Senior Manager, Benefits

Smurfit-Westrock; Candiac; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock seeks a Senior Manager, Canada Retirement & Health & Welfare Benefits to lead strategy, governance, administration, and compliance for Canadian retirement and employee benefit programs.

This role acts as the benefits SME for Canada, partnering with HR, Finance, Payroll, Legal, and external vendors to ensure programs are competitive, compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with Total Rewards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, finance, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience managing Canadian retirement and/or health and welfare benefit programs.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian pension legislation and benefits administration.
• Experience managing vendors, consultants, and complex benefit programs.
• Strong analytical, financial, project management, communication, and influencing skills.
• Fluent in French and English (U.S.)

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, administration, and governance of Canadian pension, retirement savings, and health and welfare benefit programs.
• Develop benefit strategies that support business objectives, employee well-being, and financial sustainability.
• Manage consultants, actuaries, insurers, trustees, and third-party administrators, including performance, renewals, and negotiations.
• Oversee regulatory compliance, governance, audits, financial reporting, and required pension and benefits filings.
• Monitor program performance, utilization, market trends, and legislative changes and recommend improvements.
• Lead benefit budgeting, forecasting, cost management, annual enrollment, and employee communications.
• Support acquisitions, integrations, organizational changes, and benefits harmonization initiatives.
• Provide executive reporting, recommendations, and Canadian benefits expertise to senior leadership.

Skills

Analytical skills

Financial acumen

Project management

Communication skills

Influencing skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business/Finance

Job description

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.

The Opportunity

Smurfit Westrock seeks a Senior Manager, Canada Retirement & Health & Welfare Benefits to lead strategy, governance, administration, and compliance for Canadian retirement and employee benefit programs. This role serves as the primary Canadian benefits subject matter expert and partners with HR, Finance, Payroll, Legal, and external vendors to ensure programs are competitive, compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with our Total Rewards strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, administration, and governance of Canadian pension, retirement savings, and health and welfare benefit programs.
• Develop benefit strategies that support business objectives, employee well-being, and financial sustainability.
• Manage consultants, actuaries, insurers, trustees, and third-party administrators, including performance, renewals, and negotiations.
• Oversee regulatory compliance, governance, audits, financial reporting, and required pension and benefits filings.
• Monitor program performance, utilization, market trends, and legislative changes and recommend improvements.
• Lead benefit budgeting, forecasting, cost management, annual enrollment, and employee communications.
• Support acquisitions, integrations, organizational changes, and benefits harmonization initiatives.
• Provide executive reporting, recommendations, and Canadian benefits expertise to senior leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business, Finance, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience managing Canadian retirement and/or health and welfare benefit programs.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian pension legislation and employee benefits administration.
• Experience managing vendors, consultants, and complex benefit programs.
• Strong analytical, financial, project management, communication, and influencing skills.
• Fluent in French and English (U.S.)

Preferred Qualifications

• CEBS, GBA, RPA, CHRL, CHRP, CPP, or related designation.
• Experience in a large, multi-site manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Experience with mergers, acquisitions, integrations, and benefits harmonization.

What Success Looks Like

• Effective governance and compliance of Canadian retirement and benefit plans.
• Strong vendor performance and service delivery.
• Successful execution of strategic benefit initiatives and annual enrollment.
• Improved employee experience and thoughtful management of program costs.

Candidates are required to undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional job offer, but before starting employment.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.