Vice President, Benefits & Retirement

Thomas Jefferson University • Philadelphia, PA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Accountable for the design, strategy, financing, and administration of all employee benefits and retirement programs across the Jefferson enterprise. This role provides strategic leadership over a comprehensive portfolio spanning medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, life, disability, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs, 401(k) and 403(b) plans, defined benefit/pension obligations, non-qualified deferred compensation, and executive benefit arrangements. Leads a high-performing team and serve as the enterprise authority on benefits strategy in a complex, multi-entity, multi-state health care environment — including union and non-union populations, diverse workforce segments, and the unique benefit obligations inherent to an employer that is simultaneously a health system, a health plan, a university, and a care delivery organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance or related field
• 15+ years of progressive benefits leadership experience
• 7 years in a senior or executive benefits leadership role
• Deep technical expertise in health and welfare plan design, self-insurance, actuarial concepts, and pharmacy benefit management
• Mastery of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, SECURE Act 2.0, Mental Health Parity, and No Surprises Act compliance requirements
• Strong financial acumen, including benefits budgeting, actuarial modeling, claims analytics, and total compensation costing
• Exceptional executive presence and communication skills; ability to present complex benefit strategy to the Board, C-Suite, and frontline employees alike
• Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and inspire high-performing teams in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment
• Strategic thinker with an evidence-based orientation and comfort with data, analytics, and benefits technology platforms
• Collaborative and politically savvy; skilled at building cross-functional partnerships with Finance, Legal, IT, Risk, and Clinical Operations
• High degree of personal and professional integrity; trusted steward of confidential and sensitive information

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Health Administration or related field
• 5 years in a large, complex, multi-entity health care enterprise (health system, integrated delivery network, or payer/provider organization) strongly preferred
• Proven experience managing self-insured health plan programs with annual spend of $250M or greater
• Experience as a named or functional ERISA fiduciary, including retirement plan governance, DOL/IRS compliance, and investment committee leadership
• Direct experience managing defined benefit pension plans, including actuarial oversight and PBGC compliance, preferred
• Experience leading benefits integration
• Exposure to union benefit plan management

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a multi-year benefits and retirement strategy aligned with enterprise workforce and total rewards goals.
• Lead design and ongoing evaluation of all health, welfare, and retirement programs to ensure competitiveness, quality, and financial sustainability.
• Partner with CHRO and CFO on annual and long-range benefits budgeting, financial modeling, and scenario planning.
• Lead renewal negotiations with carriers, PBMs, TPAs, and stop-loss partners to optimize plan economics.
• Direct strategy for retirement programs including 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit/pension plans, NQDC, and supplemental retirement plans (SRPs).
• Oversee ERISA compliance, plan document maintenance, Summary Plan Description (SPD) accuracy, and Form 5500 filings across all qualified and non-qualified plans.
• Direct the defined benefit/pension program, including actuarial assumptions, asset-liability management, investment policy compliance, and PBGC obligations where applicable.
• Partner with investment consultants and record keepers to optimize 401(k)/403(b) fund lineups, participant education, and retirement readiness outcomes.
• Ensure enterprise-wide compliance with ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, SECURE Act 2.0, Mental Health Parity, No Surprises Act, and all applicable state and local mandates.
• Oversee compliance calendar, plan audit processes, discrimination testing (ADP/ACP, top-heavy), and corrective action under IRS and DOL programs.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary benefits team across plan management, leave administration, retirement operations, analytics, and vendor governance.
• Oversee benefits communication strategy, open enrollment, and year-round education across digital and in-person channels.
• Partner with HR technology teams to optimize benefits platforms and self-service capabilities.

Benefits

• medical (including prescription)
• supplemental insurance
• dental
• vision
• life and AD&D insurance
• short- and long-term disability
• flexible spending accounts
• retirement plans
• tuition assistance
• voluntary benefits
• tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full time service or two years of part time service

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive