BENEFITS PROGRAM MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION

Roughly one in three employees changes benefit elections during open enrollment, and when those elections are wrong, the downstream corrections touch payroll, legal, and carrier reconciliation simultaneously. The Benefits Program Manager owns the design, administration, and continuous improvement of an employer's health, welfare, leave, and retirement programs, keeping them compliant with ERISA, FMLA, ADA, and applicable state mandates. This role sits within Total Rewards and answers directly to benefits or HR leadership. Vendor contracts, utilization analytics, and enrollment communications all fall here.

As the Benefits Program Manager, you govern the full operational lifecycle of employer-sponsored benefit plans, from plan design and vendor negotiations through regulatory compliance and open enrollment execution, ensuring programs remain cost-effective, competitive, and accessible to all employees. You collaborate across HR Operations, Payroll, Legal, and Finance while serving as the primary subject-matter expert for plan participants, business partners, and external carriers.

Career Impact: Owning ERISA-governed plan administration and multi-vendor relationships at this level positions a Benefits professional to advance into Director of Total Rewards or VP of Global Benefits roles.

Business Impact: The benefit programs this role manages directly affect employee financial security, healthcare access, and retention - outcomes measured in plan utilization rates and annual enrollment completion across the workforce.

Growth Opportunity: Exposure to global benefit structures, ACA and state-leave compliance complexity, and Workday benefits configuration builds specialized expertise that commands a significant premium in the Total Rewards labor market.

• Design and administer employer-sponsored health, dental, vision, disability, and retirement plans to meet regulatory and employee-experience standards.
• Lead annual open enrollment by developing project plans, coordinating vendor timelines, and producing all participant communications and documentation.
• Manage vendor relationships across benefits administrators, brokers, and carriers to ensure performance aligns with contract terms and service-level expectations.
• Audit and reconcile benefits data within HRIS systems to maintain enrollment accuracy and support payroll integration.
• Ensure plan compliance with ERISA, FMLA, ADA, COBRA, HIPAA, and applicable state and local regulations, documenting corrective actions as needed.
• Analyze benefits utilization, cost trends, and benchmarking survey data to develop recommendations for plan design changes and cost-containment strategies.
• Administer leave-of-absence programs including FMLA, state-mandated leave, parental leave, and workplace accommodations, resolving escalated cases with HR partners.
• Partner with Finance, Payroll, and People Analytics to track benefit budgets, prepare accruals, and report ROI on program investments.

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 5 or more years of benefits administration or total rewards experience, with demonstrated responsibility for plan design and compliance.
• Working knowledge of ERISA, FMLA, ADA, COBRA, HIPAA, and ACA as applied to employer-sponsored benefit programs.
• Proven experience managing annual open enrollment end-to-end, including vendor coordination and employee communications.
• Strong analytical and data reconciliation skills with the ability to translate utilization data into actionable recommendations.
• Demonstrated vendor management experience, including contract review, performance monitoring, and relationship escalation.
• Effective project management skills with the ability to manage concurrent priorities across cross-functional stakeholders.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing executive-level presentations and plan summaries.

• Experience administering benefit programs across multiple countries or international jurisdictions, including EMEA or APJ regions.
• Familiarity with actuarial concepts and leave-of-absence program design, including STD, LTD, PDL, and PFL structures.
• Professional certification in compensation or benefits (such as CBP or CEBS) or active pursuit of one.
• Prior experience supporting a benefits function through rapid organizational growth or a merger integration.

• Open enrollment completion rate, measuring the percentage of eligible employees who successfully elect benefits by the deadline.
• Benefits data accuracy rate, tracking error frequency in HRIS enrollment and payroll reconciliation audits.
• Leave case resolution cycle time, measuring average days from LOA submission to final disposition.
• Plan cost variance versus budget, reflecting the manager's ability to forecast and control health and welfare spend.
• Vendor SLA compliance rate, tracking whether carriers and administrators meet contracted performance thresholds.
• Typical tools: HRIS/benefits administration platforms (commonly Workday Benefits and Absence modules); benefits broker and carrier portals.

