Job SummaryWe are seeking an experienced Benefits Manager to lead our health & welfare and retirement programs for employees across multiple U.S. states. This senior-level individual contributor will navigate varied federal and state requirements, workforce populations, vendor relationships, financial controls, and escalated employee matters to ensure accurate, compliant, and consistent benefit administration. Serving as a key liaison among employees, Payroll, Accounting, Finance, Legal, consultants, and vendors, this role identifies risks, resolves systemic issues, and translates complex requirements into clear recommendations and actions. This role will also support the ongoing administration of closed retiree benefit programs, including pension and related health and welfare benefits under plans that are no longer open to new participants.
Job Duties & Responsibilities- Lead multi-state benefits administration: oversee Health & Welfare and retirement programs for employees across multiple U.S. jurisdictions.
- Resolve complex issues: serve as the escalation point for eligibility, enrollment, payroll, leave, vendor, data, and invoicing matters; identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
- Manage compliance and governance: support ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, Section 125, Form 5500, and applicable federal and state requirements.
- Lead annual enrollment and implementations: direct planning, system testing, communications, vendor coordination, payroll validation, and reconciliation.
- Oversee vendors and financial administration: manage vendor performance, renewals, invoices, reconciliations, cost allocations, funding schedules, and audit support.
- Support retirement plan operations: coordinate with providers, Payroll, Accounting, consultants, and fiduciaries to ensure accurate contributions, remittances, reporting, and controls.
- Drive cross-functional improvement: partner with internal and external stakeholders to manage risk, strengthen processes, and improve employee experience.
- Manage benefit communications and employee resources: develop, maintain, and distribute employee-facing benefit communications, enrollment materials, presentations, notices, and educational resources to support employee understanding and engagement.
- Administer plan documentation and participant disclosures: maintain plan documents, summary plan descriptions, summaries of benefits and coverage, required notices, and related compliance materials; oversee electronic distribution processes and document retention practices.
- Oversee regulatory reporting and compliance activities: coordinate annual ACA reporting, Form 5500 filings, required participant disclosures, government inquiries, and related compliance activities.
- Manage specialized benefit programs: oversee health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, commuter benefits, COBRA administration, and other employee benefit programs while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and plan provisions.
- Support the administration of retiree health and welfare benefits for a closed population with frozen eligibility under medical and life insurance programs. Coordinate day-to-day activities with the third-party retiree service center and collaborate closely with the individual responsible for pension administration to resolve retiree inquiries, claims matters, eligibility questions, and other benefit-related issues.
- Support retirement plan governance and fiduciary oversight: assist with retirement committee activities, provider oversight, pooled employer plan obligations, fiduciary reporting, audits, and implementation of plan design changes.
- Support benefit governance and committee activities: assist with Welfare, Retirement, and Investment Committee matters, prepare recommendations, support provider oversight, and identify issues requiring escalation
- Partner on benefit financial administration: work with Finance, Accounting, and Payroll on benefit-related invoicing, reconciliations, cost allocations, funding schedules, budgeting support, and financial reporting to ensure accuracy and appropriate controls.
- Serve as an internal benefits subject matter expert: interpret plan provisions, assess operational and compliance risks, develop recommendations, and coordinate with Legal, consultants, and vendors on complex benefit matters.
- Closed Retiree Benefits Support interaction with Sr. Director of Finance
- Act as the primary contact for the Dole Retirement Service Center (RSC) related to retiree health and welfare administration
- Approve the retiree medical invoices and other retiree related invoices, as needed
- Review and approve life benefit claims for eligible beneficiaries and coordinate processing with Payroll
- In partnership with the RSC, monitor and act as the key point person for Via Benefits regarding the retiree Health Reimbursement Accounts
- Monitor the distribution of the foreign pension checks monthly
- Manage compliance requirements for closed retiree health and welfare benefit programs, in coordination with the RSC, including required participant notices and disclosures, regulatory filings and reporting, and applicable Medicare, ERISA, and ACA compliance activities.
Qualifications and Experience- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field, or equivalent education and experience.
- Eight or more years of progressive benefits experience supporting Health & Welfare and retirement programs.
- Demonstrated experience supporting employees across multiple U.S. states and applying differing state requirements within consistent enterprise processes.
- Strong knowledge of ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, Section 125, Form 5500, Medicare Part D, and Qualified Medical Child Support Orders.
- Proven experience in annual enrollment, benefit implementations, vendor management, employee communications, regulatory compliance, financial reconciliation, audit support, and cross-functional partnership with Payroll, Accounting, Finance, and Legal.
- Advanced analytical, problem-solving, communication, and Microsoft Excel skills, with sound judgment in managing compliance and operational risk.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience with union and nonunion populations and jurisdictions with distinctive state requirements, including Hawaii.
- Experience with ADP Workforce Now Comprehensive Services, Pooled Employer Plans, and vendor negotiations or transitions.
- CEBS, CBP, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.
Core CapabilitiesOwnership and accountability | Sound judgment | Compliance awareness | Financial accuracy | Project leadership | Clear communication | Collaboration and continuous improvement
