Strategic Benefits Program Manager
About The Position
Manages assigned benefit program portfolios, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and employee needs. Evaluates program effectiveness, vendor performance, employee experience, and cost implications. Conducts benchmarking, gap analysis, and research to support program recommendations. Develops program options, implementation plans, timelines, and leadership recommendations. Translates strategy into operational requirements, including impacts to systems, vendors, Shared Services, and communications. Serves as the Benefits COE liaison to Shared Services and ensures alignment between policy and operations. Owns policy, procedures, and compliance governance for assigned programs. Coordinates vendor, broker, and consultant interactions, including performance evaluation and implementation support. Provides subject matter expertise for employee communications and education strategies. Leads cross-functional benefit projects and change initiatives. Designs and manages health and welfare programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and voluntary health-related plans. Leads plan design strategy, evaluating coverage options, cost structures, and employee experience to ensure competitive and effective programs. Monitors vendor performance and service delivery, ensuring alignment with program goals, contractual expectations, and employee needs. Supports and develops open enrollment strategy, including plan offerings, decision support, and employee engagement approaches. Analyzes healthcare utilization, claims trends, and population health data to inform program improvements and cost management strategies.
Requirements
- Advanced knowledge of employee benefits programs and plan design across multiple domains.
- Strong understanding of either health & welfare or retirement/financial wellness programs.
- Ability to assess program effectiveness and develop strategic recommendations.
- Knowledge of benefits regulations and compliance requirements (e.g., ERISA, ACA, IRS, DOL, HIPAA).
- Strong vendor management and project management skills.
- Ability to translate complex concepts into operational and employee-facing guidance.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Ability to influence across a matrixed organization without direct authority.
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Health Administration, Public Administration, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in employee benefits, benefits consulting, or a related field.
- Experience supporting or managing benefit program design, vendor coordination, policy interpretation, compliance activities, or large-scale benefits initiatives.
- Experience working with cross-functional stakeholders including Shared Services, HRIS, Payroll, Finance, Legal, Communications, and external vendors or consultants.
- Demonstrated ability to lead projects, analyze complex issues, and develop actionable recommendations.
Responsibilities
- Manages assigned benefit program portfolios, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and employee needs.
- Evaluates program effectiveness, vendor performance, employee experience, and cost implications.
- Conducts benchmarking, gap analysis, and research to support program recommendations.
- Develops program options, implementation plans, timelines, and leadership recommendations.
- Translates strategy into operational requirements, including impacts to systems, vendors, Shared Services, and communications.
- Serves as the Benefits COE liaison to Shared Services and ensures alignment between policy and operations.
- Owns policy, procedures, and compliance governance for assigned programs.
- Coordinates vendor, broker, and consultant interactions, including performance evaluation and implementation support.
- Provides subject matter expertise for employee communications and education strategies.
- Leads cross-functional benefit projects and change initiatives.
- Designs and manages health and welfare programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and voluntary health-related plans.
- Leads plan design strategy, evaluating coverage options, cost structures, and employee experience to ensure competitive and effective programs.
- Monitors vendor performance and service delivery, ensuring alignment with program goals, contractual expectations, and employee needs.
- Supports and develops open enrollment strategy, including plan offerings, decision support, and employee engagement approaches.
- Analyzes healthcare utilization, claims trends, and population health data to inform program improvements and cost management strategies.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
