Senior Benefits Specialist

Voltava•Auburn Hills, MI

13d•Remote

About The Position

The Senior Benefits Specialist will support the design, implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of the company's global benefits programs, including health & welfare plans and retirement plans. The ideal candidate brings a minimum of 10 years of progressive benefits experience in union and non-union environments, deep technical knowledge of health & welfare and retirement plan design, and proven people-management skills.

Requirements

Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in benefits administration, design, or consulting, ideally within a global or multi-national organization.
Strong working knowledge of health & welfare plans (medical, dental, vision, disability, life, leave programs) and retirement/pension plans.
Demonstrated experience managing or leading direct reports.
Solid understanding of relevant U.S. and international regulatory frameworks (ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, and applicable local/regional equivalents).
Experience managing broker, carrier, and vendor relationships, including contract negotiation.
Proven ability to manage benefits programs at scale, ideally within an organization of 3,000+ employees and at least one collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
Strong analytical skills with experience in benefits cost analysis, benchmarking, and reporting.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex benefits information for employees at all levels.
Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting benefits programs across multiple countries/regions.
Experience with HRIS/benefits administration platforms (e.g., Dayforce, Workday, ADP, BenXpress, Benefitfocus, or similar).
Experience supporting benefits integration during M&A activity or rapid organizational growth.
Retirement plan fiduciary experience (e.g., 401(k) committee participation).

Responsibilities

Support the design, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of health & welfare benefit programs (medical, dental, vision, life, disability, EAP, wellness, voluntary benefits) and retirement programs (401(k) or equivalent global retirement/pension plans).
Benchmark plan offerings against market data and industry trends to ensure competitiveness in a global talent market.
Develop and recommend benefits strategies that align with overall Total Rewards philosophy and support the company's growth and geographic expansion.
Partner with leadership on annual renewal strategy, plan changes, and cost-management initiatives.
Oversee day-to-day administration of all benefits programs across all regions/entities, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and a high-quality employee experience.
Build relationships with brokers, carriers, third-party administrators (TPAs), and recordkeepers; negotiate contracts, service levels, and renewals.
Support the annual open enrollment process end-to-end, including system configuration, communications, vendor coordination, and issue resolution.
Ensure benefits programs are properly integrated with HRIS/payroll systems; partner with HRIS team on data feeds, testing, and audits.
Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations across jurisdictions, including but not limited to ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA (U.S.), and equivalent local statutory requirements in other countries.
Complete required filings (e.g., Form 5500, non-discrimination testing, SPDs/SMMs) and maintain plan documents in partnership with Legal and outside counsel.
Serve as plan administrator or delegate for retirement plans, ensuring fiduciary responsibilities are met in coordination with Finance and Legal.
Stay current on emerging legislation and regulatory changes affecting global benefits, proactively advising leadership on required action.
Mentor and develop local HR teams regarding benefits.
Establish team processes, service standards, and KPIs to ensure consistent, high-quality support to employees and HR business partners.
Build team capability to support the company's continued growth and increasing complexity of a global benefits portfolio.
Develop clear, engaging employee benefits communications and educational materials for employees globally.
Partner with HR People Operations and People Leaders to address escalated benefits questions and resolve complex employee issues.
Lead or support benefits-related change management as the company grows, including new market entries, M&A integration, and harmonization of plans.