• Base Salary Range: $95,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on scope and geography
• Bonus: Annual target bonus of 8% to 12% of base salary
• Equity: RSU grants uncommon; offered selectively at larger employers
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employee and dependents
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually, plus standard public holidays
• Common Perks: 401(k) with employer match, tuition reimbursement, wellness stipend

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Background checks, including employment history and applicable screening required by financial or healthcare benefit plan administration, are a condition of employment. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process upon request. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

The Benefits Program Manager owns oversight of employee benefit and wellbeing programs, driving vendor performance, annual Open Enrollment, and benefit communications across the organization. Partnering with People Technology, Payroll, and internal communications, this role enables data accuracy, automation improvements, and expanded employee support through coordinated program execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide program oversight to employee benefit and wellbeing programs.
• Manage vendor partners to ensure performance aligns with company expectations and engagement targets.
• Plan and implement employee communications for benefits and wellness programs, acting as liaison with internal communications.
• Provide day-to-day support for workers' compensation, leave of absence, paid time off, and holiday programs.
• Support all aspects of annual renewal and Open Enrollment activities.
• Partner with People Technology, Payroll, and vendors to ensure data accuracy.
• Identify areas for improved automation and implement solutions, documenting corrective actions.
• Provide support to health and safety programs, including flex work protocols.
• Liaise with People team members to optimize employee support and benefits knowledge.

Required Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in benefit program management.
• Strong experience with data analytics, research, auditing, and reconciliation.
• Experience scaling benefit and well-being programs.
• Experience with Workday Benefits and Absence management modules.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to drive initiatives to completion.
• Solutions-oriented, resourceful, self-motivated, and detail-oriented.
• Demonstrated project management experience in fast-paced environments.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to deliver constructive feedback.

Embedded within the C&B Department, the Benefits Program Manager leads all budgeting, reporting, analytics, and compliance activities while coordinating C&B-wide operational projects to align with department planning and objectives. Working closely with FP&A, Accounting, People Analytics, and senior leadership, this role delivers the financial insight and cross-functional coordination that keeps global compensation and benefits programs on strategy.

Core Functions

• Manage all aspects of budgeting and cost assessment of compensation and benefits programs in collaboration with C&B leadership.
• Lead forecasting of future investment needs for the implementation of C&B plans.
• Create and monitor ROI analytics for main C&B programs in partnership with People Analytics.
• Work with FP&A and Accounting to establish and track annual budgets and review accruals for all staff costs.
• Support C&B leadership in building materials for leadership, HR, Works Council, and line managers on reward strategic priorities.
• Liaise with Risk, Compliance, and Internal Audit to report on C&B processes as necessary.
• Manage global C&B and cross-functional projects to drive department priorities and strategic needs.
• Lead annual compensation review planning and coordinate closely with Performance Management and other departments.
• Partner with procurement to review vendor contracts.

Qualifications & Experience

• 8-12 years of experience in compensation and benefits roles in an international environment, preferably in the High Tech industry.
• Broad knowledge of the legal and regulatory environment as it relates to employee compensation and benefits.
• Exceptional quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, including competency in financial analysis and People analytics.
• Strong financial and business acumen with in-depth industry knowledge.
• Excellent project management and process development skills.
• Proven business case and presentation development skills.
• Track record of influencing senior stakeholders with strong interpersonal skills.
• Self-directed, solution-oriented, proactive, and able to work independently and collaboratively.

Reporting to program leadership, the Benefits Program Manager shapes a portfolio of worker benefit programs designed to increase financial security and benefit access for low-wage adults aged 50 and older, including portable benefits, Earned Income Tax Credit outreach, and person-centered program design. Partnering with community-based organizations, grantmaking teams, and internal stakeholders, this role expands reach and scalability for programs that directly enable older workers to age with greater financial stability.

Primary Duties

• Develop and implement program solutions to increase benefit access for low-wage older workers.
• Execute and evaluate existing programs to identify improvements and measure outcomes.
• Collaborate with program leadership to develop long-term goals and strategic plans for growth and scalability.
• Use existing data to identify program enhancements and identify needed research to maximize insight.
• Manage enterprise assets and budgets.
• Engage partners and stakeholders, including volunteers, participants, and program partners.
• Report on program activities and outcomes.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience, with a graduate degree in social entrepreneurship, business, or design preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience with portable benefits, modernizing worker benefits, or supporting financial security of low-wage workers.
• Experience in creating, managing, and building the capacity of programs within the social innovation or impact space.
• Experience in developing and managing a network of partnerships to advance program goals.
• Demonstrated ability to measure and communicate the impact of work product.
• Knowledge of user experience and behavioral science principles as applied to consumer motivation and action.
• Team-oriented and collaborative with the ability to advocate while remaining flexible to others' perspectives.

