Manager, Benefits Administration

National Audubon Society•Washington, DC

9d•$95,593 - $118,010•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Benefits Administration owns the operational infrastructure of the National Audubon Society’s benefits function, including the annual retirement plan audit, benefits-payroll reconciliation, and end-to-end leave, ADA, and Workers’ Compensation case management. Reporting to the Senior Director, Benefits and Wellbeing, the Manager reviews and approves work prepared by the Senior Associate before it is submitted externally, serves as a primary contact for auditors, Payroll, vendors, and benefits partners, and exercises independent judgment on complex or sensitive cases. The role also guides process improvements based on patterns across casework, audits, and reconciliations. The position is hybrid. Employees are expected to work in an Audubon office every Monday and Tuesday, plus two additional days each month of their choosing. Candidates should live within commuting distance of the Washington, DC, or New York, NY, office. The hiring range is $95,593–$106,214 per year in Washington, DC, and $106,209–$118,010 per year in New York, NY.

Requirements

At least 5 years of progressive experience in benefits administration, leave/ADA case management, or a related HR compliance function, including ownership of an audit, reconciliation, or similarly complex recurring process.
Experience managing a retirement plan audit, such as a 403(b) or 401(k) audit, or a similar compliance audit, including serving as a point of contact for external auditors.
Experience with benefits-payroll reconciliation or a comparable cross-functional data reconciliation process.
Working knowledge of ADA, FMLA, Workers’ Compensation, and other federal and state leave and accommodation laws.
Experience administering the ADA interactive process and FMLA or other statutory leave case management from intake through resolution.
Ability to guide or mentor colleagues on leave, accommodation, payroll, or audit-related questions and translate policy and regulation into practical guidance.
Experience identifying and implementing process improvements in leave, accommodation, payroll, or benefits administration.
Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail, with ability to manage multiple deadline-driven cases and processes simultaneously.
Ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to explain complex regulatory requirements to non-experts.
Working knowledge of Workday Benefits and Reporting sufficient to partner on system configuration decisions and provide backup support or leadership on TopBloc tickets.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, including VLOOKUP.
Personal and professional commitment to, and experience advancing, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field; equivalent education and work experience will also be considered.
Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments.

Responsibilities

Own the annual retirement plan audit and Form 5500 filing process, serving as the primary contact for external auditors and plan administrators.
Review and approve retirement contribution, eligibility, and remittance data prepared by the Senior Associate before external submission; escalate issues requiring resolution.
Own benefits- and retirement-related compliance reporting support, compile final data packages for P&C Leadership, and partner on enterprise-wide compliance strategy.
Own benefits-payroll reconciliation, partnering with Payroll to identify, analyze, and resolve discrepancies in deductions, contributions, and leave-related pay adjustments.
Serve as the Benefits team’s primary Payroll contact and review payroll input data prepared by the Senior Associate before it is finalized.
Own end-to-end leave, accommodation, and Workers’ Compensation processes, coordinating with ADA and leave vendors on intake, interactive-process documentation, eligibility, certifications, and return-to-work coordination.
Manage Workers’ Compensation claim submissions and leave-of-absence case management, exercising judgment on complex or sensitive cases.
Maintain accurate, confidential ADA, FMLA, leave, and Workers’ Compensation case files; escalate complex or high-risk cases to the Senior Director or VP, People & Culture.
Maintain working knowledge of relevant Workday functionality and partner on configuration decisions affecting payroll, audit, or compliance data integrity.
Provide backup support for benefits-related TopBloc tickets, particularly those involving leave, payroll, or audit data.
Design benefits and leave reference materials, process documentation, and standard operating procedures under the Senior Director’s guidance, and direct the Senior Associate in keeping them current.
Manage annual open-enrollment process design and carrier and vendor coordination, directing the Senior Associate’s execution of enrollment logistics and communications.
Lead benefits- and leave-related process-improvement projects and bring recommendations to the Senior Director.
Collaborate on employee wellness and benefits communications, develop and coordinate materials, and oversee execution for accuracy, compliance, and alignment with functional priorities.
Serve as a resource and informal mentor for the Senior Associate, Benefits Administration.
Support HR Business Partners with leave, accommodation, payroll, and audit-related questions.
Respond to escalated employee benefits, leave, and accommodation inquiries.
Maintain and foster a culture of safety.
Apply and develop the organization’s competencies in fostering relationships, analytical thinking, creativity and innovation, facilitating change, and team leadership.