Job DescriptionBertelsmann is seeking a strategic, technically skilled, and hands-on Director, Corporate Benefits, to join our team.
The Director, Corporate Benefits leads the Corporate Benefits function responsible for the strategy, design, governance and delivery of Bertelsmann's U.S health, welfare, and retirement programs across a decentralized, multi-company environment, including Penguin Random House, BMG, Fremantle, Arvato other holdings and groups, and newly acquired companies.
Reporting to the Chief People Officer, the Director, Corporate Benefits serves as the senior subject-matter expert and functional leader for Corporate Benefits, developing recommendations and making operational and technical decisions within established governance and approval frameworks. The Director leads the Manager, Corporate Benefits (H&W), and Manager, Corporate Benefits (Retirement Plans), with indirect oversight of the Benefits Analyst, Corporate Benefits.
This is a hands-on working leadership role requiring the Director to move fluidly between strategic planning, team leadership, and direct execution of complex technical, analytical, compliance, communication, and implementation work.
This role is based in New York City and currently requires in-office work at least two days per week. The work arrangement is subject to change based on business needs.
Role and ResponsibilitiesBenefits Strategy and Program Leadership
- Develop and execute the Corporate Benefits strategy, evaluating plan competitiveness, affordability, and sustainability through market benchmarking, utilization data, and financial analysis.
- Lead the design, administration, and continuous improvement of health and welfare programs; qualified retirement plans, including 401(k) and pension plans; non-qualified retirement plans; and deferred compensation programs.
- Develop plan design, renewal, funding, and cost-management recommendations for review by the Chief People Officer and other senior stakeholders.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to HR and business leaders on complex benefits matters and operational risk and establish service standards for operating-company support.
- Direct the administration and operational oversight of Corporate Benefits programs across participating operating companies.
Governance, Compliance and Financial Management
- Direct benefits compliance, governance, audits, and regulatory reporting, ensuring compliance with applicable requirements, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, MHPAEA, Section 125, Medicare, applicable Internal Revenue Code requirements, and PBGC and Department of Labor requirements.
- Oversee the review and maintenance of plan documents, Summary Plan Descriptions, amendments, and participant materials, and establish appropriate governance controls, escalations procedures, and document-retention practices.
- Support applicable plan fiduciaries and the governance committee by preparing analyses, coordinating required reviews, implementing approved decisions, and maintaining governance documentation.
- Oversee funding, actuarial valuations, liability and risk-management, and de-risking activities, where applicable.
- Oversee the administration of retirement plan eligibility, contributions, deferrals, and distributions and lead the resolution of complex operational or compliance failures.
- Lead benefits budgeting, forecasting, renewal projections, cost modeling, and reconciliations in partnership with appropriate parties.
Vendor, Technology, and Enrollment Management
- Lead vendor relationships, RFPs, and vendor evaluations for carriers, consultants, actuaries, and recordkeepers; participate in contract and fee negotiations. Evaluate vendor performance, program outcomes and return on investment.
- Evaluate opportunities for vendor consolidation, enhancement, or replacement.
- Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of Bertelsmann's complex, decentralized annual enrollment process, establish timelines, responsibilities, controls, testing requirements, and implementation standards in coordination with operating-company leaders, HR teams, carriers, Payroll, HRIS, IT and other stakeholders.
- Direct the development, review and approval and distribution of annual enrollment materials, required notices, plan-change announcements, benefits education, and technical, executive, and employee-facing communications, ensuring accuracy, compliance, clarity and consistency.
- Provide functional leadership for benefits technology, including plan configuration, eligibility rules, payroll deductions, system integrations, vendor data feeds, testing, data integrity, and implementation of benefits vendor and system changes.
- Partner with the Employee Benefits team on disability and leave-of-absence programs, providing guidance on compliance, vendor management, reporting, and complex escalations.
Mergers, Acquisitions, and Team Leadership
- Lead the Corporate Benefits workstream for acquisitions, divestitures, and other organizational changes, including due diligence, cost analysis, risk identification, transition planning, integration, and post-closing support.
- Lead, coach, and develop the Corporate Benefits team, establishing priorities and accountability and building team capacity through technical mentorship, cross-training, succession planning, and professional development. Operational goals, and service excellence standards while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Actuarial Science, or a related field required.
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible employee-benefits experience, including significant experience across health and welfare and retirement programs.
- At least 2 years of experience leading benefits professionals and managing manager-level direct reports.
- Demonstrated experience developing benefits recommendations and leading the execution of benefits strategy, plan design, compliance, financial administration, vendor management, and complex implementations, including interpreting applicable U.S. benefits laws and plan documents.
- Experience in a decentralized, multi-entity, or shared-services organization strongly preferred; benefits-related M&A due diligence and integration experience strongly preferred.
- Brokerage, consulting, or actuarial experience preferred; CEBS, ASPPA, actuarial credentials, or another relevant professional certification preferred.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including complex formulas, lookup functions, PivotTables, data reconciliation and financial modeling.
- Exceptional analytical, project-management, and written and verbal communication skills, with sound judgement, discretion, and a commitment to confidentiality.
- Experience with benefits administration systems, HRIS integrations, plan configuration, and vendor data feeds.
Additional InformationThe salary for this position is $150,000 - $170,000. This position is bonus eligible.
