AI-Driven Benefits & Wellness Manager

Applied Systems; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

Paid time off

Wellness days

Job summary

Applied Systems in Chicago is seeking a Benefits Manager to lead the design and delivery of our benefits and wellness programs, plus the AI-enabled systems that keep them running smoothly.

The role partners with vendors and administrators, oversees ERISA compliance, and uses data dashboards to inform plan design and budgets, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional collaboration and AI-assisted communications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Communications, Information Systems, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5–8 years of progressive experience in benefits administration or HRIS/benefits technology.
• Proven project management experience leading cross-functional benefits initiatives end to end.
• Hands-on experience testing and administering a benefits module within a major HRIS (UKG preferred).
• Knowledge of federal and state benefit regulations including ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and ACA.
• Experience managing benefits communications programs and employee engagement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Implement and manage benefit and wellness programs aligned to our total rewards philosophy, including open enrollment, vendor implementations, and M&A benefit integrations.
• Create inclusive, AI-assisted benefits communications and resources that drive awareness, engagement, and utilization across the platforms employees use.
• Govern benefits technology, including the HRIS benefit module, enrollment platform, and carrier feeds, and help shape our automation roadmap and human-AI decision boundaries.
• Build analytics dashboards and share utilization data and benchmark insights that inform plan design, vendor selection, and budget decisions.
• Build strong relationships with benefit vendors, consultants, and administrators, and monitor regulatory changes that affect plan administration.
• Keep compliance documentation current and support ERISA activities, including 5500 preparation, plan document reviews, and discrimination testing.

Skills

Project management

Benefits program mgmt

HRIS knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/related field

Tools

UKG HRIS

Job description

Applied Systems in Chicago is seeking a Benefits Manager to lead the design and delivery of our benefits and wellness programs, plus the AI-enabled systems that keep them running smoothly.

The role partners with vendors and administrators, oversees ERISA compliance, and uses data dashboards to inform plan design and budgets, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional collaboration and AI-assisted communications.