Sitting at the intersection of global benefits administration and employee experience, the Benefits Program Manager supports employees across Ireland, the United Kingdom, Poland, and Australia as part of the Global Total Rewards Team, managing Workday administration, vendor relationships, and benefit renewals for each location. Operating across HR, payroll, and international benefit vendors while reporting to the Manager of Global Total Rewards, this role delivers consistent, compliant, and competitive benefit programs that serve a globally distributed workforce.

Duties

• Manage the Total Rewards email inbox and direct employee questions to appropriate process owners.
• Own data entry and administration of employee benefits in Workday, including auditing and validation of reports.
• Manage onboarding and offboarding of international employees' benefits.
• Assist with local benefit renewals and coordinate benefit refresh sessions and presentations for each location.
• Maintain relationships with international benefit vendors.
• Ensure global and country-specific benefit policies are implemented consistently throughout the company.
• Research and resolve issues in partnership with appropriate team members.
• Provide market insights on competitive benefit trends and recommend process improvements.

Requirements

• BA in Human Resource Management or related field.
• 2-5 years of related experience in benefits or total rewards.
• Current knowledge of ethics laws, standards, legislation, and emerging trends affecting HR and Total Rewards practices.
• HRIS experience with Workday.
• Data-driven focus with the ability to translate information into executive-ready presentations.
• Strong communication skills with agility, flexibility, consistency, and accountability.
• Good relationship-building skills with the ability to influence through expertise and business insight.
• Employee-experience mindset with a collaborative and service-oriented approach.

A key member of the Global Benefits team, the Benefits Program Manager leads the design, administration, and vendor management of US health and welfare programs, including dental, vision, HSA, employee assistance, and disability plans, reporting to the Director of Global Benefits. Collaborating across legal, finance, accounting, tax, payroll, and an overseas benefits analyst team in Malaysia, this role delivers coordinated benefit solutions and data-driven cost analysis that support long-term total rewards strategy.

Functions

• Manage US benefit programs with emphasis on dental, vision, employee assistance, and disability plans.
• Manage vendor relationships with benefits administrator, benefits consultant, and third-party vendors.
• Lead annual enrollment in partnership with the benefits administrator.
• Guide benefits analysts performing administrative support, including purchase orders, relocation enrollment, court orders, HSA funding, retiree medical reimbursement, and SOX compliance.
• Develop partnerships with internal resources across legal, finance, accounting, tax, and payroll to deliver coordinated benefits solutions.
• Develop and deliver benefits training programs for line managers and program participants.
• Benchmark US benefits programs through participation in industry surveys.
• Analyze benefits data for trends, cost drivers, and savings opportunities aligned with long-term strategy.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Math, Statistics, or equivalent.
• 10+ years of benefits experience.
• Strong knowledge of US health and welfare programs with understanding of actuarial concepts.
• Experience working in a global environment for medium to large plan sponsors.
• Strong vendor management skills.
• Solid financial, analytical, and audit skills.
• Excellent project management, problem resolution, and consulting skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to interact at all levels of management.

Efficient and equitable benefits depend on the Benefits Program Manager, who leads the full design, implementation, communication, and administration of health and welfare programs by partnering with HR Centers of Excellence and Business Partners to align benefit offerings with both employee and business needs. Based within the HR function, this role builds competitive, compliant programs through benchmarking, vendor management, and open enrollment oversight, enabling stronger employee adoption and organizational alignment.

Accountabilities

• Plan and guide the overall design, implementation, communication, and administration of health and welfare benefits programs.
• Compile, organize, and submit advanced data reports relating to benefits plans and external agencies.
• Evaluate benefits coverage, conduct benchmarking, and perform cost analysis.
• Manage and maintain HR vendor relationships to ensure quality service and long-term partnerships.
• Ensure program adherence to current regulations and support of the organization's strategic objectives.
• Review, create, and update summary plan descriptions and applicable policies to ensure accuracy of plan documents.
• Manage annual open enrollment by developing project plans, delegating tasks, and creating communications and documentation.
• Develop compelling benefits communications and themed programs to increase employee adoption.
• Evaluate existing benefit programs against peer organizations to determine competitiveness and emerging trends.

Technical Qualifications

• 5+ years of benefits experience.
• Thorough understanding of FMLA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, healthcare, and retirement plan administration.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills with strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Google Suite including Google Sheets and Google Docs.
• Exceptional project management and time management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Strong leadership qualities with the ability to influence employees at multiple levels of the organization.
• Excellent presentation, interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work autonomously with minimal supervision.

