Senior Manager, Benefits, Wellness & Leave Administration

WithumSmith+Brown•East Brunswick, NJ

9d•$155,000 - $165,000

About The Position

Withum is a place where talent thrives - where who you are matters. It’s a place of endless opportunities for growth. A place where entrepreneurial energy plus inclusive teamwork equals exponential results. Explore different industries. Learn new skills. Connect with our diverse teams of professionals to gain insight into the career you envision. Your Career Starts with You. Experience the Transformative Power of Withum Plus You - that’s the Power in the Plus! The Senior Manager, Benefits, Wellness, and Leave Administration is responsible for the strategic oversight, operational excellence, and continuous improvement of the Firm’s benefits, wellness, and leave programs, providing both leadership oversight and individual contribution on all benefits, wellness, and leave programs, policies, and practices that enhance the team member experience and support organizational growth. The Senior Manager, Benefits, Wellness, and Leave Administration will lead a team of HR professionals who administer these programs within the Firm and will serve as a subject matter expert on the programs as well as the related regulatory compliance. This role requires a deep understanding of US benefits laws and regulations, strong leadership skills, and a passion for delivering the best possible benefits and leave experience for our team members. The position is responsible for the vision, analysis, research, communication, and administration of strategic employee benefit, wellness, and leave programs, and the processes associated with supporting these programs, ensuring that these programs support the Firm’s growth strategy, business objectives, and talent acquisition and retention goals. The Senior Manager, Benefits, Wellness, & Leave Administration is also responsible for managing vendor relationships, plan design, and the systems and technology that support the benefit plans; providing expertise and insight to senior leadership on team member benefit programs; making recommendations for enhancements and/or changes to team member benefit packages based on cost, team member preferences, system capabilities, and strategic direction of the Firm. Withum’s brand is a reflection of our people, our culture and our strength. Withum has become synonymous with teamwork and client service excellence. The cornerstone of our success can truly be accredited to the dedicated professionals who work here every day, whose mission is to help our clients grow and thrive - to be in a position of strength. But our commitment goes beyond our clients as we continue to live the Withum Way, promoting personal and professional growth for all team members, clients, and surrounding communities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree with an HR or business emphasis
Minimum of 7 years progressive experience in benefits administration, including at least 3 years in a leadership role
Strong functional expertise in benefits program design and administration
Experience working in a multi-state regulatory environment as it relates to benefits and leave laws
In-depth knowledge of government regulations that apply to benefit programs (ERISA, FMLA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, NY - HCRA)
Strong knowledge of State leave laws
Experience in leveraging technology for benefits administration
Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Experience interacting with brokers and vendors
Demonstrated ability to effectively lead a team, provide guidance, direction, support, and backup with all aspects of benefits and leave management
Excellent communication, analytical, and project management skills
Proven organizational and planning skills, with the ability to manage complex projects, multiple priorities, and tight deadlines
Comfortable in group presentations and negotiations
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with professionalism and discretion
Strong customer service acumen
Ability to work at both the “high” level and the “low” – requiring you to think, plan, and direct but also to execute

Nice To Haves

Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) or Certified Benefit Professional (CBP) is preferred
Workday HCM/Benefits/Absence experience is strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Providing strategic leadership and direction for the design, implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of all health, group benefits, wellness, retirement, leave, and other firm perks/benefits programs, ensuring alignment with the Firm’s growth strategy, business objectives, and talent acquisition/retention goals
Overseeing the development, enhancement, and execution of comprehensive wellness and leave strategies, including physical, mental, and financial well-being, and ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations (e.g., FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, ERISA)
Leading and developing the U.S. benefits team, fostering a culture of operational excellence, collaboration, and professional growth, setting clear goals, providing coaching, and ensuring accountability for high-quality service delivery
Partnering with HR, Talent, and Finance functions to drive strategic improvements and ensure seamless integration of benefits and leave programs, including during M&A activities
Overseeing the administration of all U.S. benefits and leave programs, including enrollment, claims, vendor management, compliance, policy development, and execution
Ensuring accurate management of leave data, payments, and balances; performing audits; analyzing program usage; and evaluating effectiveness from cost, process, and team member experience perspectives
Maintaining quality assurance, document procedures, and implementing new administrative processes to achieve efficiency and accuracy
Building and maintaining strong relationships with brokers, external vendors, and consultants to ensure optimal benefit offerings, service excellence, cost-effectiveness, and adherence to contracts and service levels
Conducting research and collaborating with brokers to draft annual renewal change recommendations and monitor market trends, best practices, and benchmarking data
Leading benefits communications and education initiatives, ensuring team members and managers are well-informed and empowered to utilize benefits and wellness resources
Managing communication efforts, training, and tools regarding benefit program offerings, procedural changes, and government-mandated disclosures
Providing support and guidance to team members and managers on benefit and leave-related matters, including handling complex issues, investigations, and complaints
Preparing special reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends; monitoring high-cost claims and problem areas; and ensuring accurate estimates, forecasts, and calculations for budget planning
Overseeing the management and communication of the 401k plan and Executive Physical program
Reviewing, creating, and updating Summary Plan Descriptions and applicable policies to ensure accuracy and compliance in plan documents and administrative processes