Senior Manager of Benefits and Leave of Absence

Proliance Surgeons•Seattle, WA

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Benefits and Leave of Absence is responsible for leading the strategy, administration, and continuous improvement of the organization’s benefits and leave programs, ensuring compliance, operational excellence, and a strong teammate experience. This role oversees day-to-day health and welfare benefits, retirement education and operations, PTO, and LOA functions, including vendor management, plan design, administration, and complex case resolution, while leveraging data and analytics to inform decision-making and optimize program effectiveness. As a key member of the HR leadership team, this role partners closely with the VP of Human Resources and Chief People Officer and cross-functional leaders to align benefits and leave strategies with broader talent objectives, including recruitment, retention, engagement, and total rewards. The Senior Manager serves as a subject matter expert and consultative partner, providing guidance on complex compliance matters and supporting organizational initiatives related to workforce planning and employee experience. This leader also provides coaching and mentorship to HR team members, helping to elevate capabilities across benefits, leave administration, and HR operations, while driving strategic projects and process improvements that enhance service delivery and scalability. The role will report directly to the Vice President of Human Resources and has Associate Business Partner team members reporting to them.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources or a related field required, with commensurate years of progressive HR experience considered in lieu of formal degree.
A minimum of five to seven years of progressive human resource and benefits experience.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment, where speed, agility, and efficiency are primary drivers of success
Empowers and mentors others; develops direct reports and teammates
Demonstrates a high EQ, resolves conflicts, and facilitates resolution on key issues
Delegates effectively
Innovates across the benefit, leave, and HRIS space
Demonstrates the highest level of integrity, discretion, and judgment in handling sensitive and confidential information
Delivers a high-touch, service-oriented approach while balancing compliance, scalability, and operational efficiency
Strategic thinker with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights, while remaining a hands-on leader and subject matter expert
Deep understanding of the evolving healthcare landscape and its impact on benefits strategy, leave management, and workforce planning
Comprehensive knowledge of the healthcare industry, with a clear understanding of how benefits and leave programs influence the full employee lifecycle and organizational performance
Progressive experience in human resources, with a focus on benefits, leave of absence, and organizational effectiveness
Proven leadership capability, including developing, coaching, and mentoring high-performing teams
Models strong interpersonal effectiveness, professionalism, and collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups, including clinicians, executives, and staff
Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements and compliance standards, including HIPAA, FMLA, ADA, and state-specific leave laws
Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through; skilled in prioritization and delegation in a fast-paced environment
Demonstrated success leading change management initiatives, including implementing best practices, process improvements, and system enhancements
Excels at project management
Champions diversity
Ability to manage competing priorities, exercise judgment, and drive results with a high degree of autonomy
Analytical and resourceful problem-solver, with the ability to identify trends, risks, and opportunities and recommend effective solutions
Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, shifting priorities, and evolving business needs
Maintains objectivity and professionalism in complex or sensitive situations, focusing on outcomes rather than individuals
Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively convey information to executives, managers, and clinical teams
Advanced proficiency with HRIS and benefits administration systems (e.g., Dayforce preferred), with the ability to leverage data for reporting, trend analysis, and decision-making
Strong understanding of Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel (advanced analytics, modeling, and reporting), as well as PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook

Nice To Haves

SHRM-SCP or SPHR preferred.

Responsibilities

Partner with the VP of Human Resources and Executive leadership to design and execute a comprehensive benefit and leave of absence strategy aligned with organizational goals, workforce needs, and the evolving healthcare landscape
Lead, in partnership with Executive leadership; the strategy, design, administration, and continuous improvement of all benefits programs (health, welfare, retirement, wellness, PTO) and leave of absence programs (FMLA, ADA, state leaves, and company policies), ensuring a balance of compliance, cost-effectiveness, and teammate experience
Serve as the organization’s subject matter expert on complex benefits and leave issues; provide guidance and resolution on escalated, sensitive, and high-risk cases
Oversee vendor relationships for benefits and leave administration (e.g., carriers, brokers, third-party administrators), including performance management, contract negotiations, and service delivery optimization.
Oversee our medical, dental, vision, life, disability, AD&D, PTO, and voluntary health and welfare benefits.
Drive holistic wellness solutions that improve the health of our members and improve self-insured plan performance.
Increase participation in our EAP programs in an effort to improve employee wellness.
Drive open enrollments for multiple entities (Proliance, JVs, future clients).
Create and implement comprehensive education programs related to our retirement programs, particularly related to profit sharing and match.
Oversee the eligibility and audits around our 401K match and profit sharing programs.
Partner with finance on the audits and reconciliations of benefit programs including HSA / FSA, annual 401k audit, and bi-weekly payroll audits.
File 5500s and other regulatory filings for plans.
Partner closely with HRIS vendor, Payroll, and Finance to ensure accurate benefits and leave administration, reporting, integrations, and audits; identify and implement system enhancements to improve efficiency and data integrity
Lead compliance efforts related to benefits and leave programs, ensuring adherence to federal, state, and local regulations (including ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, ADA, and Washington state-specific requirements)
Develop and analyze benefits and leave data, trends, and utilization to inform strategy, manage costs, and identify opportunities for program enhancements and risk mitigation
Design and deliver clear, effective communication strategies to improve teammate understanding, engagement, and utilization of benefits and leave programs
Partner with Talent, HR Business Partners, and leadership to ensure benefits and leave programs support recruitment, retention, and overall teammate experience
Drive process improvements and lead change management initiatives related to benefits and leave programs, including system implementations, policy updates, and best practice adoption.
Drive AI adoption and task automation to ensure benefits team is working at the top of their license
Develop, implement, and maintain policies and procedures related to benefits, PTO, and leave of absence, ensuring consistency, clarity, and alignment with organizational values
Provide training and education to HR team, field managers, and leaders on benefits and leave policies, compliance requirements, and best practices
Support total rewards initiatives, including benefits benchmarking, open enrollment strategy, and integration with broader compensation programs
Maintain current knowledge of industry trends, legislative changes, and emerging best practices in benefits and leave management, proactively recommending enhancements