Job Summary:

The Senior Benefits Manager is a key leader within the Total Rewards organization, responsible for shaping and executing amulti-yearHealth & Welfare strategy while ensuring flawlessday-to-dayoperations. This role owns plan performance, vendor outcomes, compliance risk management, and theend-to-endemployee experience across medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, EAP, wellness, disability, and related point solutions.

Equal parts strategist and operator, the Senior Benefits Managerdevelops andpresents executive-ready recommendations,independentlyleads complex implementations, drives measurable cost and quality improvements, anddevelopsa high-performing team.

What will you do?

Strategic Leadership & Design

• Partner with the Director of Benefits to build and execute a 2–3yearHealth & Welfareroadmap, aligned to workforce needs and financial goals.

• Lead market benchmarking and recommend plan design enhancements

• Evaluate point solutions; deliver business cases with ROI and implementation plans.

Financial Management & Advanced Analytics

• Analyze claims/utilization trends, Rx spend, high-cost claimants, and program/point-solution outcomes;identifycost drivers and mitigation levers.

• Lead cost-containment initiatives (plan design optimization, PBM contracting strategies,utilizationmanagement, disease management,value-basedcare steerage).

• Maintain dashboards and vendor scorecards with KPIs (trend, PEPM, engagement, clinical outcomes, service quality).

Vendor Strategy, Governance & Performance

• Lead day-to-day oversight of medical, dental, vision, EAP, wellness, disability/leaveand point-solution vendors.

• Manage RFPs/RFIs, renewals,feeand guarantee negotiations, and implementation plans; ensure strong SLAs/PGs with quarterly business reviews and corrective actions.

• Drive integration and data flow across vendors and point solutions to improve member navigation and financial outcomes.

Operational Excellence & Employee Experience

• Own open enrollment planning through delivery (communications development, requirements, testing, content, systems readiness, call center prep, issue triage).

• Ensureaccurate, compliant administration across eligibility, life events, billing, appeals, and escalations; minimize error rates and rework.

• Partner with Communicationsvendor, medicalvendorsand internal resources to deliver plain-language, inclusive, multi-channel benefits communications that drive understanding and smart choices.

• Serve as a senior escalation point, balancing empathy, policy, and fiduciary responsibility.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, MHPAEA, Gag Clause Attestation,RxDC, Form 5500, PCORI, and applicable state laws.

• Maintain plan documents, SPDs/SBCs, plan policies, fiduciary calendar, and governance artifacts.

• Partner with Legal, Finance, and HRIS to manage audits, filings, and data privacy; mitigate plan and fiduciary risk.

Change Leadership and Projects

• Lead complex cross-functional initiatives (e.g., plan changes, PBM optimization, newvendor integrations).

• Own project plans, milestones, readiness,testingandpost golive stabilization; communicate proactively with stakeholders.

People Leadership & Collaboration

• Manage, coach, and develop a high-performing benefits team; set goals, provide feedback, and build bench strength.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to HR Business Partners, Total Rewards peers, and businessleaders;articulate tradeoffs and influence decisions.

Qualifications:

• Proven ability to develop and execute benefits strategy while driving operational excellence

• Strong experienceindependentlyleading vendor strategy, including RFPs, negotiations, performance management, and complex benefit ecosystems

• Financial and analytical acumen; able to use data to inform decisions and drive cost and quality outcomes (advanced Excel; BI tools a plus)

• Demonstrated success leading teams and cross-functional initiatives in complex, multi-stateor large-population environments

• Experience managing benefits delivery across HRIS and benefits administration platforms

• Skilled in communicating and implementing programs for a geographically dispersed workforce

• Solid understanding of compliance, risk management, and fiduciary responsibilities

• Excellent executive communication,influence, and change leadership skills

• Strong coaching mindset witha track recordof building team capability and culture

• Project managementexpertise(PMP or similar certification a plus)

Certifications, Experience, and Education:

• Certifications: CEBS, CBP, PHR/SPHR, or similar credentialspreferred

• Experience: 10+ years progressive experience in Health & Welfare benefits with self-funded medical/PBMexpertiseand at least 5 years in a leadership role; and

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Finance, Public Health, or related field; or equivalent combination of experience and/or education

Location & Work Availability:

This position is Hybrid (4 days in office, 1 day remote), based at our corporate headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina.Up to 10-15% overnight travel may berequiredfor vendor meetings,conferencesand site visits.

Benefits Summary: