Job Description

Position Summary:

We are seeking a strategic and forward-thinking Benefits Manager to help advance and shape our enterprise benefit programs. This is an exciting opportunity for a candidate who enjoys leading complex, high-impact initiatives that directly influence the associate experience, organizational growth, and overall Total Rewards strategy.

In this role, you will manage benefit harmonization and design efforts across multiple business units, partner with leadership on transformational initiatives, and help design scalable, competitive programs that support a dynamic and evolving workforce. The ideal candidate is energized by change, thrives in collaborative environments, and brings a balance of strategic insight, analytical thinking, and operational excellence to the benefits function.

Major Responsibilities:

Benefits Strategy & Harmonization
• Partner with leadership to develop and implement a comprehensive benefits harmonization strategy across the enterprise, aligning programs across multiple business units and organizational structures.
• Assess current benefits offerings to identify gaps, redundancies, inconsistencies, and opportunities for program harmonization and operational efficiencies.
• Align benefits harmonization initiatives with broader enterprise strategies and initiatives, including Total Rewards philosophy, acquisitions, integrations, and organizational transformation efforts.
• Support the design and implementation of scalable, competitive, and cost-effective benefit programs that enhance the associate experience and support organizational objectives.
• Collaborate with Finance and leadership teams to support budgeting, cost forecasting, and financial analysis associated with benefits transitions and program changes.
• Analyze benefits utilization, trends, participation, and cost data to provide insights and recommendations that support strategic decision-making.

Program Execution & Operations
• Lead and support the implementation of harmonized benefit programs, including plan transitions, vendor integrations, plan document updates, and system configuration changes internally and externally.
• Coordinate cross-functional efforts to ensure successful execution of benefits-related projects, timelines, and deliverables.
• Partner with vendors, brokers, consultants, and internal stakeholders to deliver high-quality benefits services and meet performance expectations during implementations and ongoing administration.
• Develop and execute communication and change management strategies to support benefits program updates, transitions, and associate education initiatives.
• Ensure accurate documentation, process consistency, and operational effectiveness across all benefits programs and related systems.

Governance & Compliance
• Evaluate, manage, and maintain 70+ benefits-related policies to ensure alignment with organizational standards and compliance requirements.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and international regulations, including ERISA and other retirement and benefits-related regulations.
• Maintain governance frameworks, policies, procedures, and internal controls to support effective and compliant delivery of harmonized benefit programs.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments impacting benefits programs and recommend updates to policies, procedures, and program administration as needed.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, and external advisors to support audits, reporting requirements, and risk mitigation efforts.
• Other projects and tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or related field required or equivalent experience
• Minimum 5 - 8 years of experience in benefits administration, strategy, or consulting, ideally within a large or multinational organization
• Certifications such as CEBS, CBP, or similar is required, or willingness to obtain within the first 4 years in the position.
• Strong knowledge of benefits design, compliance requirements, and regulatory frameworks
• Experience reviewing, developing, and maintaining benefits policies, governance frameworks, and operational procedures.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, timelines, and cross-functional stakeholders simultaneously.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive information.
• Experience supporting global or multi-country benefits harmonization efforts
• Familiarity with HRIS systems, benefits administration platforms, and vendor systems
• Experience working with vendors, brokers, and consulting firms
• Collaboration and influence across functions and levels
• Adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving, matrixed environment
• Regular, predictable, full attendance is an essential function of the job
• Willingness to travel as necessary, work the required schedule, work at the specific location required, complete Penske employment application, submit to a background investigation (to include past employment, education, and criminal history) and drug screening are required.

Physical Requirements:
• The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The associate will be required to: read; communicate verbally and/or in written form; remember and analyze certain information; and remember and understand certain instructions or guidelines.
• While performing the duties of this job, the associate may be required to stand, walk, and sit. The associate is frequently required to use hands to touch, handle, and feel, and to reach with hands and arms. The associate must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25lbs/12kg.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.