Job Summary:

The Director of Benefits is a critical leadership position within the corporate Human Resources department, responsible for the strategic design, implementation, communication, and administration of RATP Dev USA's comprehensive benefits portfolio. This role oversees health and welfare plans, retirement programs, wellness initiatives, and leave of absence administration for both our corporate headquarters and geographically dispersed multi-state field transit locations.

Reporting directly to the Chief People Officer, the Director of Benefits will ensure our programs are modern, highly competitive, fiscally sustainable, and fully aligned with RATP Dev USA's corporate goals. This leader must bring deep expertise in both unionized (Collective Bargaining Agreements) and non-union benefit environments to effectively serve our diverse employee population.

Profile

Strong preference for candidates to be located in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX area.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Benefits & Program Design
• Strategic Roadmap: Develop and execute a modern, holistic benefits strategy that enhances RATP Dev USA's brand as an employer of choice and supports our talent attraction and retention goals.
• Market Benchmarking: Perform regular competitive analyses and benchmarking against industry standards to ensure our benefits packages remain attractive and leading-edge.
• Financial Oversight: Partner with brokers, finance leadership, and the actuarial team to monitor benefit plan performance, analyze claims experience, manage premiums, and forecast future cost trends. Manage the annual benefits budget.

2. Benefits Administration & Operations
• Day-to-Day Operations: Oversee the administration of all health and welfare programs (medical, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability, HSA, FSA) and retirement plans (401k).
• HRIS & Technology Integration: Partner with the HR Technology team to continuously optimize benefits enrollment systems, ensuring clean integration with our core HRIS and payroll databases.
• Collaboration with Payroll: Work in close alignment with the Payroll Director to ensure timely, accurate premium deductions, employer contributions, and tax reporting.

3. Vendor, Carrier, & Broker Management
• Broker & Advisor Management: Cultivate and manage critical relationships with insurance brokers, consultants, third-party administrators (TPAs), and carriers.
• Renewals & RFP Processes: Lead the review process, annual renewal negotiations and benefits-related RFP processes to secure high-value agreements and optimal plan configurations.

4. Compliance & Fiduciary Governance
• Regulatory Compliance: Maintain full compliance across all benefits policies, procedures, and filings with federal, state, and local requirements, including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, and IRS regulations.
• Reporting & Auditing: Direct the completion and filing of required compliance reports (Form 5500s, non-discrimination testing, ACA 1095-C reporting) and lead annual retirement plan and workers' compensation audits.

5. Labor Relations & Field HR Collaboration
• Union Benefits Coordination: Collaborate with Labor Relations, Field HR Directors, and General Managers to navigate and evaluate benefit requirements across various Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
• Labor Negotiations Support: Act as the subject matter expert during union negotiations, providing costing models, plan analysis, and transition paths for proposed health and welfare programs.

6. Employee Engagement & Communications
• Open Enrollment Leadership: Plan, direct, and execute the annual Open Enrollment process, developing clear, engaging, and culturally relevant communication strategies for both corporate and hourly field workforces.
• Wellness & Education Programs: Launch and manage creative wellness campaigns and employee workshops to promote physical, mental, and financial health.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field. Master's degree is a plus.
• Professional Certifications: CBP (Certified Benefits Professional), CEBS (Certified Employee Benefit Specialist), SHRM-SCP, or SPHR certifications are highly preferred.

Experience:

o 8+ years of progressive HR experience specializing in benefits administration, with at least 3 years in a dedicated leadership or director-level capacity.

o Demonstrated experience managing complex benefits structures across a multi-state organization.

o Experience with both self-insured (self-funded) medical plans and fully insured environments.
• Industry Context: Experience in transportation, logistics, manufacturing, retail, or a similar sector featuring large, geographically dispersed hourly workforces and union (CBA) representation is highly desirable.

Skills & Competencies:

o Exceptional financial modeling, analytical, and advanced Excel skills.

o Confident, professional communicator capable of explaining complex benefits formulas, laws, and plan designs to both C-level executives and frontline transit employees.

o Superior negotiation and vendor-relations capabilities.

Leadership Model for Success:
• Leadership

Safety, Building Teams, Performance Management, Developing Talent
• Business

Business Acumen, Strategic Visionary, Decision Making, Profitable Growth
• Interpersonal

Trustworthiness, Building Relationships, Influencing Others, Communication
• Wellbeing

Managing Stress, Work-Life Harmony, Mental Wellness

Professional and Personal Development

Start here and grow here. RATP Dev USA believes in promoting from within and providing learning and development opportunities for our team members. We take pride in preparing and developing future and existing leaders through our Grow Our Own Development and Mentorship Programs.

When you join RATP Dev USA, you will have the ability to build your skills and knowledge in various areas through continuous learning (eLearning included) and leadership workshops.
• Leadership Development
• Mentorship & Coaching
• Safety, Security, & Compliance Training
• Technical and Soft Skill Training
• And much more...

Benefits

We offer competitive compensation and benefits (which vary based on role, location, and business), including medical/dental/vision, 401(k), and paid holiday/vacation.