Director, Health and Welfare Benefits

PEPL•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The Director, Health and Welfare Benefits plans, develops, implements, and manages comprehensive health and welfare benefit programs in North America for a global organization headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The role researches industry trends and market practices, oversees plan performance and financial effectiveness, and manages key vendor and third-party relationships. It ensures programs support organizational objectives, remain competitive and cost-effective, provide a positive employee experience, and are administered consistently in accordance with company policies, internal controls, and applicable laws and regulations. The position leads the delivery and execution of health and welfare plans, including vendor selection, plan audits, annual enrollment, compliance, employee communications, financial analysis, vendor performance management, and cross-functional governance. It also supports benefit strategy and integration for mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other business transitions. Work is performed in a typical office environment, with some work-from-home flexibility; no travel is anticipated.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 10 years of broad-based, progressive experience designing and managing health and welfare benefits, including at least five years in a leadership role.
Demonstrated track record of innovating and evolving benefit plan design and administration to meet business and workforce needs and support talent attraction and retention.
Experience evaluating plan performance and using data to support strategic recommendations.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and translate data into actionable recommendations.
Ability to build and manage productive vendor, consultant, and cross-functional stakeholder relationships.
Experience with due diligence, mergers and acquisitions, ERISA, and other applicable health and welfare benefit regulations.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex benefit topics clearly to varied audiences.
Proficiency with Workday, Microsoft Office, and other benefits administration and reporting tools.

Nice To Haves

Professional benefits certification, such as CEBS.

Responsibilities

Lead delivery and execution of comprehensive health and welfare benefit plans and programs.
Manage requests for proposal, vendor selection, and plan audit projects, including evaluation, service and fee negotiations, and implementation with external consultants and internal stakeholders.
Lead the annual benefits enrollment process, including new plans, programs, and vendor changes.
Provide guidance on escalated compliance, eligibility, administration, and employee service issues in partnership with Employee Service Center management.
Ensure health and welfare plans comply with applicable federal, state, local, and provincial laws and regulations, with appropriate processes, controls, and documentation in place.
Monitor industry trends, market practices, and regulatory developments to assess competitiveness, identify opportunities, and recommend changes.
Develop and train the HR community and business leaders on benefit programs and initiatives.
Lead development of clear, effective employee communications about benefit plans across print and digital channels.
Manage plan financial performance and analyze utilization, cost trends, and vendor results to identify risks and opportunities.
Establish and monitor vendor performance standards, service-level agreements, and key performance indicators; drive accountability and continuous improvement.
Partner with finance, legal, HR business partners, payroll, procurement, and communications to support benefit governance and execution.
Support benefit strategy and integration activities related to mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other business transitions.
Perform other duties as assigned by management.