Vice President, Benefit Plans

Ameriprise•Minneapolis, MN

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Responsible for the strategic design, development, compliance, and optimization of employee benefit programs, including retirement, retirement savings, health and welfare, wellness, life and disability, and other employee benefit programs. Leads the execution of program strategy, governance, vendor management, communications, and operational effectiveness to ensure plans are competitive, compliant, financially sound, and aligned with the organization's talent and business objectives. Reports to the Vice President, Global Benefits. We are a client-centric, relationship-based business. Working together, in-person, is foundational to how we achieve results. By fostering a culture of face-to-face collaboration, idea sharing, productivity and personal connection, we deliver for our stakeholders — clients, advisors, employees and shareholders. Our employees work in the office at least four (4) days per week, with flexibility to work from home one (1) day per week. Some roles may require additional in-office time or different in-office expectations, and specific requirements will be discussed during the hiring process. Applicants must have a valid work authorization that does not now, or in the future, require visa sponsorship for employment in the United States (e.g., H-1B, F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, TN).

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent required; Master's degree or equivalent preferred.
10+ years of progressive experience in employee benefits, including leadership responsibility for complex benefit programs and teams.
Deep knowledge of benefit plan design, administration, governance, and compliance, including retirement, health and welfare, and wellness programs.
Strong understanding of regulatory, tax, fiduciary, and legislative requirements affecting employee benefit programs.
Demonstrated success leading and developing benefit professionals across varying levels of experience.
Experience managing vendor partnerships, service providers, consultants, and benefit administration operations.
Experience with advanced benefits financing techniques, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities, including experience evaluating program costs, effectiveness, trends, and business impacts.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence senior leaders and communicate complex benefit matters to diverse audiences.
Ability to build strong partnerships across Human Resources, Legal, Tax, Finance, Technology, and external organizations.

Nice To Haves

Benefits experience within financial services or another highly regulated industry.
Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation or equivalent professional certification.
Experience supporting fiduciary committees and governance structures associated with retirement and health benefit programs.
Demonstrated success leading significant benefit transformations, vendor transitions, or large-scale program implementations.
Experience with using a captive as a benefits financing vehicle.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the design, implementation, and ongoing management of employee benefit programs.
Monitor emerging industry trends, legislative developments, and workforce needs; recommend and implement plan enhancements that strengthen the employee value proposition and support business objectives.
Lead benchmarking, competitive analysis, plan effectiveness, and initiatives to evaluate benefit offerings and identify innovative solutions that enhance employee engagement, support well-being, and effectively manage benefit costs. Programs may include medical, dental, health and welfare, retirement savings, defined benefit, defined contribution, and wellness programs.
Provide leadership, coaching, and development for benefit team members to ensure high performance, operational excellence, and continuous professional growth. Build talent capabilities, manage performance, and foster a collaborative, results-oriented team environment.
Oversee and partner with fiduciary committees and legal to ensure effective governance, compliance, and administration of all benefit plans delivered through internal resources and third-party service providers. Ensure compliance with all applicable legal, regulatory, tax, reporting, fiduciary, and governance requirements. Partner closely with Legal, Tax, Finance, Internal Audit, and external consultants to assess risks, interpret regulatory changes, and maintain strong internal control environments.
Own strategic vendor relationships, including selection, governance, performance management, and service delivery oversight. Monitor vendor performance against established standards and drive continuous improvement initiatives to maximize value and mitigate operational risk.
Lead employee communications and engagement strategies related to benefit programs. Ensure employees and plan participants understand available benefits, recognize the value of programs offered, and have access to timely, accurate information and educational resources.
Provide thought leadership and subject matter expertise for enterprise initiatives, organizational changes, and business transformation efforts that impact employee benefit programs.
Support due diligence and integration activities related to mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic transactions as needed.