Benefits Manager

Position Summary:

As a member of the People Resources Team, the Benefits Manager owns the design, administration, and continuous improvement of the Company's health and welfare, retirement, and wellness programs. This position ensures the Company's benefit offerings remain competitive, cost-effective, and fully compliant with state and federal requirements, and serves as the internal subject matter expert for benefits best practices, vendor performance, and employee benefit communications. The Benefits Manager partners closely with brokers, carriers, and internal stakeholders to deliver a benefits experience that supports talent attraction and retention.

 Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Leadership and Strategy

• Act as subject matter expert for benefits best practices, market competitiveness, and regulatory compliance. Recommend and implement program changes in support of Company goals and objectives.
• Partner with internal clients and managers to ensure coordination and proactive consideration of issues related to employee benefits.
• Conduct audits and assessments of Company benefits programs to ensure compliance, consistency, and alignment with the Company's total rewards strategy; recommend changes where required.
• Develop and deliver compliance communications and training (e.g., HIPAA).
• Prepare and deliver presentations on benefit issues for Company leadership and employees.
• Stay current on all state and federal regulations impacting benefits — including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and state-mandated benefit programs — and assess the operational impact of changes.
• Maintain accurate, confidential benefits records and documentation in accordance with Company policy and applicable law.
• Manage bonus and incentive plan administration.
• Support performance management process.

Benefits Administration

• Monitor and evaluate the Company's Health and Welfare benefits programs. Ensure benefits are current, competitive, and cost-effective with regard to market trends and practices.
• Coordinate development of benefits materials, roll-out, and administration of the annual open enrollment process, including carrier feeds, employee communications, and enrollment system accuracy.
• Support the negotiation of coverage services and costs with carriers, brokers, and providers to ensure excellent service and competitive rates.
• Conduct annual medical renewal and cost-sharing strategy recommendations. Review ancillary benefits (e.g., STD, LTD, Life, and EAP) renewals and ensure cost-competitive contracts as well as competitive coverage.
• Develop and implement competitive wellness programs to assist with benefit cost containment.
• Lead all activities required to comply with Company and external benefit audits (e.g., 401(k) audit, government audits).
• Respond to requests for information and compliance activities from government entities (e.g., IRS inquiries, state benefit plans).
• Manage day-to-day plan administration: eligibility and enrollment, qualifying life events, COBRA, carrier and vendor service issues, and escalated employee benefit inquiries.
• Coordinate benefits administration with payroll, HRIS, and leave administration to ensure accurate deductions and seamless employee experience.
• Monitor carrier and vendor performance against service standards; escalate and resolve issues as needed.

Education/Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related discipline.
• Five to ten years of progressively responsible benefits experience, including analysis, plan design, and program administration.
• Experience researching and designing health and welfare benefit plan offerings and managing third-party providers.
• Experience ensuring compliance and cost-effectiveness of programs and policies.
• Working knowledge of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and state-mandated benefit requirements.
• Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present to leadership and employees.

Preferred

• Professional training and certification in benefits (e.g., CEBS, CBP, GBA).
• Benefits program management in the restaurant industry, including multi-state and hourly workforce populations.
• Master's degree.
• Bilingual — English/Spanish.

Position Summary:

As a member of the People Resources Team, the Benefits Manager owns the design, administration, and continuous improvement of the Company's health and welfare, retirement, and wellness programs. This position ensures the Company's benefit offerings remain competitive, cost-effective, and fully compliant with state and federal requirements, and serves as the internal subject matter expert for benefits best practices, vendor performance, and employee benefit communications. The Benefits Manager partners closely with brokers, carriers, and internal stakeholders to deliver a benefits experience that supports talent attraction and retention.

 Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Leadership and Strategy

• Act as subject matter expert for benefits best practices, market competitiveness, and regulatory compliance. Recommend and implement program changes in support of Company goals and objectives.
• Partner with internal clients and managers to ensure coordination and proactive consideration of issues related to employee benefits.
• Conduct audits and assessments of Company benefits programs to ensure compliance, consistency, and alignment with the Company's total rewards strategy; recommend changes where required.
• Develop and deliver compliance communications and training (e.g., HIPAA).
• Prepare and deliver presentations on benefit issues for Company leadership and employees.
• Stay current on all state and federal regulations impacting benefits — including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and state-mandated benefit programs — and assess the operational impact of changes.
• Maintain accurate, confidential benefits records and documentation in accordance with Company policy and applicable law.
• Manage bonus and incentive plan administration.
• Support performance management process.

Benefits Administration

• Monitor and evaluate the Company's Health and Welfare benefits programs. Ensure benefits are current, competitive, and cost-effective with regard to market trends and practices.
• Coordinate development of benefits materials, roll-out, and administration of the annual open enrollment process, including carrier feeds, employee communications, and enrollment system accuracy.
• Support the negotiation of coverage services and costs with carriers, brokers, and providers to ensure excellent service and competitive rates.
• Conduct annual medical renewal and cost-sharing strategy recommendations. Review ancillary benefits (e.g., STD, LTD, Life, and EAP) renewals and ensure cost-competitive contracts as well as competitive coverage.
• Develop and implement competitive wellness programs to assist with benefit cost containment.
• Lead all activities required to comply with Company and external benefit audits (e.g., 401(k) audit, government audits).
• Respond to requests for information and compliance activities from government entities (e.g., IRS inquiries, state benefit plans).
• Manage day-to-day plan administration: eligibility and enrollment, qualifying life events, COBRA, carrier and vendor service issues, and escalated employee benefit inquiries.
• Coordinate benefits administration with payroll, HRIS, and leave administration to ensure accurate deductions and seamless employee experience.
• Monitor carrier and vendor performance against service standards; escalate and resolve issues as needed.

Education/Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related discipline.
• Five to ten years of progressively responsible benefits experience, including analysis, plan design, and program administration.
• Experience researching and designing health and welfare benefit plan offerings and managing third-party providers.
• Experience ensuring compliance and cost-effectiveness of programs and policies.
• Working knowledge of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and state-mandated benefit requirements.
• Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present to leadership and employees.

Preferred

• Professional training and certification in benefits (e.g., CEBS, CBP, GBA).
• Benefits program management in the restaurant industry, including multi-state and hourly workforce populations.
• Master's degree.
• Bilingual — English/Spanish.