Benefits Manager

The Benefits Manager supports the strategy, administration, compliance, and operational effectiveness of U.S. employee benefit programs across multiple business units, ensuring competitive, compliant, and employee-focused offerings. The incumbent oversees benefit vendors, enrollment administration, benefits technology, and regulatory compliance while resolving complex claims, eligibility, and operational issues. Client Details Global shipping and logistics company Description Strategy & Program Management Evaluate benefit trends, risks, and opportunities using operational and utilization data to support program decisions aligned with organizational objectives. Assess innovative benefit solutions and vendor capabilities that enhance employee overall health management, engagement, and program effectiveness. Conduct benefit plan benchmarking studies covering medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life, disability, and voluntary benefit programs. Partner with Benefits leadership to support benefit strategy, program design, implementation, and continuous improvement initiatives. Provide operational and strategic oversight for benefit vendors supporting medical, pharmacy, life, disability, chronic condition programs, and benefits administration programs. Serve as the primary escalation point for complex vendor issues, including eligibility discrepancies, coverage concerns, claims resolution, data integrity issues, and system defects. Monitor vendor service delivery, performance guarantees, and operational effectiveness to ensure a high-quality employee experience. Lead vendor performance reviews and drive corrective actions when service or operational standards are not met. Provide subject matter expertise to employees, HR, leadership, and vendors regarding plan provisions, eligibility requirements, and complex claim situations. Collective Bargaining Administration & Compliance Partner with carriers, third-party administrators (TPAs), Labor Relations, and internal stakeholders to support collectively bargained benefit programs. Coordinate implementation of negotiated benefit changes, including eligibility setup, vendor configuration, testing, employee communications, and operational readiness activities. Ensure benefit administration practices remain consistent with collective bargaining agreements and applicable plan provisions. Manage and audit enrollment accuracy across benefits platforms, ensuring compliance with plan provisions, eligibility rules, and collective bargaining agreements. Oversee the development, maintenance, and distribution of Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs), Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBCs), benefit certificates, plan documents, and employee communications. Coordinate regulatory compliance activities, including support for ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, PCORI, and Consolidated Appropriations Act Prescription Drug Data Collection (CAA RxDC) requirements. Support annual plan renewals and implementation activities, ensuring accurate plan configuration, vendor alignment, and compliance adherence. Develop, maintain, interpret, and administer benefit policies, procedures, and administrative guidelines. Serve as business lead for the benefits administration platform (Businessolver), ensuring system integrity, operational effectiveness, and alignment with business requirements. Research and resolve system audit reports, eligibility discrepancies, data feed issues, integration exceptions, and vendor file concerns. Lead testing and implementation activities related to system enhancements, vendor integrations, and plan configuration changes. Partner with HRIS, Payroll, IT, and vendors to ensure accurate eligibility and enrollment data exchange. Establish and maintain controls that promote enrollment and benefits data accuracy and integrity. Lead annual enrollment planning, configuration, testing, communication review, and implementation activities. Review and update employee-facing communications, enrollment content, and system design. Validate plan configurations, rates, eligibility structures, and enrollment workflows prior to enrollment launch. Coordinate cross-functional testing and ensure operational readiness across all benefit vendors and platforms. Monitor enrollment results and resolve post-enrollment issues impacting employees or vendors. Welfare Plan Administration Facilitate vendor requests for employee eligibility, earnings, job, leave, and coverage information. Oversee life and disability claims administration, including claim validation, vendor coordination, and employee support. Coordinate premium waiver administration and related processes through integration of disability, workers' compensation, and employment status information. Support administration of leave, disability, and ancillary welfare programs as assigned Profile Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, or a related field required. Minimum eight (8) years of progressive benefits administration experience, including responsibility for health and welfare program management, vendor oversight, compliance, and benefits operations. Corporate experience in Human Resources, employee benefits administration, healthcare, or a related environment preferred. Experience developing, implementing, and administering employee benefit programs and plan enhancements. Extensive knowledge of benefit plan design, administration, compliance, employee communications, and vendor management. Experience managing complex vendor relationships and service delivery performance. Experience leading benefits administration systems, enrollment platforms, or HR technology initiatives preferred. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including lookups, pivot tables, formulas, and data analysis tools. Strong analytical, presentation, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively interact with employees, vendors, leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders. Strong organizational, problem-solving, decision-making, negotiation, and project management skills. Working knowledge of federal and state employee benefits laws and regulations, including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, PCORI, and applicable state leave and disability requirements. Experience administering benefits programs within a unionized environment preferred. Proven ability to lead change and manage multiple priorities within a complex, matrixed organization. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels. Job Offer A true temp to perm opportunity Medical, dental and vision benefits provided from day 1 Monday through Friday 9:00AM - 5:00PM 5 day on site position Fantastic company culture and great benefits Role will convert within 3-6 months MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.