Manager, Benefits

Manager Benefits

The Manager Benefits is responsible for the administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of the organization's health, welfare, retirement, leave, and wellness programs. Reporting to the Senior Director Total Rewards & Wellness, this role ensures benefit offerings are competitive, compliant, and aligned with the organization's Total Rewards strategy while delivering an exceptional employee experience. The Manager oversees the day-to-day administration of employee benefits, retirement plans, leave of absence and accommodation programs, wellness initiatives, and benefits operations. This position serves as the organization's subject matter expert on benefits compliance and administration, partnering closely with Payroll, Finance, Legal, HRIS, and external vendors to optimize program effectiveness and operational excellence.

Essential Responsibilities

• Manage the administration of all employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, prescription, life, disability, retirement, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, commuter benefits, employee assistance programs, COBRA administration, voluntary benefits, and wellness initiatives.
• Evaluate benefit utilization, claims data, market trends, benchmarking, and employee feedback to recommend program improvements.
• Support annual benefits planning, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Assist in developing innovative benefit offerings that enhance employee attraction, retention, and wellbeing.
• Ensure benefit programs remain competitive and aligned with organizational objectives.
• Administering defined contribution retirement plans.
• Coordinating retirement plan eligibility, enrollments, distributions, and employee education.
• Partnering with retirement providers, fiduciary advisors, and consultants.
• Supporting annual audits, nondiscrimination testing, Form 5500 preparation, and fiduciary governance.
• Assisting with retirement committee administration and documentation.
• Oversee federal, state, local, and organizational leave programs.
• Administer FMLA, ADA, paid family leave, military leave, disability programs, workers' compensation coordination, and other leave policies.
• Coordinate the interactive process for reasonable accommodations.
• Review medical documentation and facilitate accommodation determinations.
• Partner with managers, employees, Legal, and third-party administrators to ensure compliant leave administration.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex leave, accommodation, and return-to-work cases.
• Coordinate employee wellness initiatives and campaigns.
• Manage wellness vendor relationships and programming.
• Promote preventive health and wellbeing resources.
• Measure participation and program effectiveness.
• Recommend enhancements based on utilization and employee feedback.
• Support annual wellbeing planning and communications.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable benefits and leave regulations.
• Monitor compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, ADA, Section 125, IRS regulations, retirement plan requirements, and applicable state and local laws.
• Maintain plan documents, summary plan descriptions, policies, and required notices.
• Coordinate annual regulatory filings and reporting.
• Lead benefits-related compliance audits.
• Monitor legislative changes and recommend program modifications.
• Ensure organizational compliance with reporting requirements, including ACA reporting, retirement disclosures, nondiscrimination testing, etc..
• Develop and manage the annual Open Enrollment project plan.
• Coordinate vendor timelines and implementation activities.
• Oversee benefit elections and system configuration.
• Develop employee communication materials.
• Coordinate employee education sessions.
• Evaluate enrollment outcomes and recommend improvements.
• Manage relationships with benefit vendors and consultants.
• Oversee carriers, brokers, third-party administrators, consultants, and wellness vendors.
• Monitor vendor performance through service level agreements and performance metrics.
• Participate in vendor selection and RFP processes.
• Support contract negotiations and renewals.
• Monitor benefit costs and identify cost containment opportunities.
• Assist with annual benefits budgeting and forecasting.
• Oversee benefits-related HRIS workflows.
• Ensure accurate benefits configuration within HRIS.
• Support system testing and implementation of benefit changes.
• Develop and analyze benefits dashboards and metrics.
• Monitor enrollment, utilization, participation, leave, and cost trends.
• Prepare executive reports and recommendations.
• Utilize analytics to support strategic decision-making.
• Provide operational leadership for daily benefits administration.
• Oversee enrollments, life events, qualifying events, and terminations.
• Review and approve benefit transactions.
• Resolve complex employee benefit issues.
• Ensure timely processing of benefits changes.
• Develop standardized procedures and documentation.
• Continuously improve operational efficiency and service delivery.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive benefits policies, procedures, and administrative guidelines.
• Lead benefits education initiatives for employees, managers, and People Experience staff.
• Manage dependent eligibility audits and carrier reconciliation activities.
• Oversee benefits invoice reconciliation and premium accuracy.
• Evaluate emerging trends in benefits, wellbeing, and Total Rewards to recommend innovative programs.
• Develop annual benefits scorecards and executive dashboards.
• Ensure all benefits programs reflect the organization's commitment to equity, inclusion, employee wellbeing, and exceptional service.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, or a related field required.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel features

Experience

• Five+ years of progressively responsible experience in employee benefits, retirement administration, leave management, and Total Rewards.
• Experience administering health and welfare plans, retirement plans, leave programs, and wellness initiatives.
• Experience managing benefits vendors, brokers, consultants, and third-party administrators.
• Experience with HRIS platforms (e.g., UKG), benefits administration systems, and benefits reporting.
• Experience in problem solving and conflict resolution using empathetic interpersonal and communication skills

This position is on a hybrid schedule with the flexibility to work remotely 3 days per week, subject to change.

If hired, I agree to abide by all of Safe Horizon's rules and regulations, and understand that, if employed, my employment may be terminated with or without cause, and with or without notice, at any time, at the option of either the company or me. I further understand that no representation, whether oral or written by any representative or agent of the organization, at any time, constitutes a contract of employment.

AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Applicants may be responsible for providing the equipment and tools they need to work remotely as required, such as access to a computer, internet service, and phone service. Safe Horizon will discuss potential solutions with candidates and may assist where needed and agreed to in advance.

Salary: $80,000 - $90,000 per year

Full-time Hours : 35 Hours per week

Full-time Benefits : Paid time-off, Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, 403(b) Retirement Plan, Medical/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Tuition Assistance Program, Commuter Benefits Program, Gym Reimbursement, Parental Leave, Employee Learning Center

Safe Horizon was named one of City & State New York Top Workplaces of 2025 and 2026 Top Workplaces

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.