Manager, Health & Welfare Benefits - Chicago or Decatur, IL

Archer Daniels Midland • Decatur, IL

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, North America Health & Welfare Benefits is responsible for the strategy, governance, compliance, and operational delivery of U.S. and Canada health and welfare benefit plans. This role oversees medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and voluntary benefit programs, ensuring alignment with the organization’s Total Rewards philosophy, cost management objectives, and employee value proposition. The role partners with HR leadership, Legal, Finance, Payroll, Risk Management, and external vendors to deliver compliant, competitive, and high-quality benefit programs while managing financial and regulatory risk.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Finance, or related field
• 7 + years of progressive experience in health and welfare benefits administration
• Strong knowledge of U.S. & Canada benefits regulations
• Experience managing carriers, brokers, or TPAs.
• Financial analysis and vendor management experience.

Nice To Haves

• CEBS, SHRM, or related certification
• Experience in large, multi-state or multinational organizations.
• Knowledge of Canadian benefit programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, administration, and governance of North America health and welfare plans
• Support development of benefit strategy aligned with market benchmarking and workforce needs.
• Evaluate program performance, utilization trends, and cost drivers.
• Lead annual benefits renewal strategy and vendor negotiations with consultants and carriers.
• Lead plan amendments and operational implementation of design changes
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations including: ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA (programmatic impact), State and provincial benefit regulations
• Oversee required filings, audits, and regulatory reporting.
• Partner with Legal and external advisors on policy interpretation and risk mitigation
• Manage relationships with insurance carriers, brokers, and third-party administrators.
• Monitor service-level agreements and performance metrics.
• Lead quarterly and annual vendor business reviews.
• Lead contract and rate negotiation strategy.
• Lead benefits budgeting, forecasting, and cost modeling.
• Analyze claims experience and trend data.
• Partner with Finance on plan cost projections.
• Evaluate cost containment and plan optimization opportunities.
• Lead strategy and execution of annual enrollment.
• Ensure clear, compliant, and effective employee communications.
• Partner with Communications and HR Business Partners to improve employee understanding and engagement.
• Partner with absence administration teams on disability, leave, and accommodation program alignment.
• Lead integrated health, disability, and leave strategy.
• Prepare leadership dashboards and benefits metrics reporting.
• Support benefits committee or governance forums.
• Maintain plan documentation and internal controls.
• Lead benefits-related projects including system implementations, vendor transitions, or regulatory changes.
• Drive automation and digital self-service opportunities.

Benefits

• medical/Rx, dental, vision
• on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable)
• flexible spending accounts
• health savings account
• 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan
• discounted employee stock purchasing program
• life insurance
• disability
• workers’ compensation
• legal assistance
• identity theft protection
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
• Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares)
• Paid time off including paid holidays.
• Adoption assistance
• paid maternity and parental leave.
• Tuition assistance.
• Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs.

What This Job Offers

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