As the Benefits Program Manager, this role leads global benefits plan design, renewal management, and compliance across multiple entities and PEOs while building business cases grounded in market survey data to guide Total Rewards leadership decisions. The Total Rewards team relies on this work to maintain competitive, compliant benefit programs worldwide and develop clear roadmaps that align benefit offerings with organizational values and future workforce needs.

Activities

• Manage global benefits plan design in coordination with a global benefits broker.
• Coordinate with People Business Partners and management on all benefit plan inquiries.
• Manage benefits renewals, plan changes, and open enrollment.
• Develop benefits roadmaps for each entity and PEO in collaboration with Finance to determine future benefits.
• Develop and execute benefits training to ensure team members understand available benefits.
• Ensure compliance with all international rules and regulations.
• Collaborate with the Total Rewards team on policies, processes, and procedures.
• Build business cases for new benefits based on survey data and present to Total Rewards leadership and key stakeholders.
• Collect internal and external market data to track trends and support benefits roadmaps.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Business, or HR preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in a global benefits role.
• Experience working with an international benefits broker.
• Broad experience with software tools and the ability to quickly learn new platforms.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Committed to transparency and alignment with organizational values.

Global compliance and employee continuity across 28 countries depend on the Benefits Program Manager, who leads the design and administration of all leave, disability, workers' compensation, accommodation, and time-off programs in partnership with the Senior Director of Global Benefits. Based within the Global Benefits function, this role builds Workday leave functionalities, manages LOA vendors, and drives absence management process improvements that enable consistent, legally compliant program delivery for employees across the U.S., Americas, EMEA, and APJ.

Operational Focus

• Design and manage all employee leave, disability, workers' compensation, and domestic plans in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.
• Interpret and administer statutory and company time-off and leave programs including family, medical, parental, personal, sick, vacation, PTO, jury duty, and bereavement.
• Develop policy and process for Accommodations and Return to Work programs.
• Evaluate market trends and best practices and recommend benefit changes or enhancements across U.S., Americas, EMEA, and APJ.
• Lead absence management process improvement, communications, and system enhancement projects for global leave program integration.
• Resolve escalated LOA cases and communicate with employees, HR Partners, LOA vendors, and Payroll for resolution.
• Manage leave of absence and disability vendors in the U.S.
• Partner with HR Systems to develop global Workday functionalities for leave administration and absence management.
• Perform regulatory and compliance documentation and reporting as needed.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience managing leave of absence and workplace accommodations in the U.S.
• Advanced knowledge of federal and state leave and disability laws, including FMLA, ADA, and accommodation processes.
• Preferred 2+ years of experience providing leave, disability, or accommodation support outside the U.S. in EMEA, APJ, or LATAM.
• Expertise in leave policy design, enhancement projects, and operational process improvements.
• Strong project management, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate with global HR partners.
• High integrity and sound judgment in managing confidential and sensitive information.

The Benefits Program Manager delivers subject matter expertise in Workday-based benefits administration, overseeing a full suite of corporate programs including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), leave of absence, and workers' compensation for a hybrid-model workforce. Serving as the primary liaison with 401(k) Plan Auditors, vendors, and accounting, this role enables accurate, compliant, and employee-centered benefit delivery through rigorous audit practices, open enrollment execution, and proactive team member communication.

Key Deliverables

• Administer corporate benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, COBRA, life, disability, FSA, wellness, and 401(k).
• Administer Tuition Reimbursement and Corporate Matching Gift programs, and reconcile quarterly United Way contributions.
• Serve as point of contact for workers' compensation claims and support the annual Workers' Compensation Audit.
• Communicate with team members regarding eligibility, family status changes, enrollment, and benefits information on the company intranet.
• Perform 401(k) transaction processing including enrollments, contribution changes, loans, beneficiary updates, payroll reconciliation, and terminations.
• Serve as primary liaison with 401(k) Plan Auditors for the annual audit and preparation of Form 5500.
• Review and audit vendor invoices and coordinate processing with the accounting department.
• Lead benefits survey efforts, analyze data, and prepare yearly ROI analysis with recommendations.
• Administer leave of absence programs including STD, LTD, federal and state required leave, workers' compensation, and company leaves, serving as point of contact for all LOA inquiries.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 5 years of progressive benefits administration experience.
• Proven knowledge and application of ERISA as it pertains to benefits administration.
• Experience organizing and executing open enrollment for all employees.
• Experience with Benefits Administration using Workday.
• Strong financial, analytical, and audit skills with proficiency in MS Office applications.
• Demonstrated organizational, problem-solving, and project management skills with ferocious attention to detail.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with senior leaders, managers, team members, and vendors.