Senior Manager, Benefits

EchoStar•Centennial, CO

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Benefits drives the strategic vision, design, execution, and continuous optimization of EchoStar’s health, welfare, time-off, and retirement programs. Partnering closely with HR Centers of Excellence, Business Partners, and executive leadership, this role addresses complex benefit challenges and shapes policies that align with overall business objectives and employee needs. As a primary Subject Matter Expert (SME), the Senior Manager leads cross-functional initiatives, oversees critical vendor partnerships, enforces strict regulatory compliance, and influences practices across all organizational levels.

Requirements

Strategic Design, Benchmarking & Financial Analysis
Program Leadership: Direct the overall design, strategy, communication, and ongoing administration of health and welfare plans, retirement programs, and leave policies.
Competitive Analysis: Continuously evaluate current benefit offerings against peer organizations and industry trends to ensure market competitiveness, value, and cost-effectiveness.
Data & Analytics: Compile, analyze, and present advanced benefit data reports, cost projections, and plan performance metrics for leadership and regulatory bodies.
Open Enrollment Management: Lead annual Open Enrollment projects end-to-end—managing timelines, task delegation, documentation, and targeted employee communication campaigns.
Renewals & Vendor Oversight: Oversee plan renewals, negotiate terms, and manage strategic relationships with insurance carriers, brokers, and third-party administrators (TPAs) to ensure high service quality and optimal ROI.
Regulatory Compliance: Maintain rigorous adherence to federal, state, and local regulations, including FMLA, ADA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, and ERISA.
Plan Governance: Author, review, and update Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs), plan documents, and internal HR policies to ensure compliance and administrative accuracy.
Cross-Functional Influence: Collaborate with and advise HR business partners, legal teams, and business units to drive process improvements and resolve complex benefit inquiries.
Team Mentorship: Serve as a functional SME and support lead for direct reports and peers across HR Operations.
Employee Communication: Develop high-impact, themed communications and programs to drive employee understanding, engagement, and plan adoption.

Responsibilities

Plan and guide the overall design, implementation, communication, and administration of DISH’s health and welfare benefits programs.
Compile, organize and submit advanced data reports relating to benefits plans, internal management, and external agencies.
Benefits coverage evaluation, benchmarking, and cost analysis.
Manage and maintain HR vendor relationships by providing a quality customer experience and establish long-term customer relationships.
Provide functional support to peers and direct reports as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for one or more HR Operations functions.
Ensure program adherence to current regulations and support of the organization’s strategic objectives.
Review, create and update summary plan descriptions and applicable policies to ensure accuracy of administration in plan documents.
Manages annual open enrollment projects by creating and implementing a project plan, delegating tasks, and creating open enrollment documentation and employee communication materials.
Responsible for the oversight of benefit renewals and delivery of final outcomes.
Ensure successful Open Enrollment annually.
Develops compelling benefits communications and themed programs to increase appeal and adoption by employees.
Provides guidance to employees on benefit-related issues and concerns.
Evaluates existing benefit programs against peer organizations to determine competitiveness, trends, and developments.