Benefits Manager

Savvas Learning Company is seeking a collaborative, detail-oriented Manager of Benefits to lead our benefits administration. Reporting to the Sr. Director of Total Rewards, you will play a pivotal role on our HR team, supporting approximately 1,600 employees across various locations in the United States and Canada.

This is a high-visibility role that requires strong partnership with key internal stakeholders, including executive leadership, to align our benefits strategy with organizational goals. You will oversee the day-to-day administration of our comprehensive benefits programs, ensure strict compliance, and act as a trusted resource for both employees and corporate leaders. Occasional travel may be required to support onsite employee meetings, open enrollment events, or corporate initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:
Benefits Program Administration & Strategy

End-to-End Management: Oversee all employee benefit programs, including health and welfare (medical, dental, vision), life insurance, temporary disability, flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings accounts (HSA), and wellness initiatives.
Executive & Stakeholder Partnership: Collaborate with key stakeholders and executive leadership to present benefits data, propose plan design changes, and ensure offerings support the company's talent retention and fiscal goals.
Open Enrollment & Communication: Design, execute, and lead comprehensive benefit communication strategies for 1,700 employees. Facilitate educational meetings, coordinate annual enrollment, and counsel employees and management on plan design.
Vendor & Billing Management: Reconcile, track, and audit health and welfare benefit payments to ensure accuracy and establish robust documentation standards. Monitor external vendor performance against SLAs (Service Level Agreements).

Retirement Plan Oversight (401k):

Plan Administration: Act as the primary Plan Administrator for the 401k program, managing contribution calculations, new comparability design, and ongoing reporting/filing requirements.
Compliance & Audit: Drive mandatory compliance testing, annual additions, maximum deductible contribution determinations, and top-heavy testing.

HRIS Data Integrity & Auditing:

Data Auditing: Audit and validate the accuracy of enrollments, status changes, and benefits data flowing through the HRIS (Ceridian/Dayforce).
Discrepancy Resolution: Partner with payroll and external vendors to quickly and independently resolve data errors or transmission issues.

Leave of Absence & Compliance:

Leave Management: Oversee and review federal, state, and provincial leaves of absence, including FMLA, ADA, STD, LTD, parental, and military leave.
Regulatory Compliance: Maintain rigorous compliance with all governmental regulations related to labor laws and benefit programs (including ERISA, FMLA, HIPAA, COBRA, and Canadian equivalents).

Employee Advocacy & Mentorship:

HR Team Support: Educate, mentor, and guide HR colleagues to build their foundational knowledge of company benefits plans.
Complex Case Management: Serve as the primary point of contact and escalation pathway for complex benefits, disability, and FMLA inquiries.

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Human Resources, or a closely related field.
Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in benefits administration and management.
Technical Systems: Extensive, high-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel (data analysis, VLOOKUPs, pivot tables) and experience with a major HRIS (experience with Dayforce is highly preferred).
Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of US federal and state regulations governing health/welfare benefits and 401k plans (ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA).
Certification: CEBS (Certified Employee Benefit Specialist) or CBP (Certified Benefits Professional) designation is a strong plus.
Geographic Scope: Experience managing benefits in Canada or a multi-national environment is a strong plus. Willingness and ability to travel occasionally as required by business needs.
Executive Presence & Collaboration: Ability to confidently interface with, influence, and present to executive leadership and senior stakeholders.
Analytical & Critical Thinking: A natural "fact-finder" who can analyze complex benefit datasets, spot trends, utilize metrics to measure plan effectiveness, and drive data-backed solutions.
Organization & Drive: Exceptionally organized, deadline-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple shifting priorities and workstreams simultaneously.
Diplomacy & Tact: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex benefits information directly, clearly, and empathetically to diverse workforces.
Autonomy & Proactivity: Self-directed problem-solver who can work independently, anticipate plan or compliance issues before they arise, and keep key stakeholders aligned.
Vendor & Relationship Management: Proven ability to effectively partner with, negotiate with, and hold third-party administrators, brokers, and carriers accountable.
Change Management: Ability to smoothly navigate plan transitions, policy updates, and process improvements with minimal disruption to employee experience.