Director, Benefits & Wellness

The Clearing House•Charlotte, NC

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Benefits and Wellness is responsible for administering and continuously improving employee benefits programs, HR systems, regulatory compliance, and HR reporting. As the organization’s benefits subject matter expert, this role develops wellness programs aligned with employee needs and works with HR leadership on plan governance and compliance. The position combines strategic leadership with operational excellence to enhance the employee experience and ensure compliance with applicable regulations. The Director develops and executes benefits strategy; oversees benefits administration, compliance reporting, HRIS integrity, vendors, budgets, analytics, and annual enrollment; and advises senior leadership on benefits strategy and industry trends. The role also leads enterprise HR projects, improves policies and procedures, mentors junior HR team members, and partners across Payroll, Finance, Legal, Risk, and business functions. The position is generally performed in an office environment using standard office equipment. Candidates report to the office three days each week, and occasional travel is expected.

Requirements

At least 10 years of progressive Human Resources experience, preferably in financial services, asset management, investment banking, or another highly regulated industry.
Experience partnering with senior leadership to develop and implement HR strategies aligned with business objectives.
Extensive experience leading benefits administration, HR operations, HRIS management, employee leave administration, compliance, and HR analytics.
Strong knowledge of medical, dental, vision, retirement (401(k)), COBRA, life insurance, disability, wellness, and leave administration.
Comprehensive understanding of federal, state, and local employment regulations related to benefits, ERISA, ACA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, and related compliance requirements.
Experience managing third-party vendors, consultants, brokers, and external benefit administrators.
Hands-on Workday HCM experience, including benefits administration, reporting, and data reconciliation.
Advanced HRIS experience with strong reporting and data analytics capabilities.
Proven experience leading cross-functional initiatives and driving process improvements in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to influence stakeholders across all organizational levels.

Nice To Haves

Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
Strategic thinking and ability to balance long-term planning with day-to-day execution.
Leadership experience mentoring and developing HR professionals.
Strong analytical, financial, and project management skills.
Advanced Workday HCM experience, including benefits configuration, integrations, process optimization, and troubleshooting.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, including translating complex data into meaningful business insights.
Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.
Ability to manage multiple enterprise-wide initiatives simultaneously.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute benefits strategies that support business objectives, employee engagement, competitiveness, and cost-effectiveness.
Evaluate market trends, benchmarking data, and utilization metrics to recommend improvements to benefits offerings.
Lead annual benefits planning, Open Enrollment strategy, employee communications, and implementation.
Advise leadership on benefits strategy, compliance, and emerging industry trends.
Oversee administration of medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement, COBRA, pension, and wellness programs.
Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local benefits regulations.
Ensure required compliance reporting and regulatory filings, including Form 5500, Summary Annual Reports, EEO-1, and ACA reporting.
Partner with Legal, Finance, and external advisors to identify and mitigate compliance risks.
Provide strategic oversight of benefits in HRIS, including data integrity, process efficiency, and system optimization.
Direct regular audits of the HR benefits system to ensure accuracy, compliance, and reporting integrity.
Develop annual wellness programming aligned with organizational values and employee needs, informed by utilization data and employee feedback.
Manage relationships with benefits brokers, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, and external consultants.
Lead vendor performance reviews, contract negotiations, and service delivery evaluations.
Oversee benefits budgeting and invoice reconciliation, and identify cost optimization opportunities.
Analyze benefits enrollment and claims utilization trends and present recommendations to senior leadership.
Lead enterprise-wide HR projects and process improvement initiatives.
Mentor and develop junior HR team members and promote knowledge sharing and professional growth.
Develop, maintain, and improve HR policies, procedures, and standard operating documentation.
Collaborate with Payroll, Finance, Legal, Risk, and business leaders to ensure seamless HR service delivery.
Complete strategic initiatives and special projects assigned by leadership.