Senior Retirement Benefits Consultant

Liberty Mutual•Boston, MA

About The Position

Liberty Mutual’s Total Rewards Benefits team is seeking a senior individual contributor to provide operational oversight of the company’s retirement programs. The role has primary responsibility for U.S. defined contribution and defined benefit plans, with additional responsibility for Puerto Rico and Canadian retirement plans. It partners with vendors and internal teams to plan, develop, and administer retirement and health and welfare programs, ensuring accurate, efficient, and compliant administration under plan terms and applicable regulations. Reporting to the Director, Retirement Strategies, the consultant serves as a retirement operations subject matter expert and supports Retirement Committee and Investment Committee preparation. The role works closely with recordkeepers, actuaries, trustees, financial advisors, other external partners, and internal Legal, Payroll, Finance, HR, IT, and Benefits teams. It also leads complex benefits projects from planning through implementation. Candidates who live within 50 miles of Boston, MA; Portsmouth, NH; Seattle, WA; Indianapolis, IN; Columbus, OH; or Plano, TX follow a hybrid schedule, working in the office two days per week. Otherwise, the role is remote.

Requirements

7–10 years of progressive retirement plan experience, including support for large or complex employer-sponsored retirement programs.
Strong knowledge of defined contribution and defined benefit plans, including operations, regulatory requirements, compliance testing, annual processes, and operational corrections.
Strong working knowledge of ERISA, IRS requirements, and qualified retirement plan regulations, with experience identifying and resolving operational and compliance issues.
Demonstrated experience with large retirement recordkeeping platforms, actuaries, and other retirement vendors, including managing vendor performance and driving issues to resolution.
Experience supporting plan design changes, implementations, system enhancements, vendor transitions, and complex retirement projects, with cross-functional partnership across Legal, Payroll, and IT.
Experience preparing materials for or supporting Retirement and Investment Committees, with an understanding of fiduciary responsibilities and plan governance.
Strong analytical and data skills, including advanced Microsoft Excel capabilities and experience analyzing retirement plan data, reconciliations, exceptions, and operational controls.
Strong project management, problem-solving, and communication skills, including leading stakeholder meetings and developing change management communications.
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and explain complex retirement issues to different audiences.
Working knowledge of health and welfare benefit programs and how they integrate with retirement programs.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience required.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with financial well-being programs, participant education, and retirement readiness metrics.
Familiarity with Puerto Rico and Canadian retirement plan requirements.
Retirement or benefits professional designation such as CEBS, QKA, QPA, or ERPA.

Responsibilities

Lead operational oversight of retirement plans, including recurring activities, compliance requirements, controls, deadlines, and annual deliverables.
Oversee retirement plan compliance and testing, including nondiscrimination and coverage testing, contribution and compensation limits, regulatory filings, and other annual requirements.
Ensure plans, programs, and processes comply with applicable laws and regulations, including ERISA and IRS requirements.
Monitor legislative and regulatory developments, including SECURE 2.0 and IRS and DOL guidance, and assess effects on plan operations, administration, and participant communications.
Resolve complex operational issues, participant claims, and plan corrections through root-cause analysis, participant impact assessment, and corrective action.
Oversee retirement plan data integrity and operational controls; use data and analytics to identify exceptions, trends, and risks; and partner on interfaces, file feeds, reconciliations, testing, and data validation.
Support preparation for Retirement Committee and Investment Committee meetings by providing materials, plan reporting, data, analysis, and operational updates, and track committee actions.
Partner with Legal to maintain plan documents, amendments, summary plan descriptions, and required participant notices, ensuring operations align with plan terms.
Support retirement plan audits, regulatory filings, and governance activities by providing reporting, data, analysis, and operational expertise.
Manage operational relationships with retirement recordkeepers, actuaries, trustees or custodians, and other vendors; set service expectations, monitor performance and deliverables, and hold partners accountable.
Partner with vendors and team members to plan, develop, and administer employee health and welfare and retirement programs.
Serve as a senior retirement subject matter expert and advisor to the Director, managing complex priorities and collaborating across Benefits, Legal, Payroll, Finance, IT, and HR.
Evaluate benefits offerings and recommend enhancements aligned with enterprise goals, providing operational expertise on retirement strategy, plan design changes, program enhancements, operational impacts, and vendor capabilities.
Lead planning and implementation of complex benefits initiatives, including plan changes, regulatory requirements, vendor transitions, and system enhancements; define requirements, coordinate testing, and ensure successful delivery.
Support defined benefit plan initiatives, including actuarial valuations, funding and benefit calculation reviews, and pension risk transfer or annuity purchase projects.
Lead stakeholder meetings and develop change management communications explaining complex retirement and benefits changes to different audiences.
Identify and lead continuous improvement opportunities involving processes, procedures, controls, automation, vendor performance, and program delivery.