Director/Sr. Director, Benefits

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. • Lowell, AR

3d

About The Position

The Director / Senior Director of Benefits provides strategic leadership for employee benefits and leave programs, including health and welfare, retirement, wellbeing, and leave of absence. This role builds on an established foundation to continuously enhance program design, service delivery, and the overall employee experience. This leader sets governance and strategic direction, partners across the enterprise and with external vendors, and leads a high-performing team accountable for program performance, financial stewardship, and operational excellence—while championing an employee-first culture focused on wellbeing and engagement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• 6+ years of progressive experience in benefits or total rewards, or 10+ years of equivalent combined education and experience
• Deep expertise in benefits program design and administration within large, complex organizations
• Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance (ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA)
• Experience managing retirement plans and leave of absence programs
• Proven success leading open enrollment and renewal processes
• Strong vendor management and negotiation experience (brokers, carriers, TPAs, PBMs)
• Executive presence with experience presenting to senior leadership
• Strong analytical and financial acumen (budgeting, forecasting, ROI modeling)
• Ability to influence and collaborate across all organizational levels
• Exceptional communication skills, including simplifying complex information
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving abilities
• High level of discretion and confidentiality

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• 8+ years of benefits/total rewards experience
• 5+ years of people leadership experience
• CEBS or related certification preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy, design, administration, and optimization of benefits programs (health & welfare, retirement, wellbeing, and leave)
• Align offerings with business objectives, talent strategy, and evolving employee needs
• Serve as a trusted advisor to HR and business leaders on plan design, cost drivers, and market trends
• Conduct benchmarking and competitive analysis to maintain best-in-class offerings
• Develop and manage benefits budgets, forecasts, and long-term projections
• Analyze financial and operational performance, including trend analysis and ROI for programs and vendors
• Drive data-informed decisions through metrics, analytics, and reporting
• Lead vendor and broker strategy, selection, and performance management
• Oversee contracts, service-level agreements, and governance routines
• Manage RFPs, market checks, and ongoing vendor optimization
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, and ADA
• Maintain and update policies and procedures to reflect regulatory changes
• Partner with Legal, Finance, and external advisors on audits, filings, and governance
• Oversee benefits administration, eligibility, enrollment, billing, and data integrity
• Lead annual renewals and open enrollment, including project management, communications, and system readiness.
• Partner with Marketing and HRIS
• Ensure strong internal controls and accurate, timely program delivery
• Provide oversight of retirement plans (e.g. 401(k)), including governance, vendor management, and employee education
• Lead leave of absence programs (medical, parental, statutory), including policy alignment, vendor oversight, and escalations
• Coordinate closely with Payroll, HR Business Partners, and HRIS
• Partner with HRIS and Payroll to optimize system configurations and integrations
• Drive automation, process improvements, and enhanced reporting capabilities
• Develop and execute a comprehensive benefits communication strategy across the employee lifecycle in partnership with Marketing.
• Ensure materials are clear, accessible, and aligned with employee needs
• Act as the escalation point for complex issues while maintaining a high-quality employee experience
• Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing team
• Set performance goals and manage resources effectively
• Partner with senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders (Finance, Legal, Payroll, HRBPs, Communications)
• Regularly engage executive leadership to drive strategic outcomes

Benefits

• medical benefit
• dental benefit
• vision benefit
• 401(k) retirement plan
• life insurance
• short-term and long-term disability coverage
• paid time off commensurate with tenure (includes vacation and sick time)
• six weeks of paid maternity leave along with two weeks of paid parental leave
• six paid holidays annually

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees