee understanding of offerings, eligibility, enrollment processes, and changes to maximize benefits program utilization.
• Design and execute evidence-based wellness initiatives addressing preventive care, mental health, chronic disease management, and lifestyle modification.
• Formulate strategic recommendations that balance cost-containment measures with high-impact employee wellness experiences.
• Analyze actuarial and claims data for demographic risk factors to build progressive wellness initiatives, mental health support, and targeted preventive health interventions.
• Partner with marketing and external partners to deliver engaging wellness campaigns across the organization to enhance health outcomes.
• Direct the end-to-end administration, respond to audits, regulatory compliance, and fiscal health of complex Defined Benefit (traditional pension), Defined Contribution (401a/457b), and hybrid Cash Balance plans.
• Partner with external actuaries, trustees, and investment committees to oversee plan valuations, monitor compliance testing, and evaluate funding levels.
• Lead the design and execution of comprehensive financial education workshops, communication strategies, and tools to boost employee enrollment and plan understanding to enhance employee financial health.
• Oversee the comprehensive management of Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD), Family Medical Leave (FML), and specialized time-off programs.
• Facilitate formal accommodation requests by objectively evaluating medical documentation to determine appropriate, sustainable workplace solutions.
• Partner with Employee Relations, Risk Management and department leaders to assess operational impacts, manage leave extensions, and coordinate seamless transitional light-duty assignments.
• Leverage HRIS tools to manage administrative workflows, ensure data transmission accuracy, and drive the seamless execution of annual open enrollment cycles.
• Monitor and audit carrier billing statements, monitor payroll deductions, and analyze health insurance claims trends to isolate cost-saving opportunities.
• Maximize departmental efficiency by monitoring service response times and employee satisfaction while maintaining audit-ready metrics and records to satisfy regulatory compliance.
• Develop regular data-driven dashboards, productivity metrics, and high-level reports to provide senior leadership with clear, actionable insights for long-term strategic decision-making.
• Lead formal procurement processes and high-stakes contract negotiations with external insurance brokers, healthcare carriers, and program vendors.
• Oversee and collaborate with brokers and actuarial consultants to forecast claims risk, model plan design changes, and calculate the financial impact of premium structures on both employer and employee cost-sharing.
• Resolve complex tier-3 employee claims or carrier disputes.
• Oversee multi-million-dollar benefits budget and pension funds.
• Direct the execution of mandatory compliance requirements, including ACA reporting, state reporting (112.08, 112.662, 112.664), OPEB reporting, retiree drug subsidy (RDS) coordination and reporting and non-discrimination testing.
• Maintain operational alignment across all departmental processes with key federal and state frameworks, including §125, COBRA, HIPAA, and FMLA.
• Secure sensitive employee benefits data and conduct routine internal audits to ensure data accuracy and reporting.
• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing team across Benefits and Wellness, fostering a culture of agility and service excellence.
• Equip the team to deliver high-caliber customer service and employee and retiree counsel.
• Act as a thought leader and change agent, driving communication strategies that educate the workforce on the full value of their benefits and wellness portfolios.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to business partners ensuring that benefits and wellness strategies align with talent attraction and retention goals.
• Present strategic recommendations to employee experience leadership to influence the enterprise-wide benefits and wellness strategy.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision benefits and paid life insurance premiums with no probationary period.
• OUC’s Hybrid Retirement Program includes a fully-funded cash balance account, defined contribution with employer matching along with a health reimbursement account
• Generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick time
• Paid parental leave
• Educational Assistance Program, to include tuition reimbursement, paid memberships in professional associations, paid conference and training opportunities
• Wellness incentives and free access to all on-site OUC fitness facilities
• Access to family-oriented recreational areas
• Paid Conference and Training Opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager