Benefits Manager

The Benefits Manager leads the strategic design, implementation, and administration of employee health, welfare, retirement, paid-time off, and leave programs. This role ensures offerings are competitive, cost-effective, compliant, and aligned with the organization's Total Rewards philosophy. This position manages a team and partners cross-functionally to drive employee engagement, education, and continuous improvement.

Essential Functions

• Program Strategy & Design: Develop and recommend benefit programs—including health, welfare, retirement, leave, wellness, and financial wellbeing—that support employee needs and organizational goals; conduct market benchmarking and trend analysis to ensure competitiveness
• Administration & Compliance: Oversee daily operations and documentation of benefit programs, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, FMLA); maintain audit readiness and partner with Legal and Compliance on regulatory updates
• Vendor & Budget Management: Manage broker, benefits administrator and vendor relationships, including selection, negotiation, performance monitoring, and issue resolution; collaborate with Finance to develop and manage budgets, conduct cost-benefit analyses, and forecast expenditures
• Employee Experience & Communication: Lead benefit communications and education efforts through workshops, webinars, and guides; serve as escalation point for complex employee inquiries and claims issues.
• Leverage data analytics to assess program utilization, identify gaps, and inform strategic decisions. Design, recommend, and produce reports on benefit metrics and ROI; partner with HRIS to automate processes and enhance data integrity
• Oversee retirement plan administration (e.g., 401(k), pension), ensuring compliance and employee education; promote financial wellness tools and resources
• Conduct regular program evaluations using employee feedback and utilization data; recommend enhancements to align with workforce needs and organizational strategy
• Comply with Company and department policies and standards; performs other duties as assigned

People Management

• Accountable for team staffing and managing direct reports to include development, performance management, goal setting, and other managerial duties
• Ensures direct reports are aware of and follow ethical business practices and Company’s Code of Conduct to maintain a supportive and productive working environment.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resource Management or related field or equivalent education and/or experience
• 6 years of experience in Human Resources, Benefits, or related.
• 2 years people management experience with a strong focus on team collaboration
• Experience with managing benefit programs and setup with an HRIS platform (e.g., Workday, SAP, Oracle, etc.)

Preferred Requirements

• Experience with Workday benefits and compensation modules
• Experience with wellness and financial wellbeing program design

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in benefits strategy, program design & administration, compliance, and vendor management
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills; ability to handle multiple priorities in a time sensitive and dynamic environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization
• Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing benefits team by fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and results-oriented work environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday, SAP, Oracle)

Physical and Cognitive Demands

• Communicate/Hearing Frequently
• Communicate/Talking Frequently
• Learn New Tasks or Concepts Frequently
• Make Timely Decisions in the Context of a Workflow Frequently
• Complete Tasks Independently Constantly
• Maintain Focus Constantly
• Remember Processes & Procedures Constantly
• Stationary Position (Seated) Constantly

Travel Requirements

• 5% travel to vendor meetings locally as needed

This person must be located within a commutable distance to Mendota Heights, MN. This will be 2 days in the office hybrid model.

The potential compensation range for this role is below. The final offer amount would be based on various factors such as candidate location (geographical labor market), experience, and skills. $106,400.00 - $133,000.00