Benefits Administration Manager

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 127,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Retirement System in Richmond seeks a Benefits Administration Manager to lead day-to-day operations of GLI, DB, VSDP, VLDP, LTC and LODA. The role directs four supervisors, ensures efficient programs and high customer service standards, and drives continuous improvement across benefits functions.

You will coordinate with procurement, manage vendor performance, and develop training plans while fostering collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Five (5) years of progressive experience in benefit administration or related areas with management experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee GLI, DB, VSDP, VLDP, LTC and LODA operations.
• Supervise staff including recruitment, training, performance management and coaching.
• Ensure adequate coverage for all functional areas.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with staff from diverse backgrounds.
• Develop procedures, manuals and work methods; drive improvements.
• Collaborate with the Customer Programs Officer to implement changes.
• Support career growth through training plans for teams.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize workflows.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and optimization.
• Monitor KPIs, conduct audits and ensure targets are met.
• Oversee vendor performance against contracts and manage risks.
• Coordinate vendor onboarding and RFP processes with procurement.
• Maintain current knowledge of directives and regulations affecting functions.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders and perform other duties.

Skills

Management

Supervisory experience

Vendor management

Process improvement

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Title: Benefits Administration Manager

Agency: Virginia Retirement System

Location: Virginia Retirement System - Main Office

FLSA: Exempt

Hiring Range: $126,834 - $150,000

Full Time or Part Time: Full time

Additional Detail

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) the day before the posted End Date.

Please read all information in the Important Notices section.

Grow Your Career Serving Those Who Serve Others

The Virginia Retirement System (VRS), an independent state agency based in Richmond, delivers retirement and other benefits to covered Virginia public sector employees through sound financial stewardship and superior customer service. VRS ranks as the 15th largest public or private pension fund in the U.S. and the 36th largest in the world, serving more than 861,000 active and inactive members, retirees and beneficiaries. Members include public school teachers, political subdivision employees (cities, towns, special authorities and commissions), state agency employees, public college and university personnel, state police, Virginia law officers and the judiciary.

The Retirement Benefits Administration Manager is a newly created leadership position that provides administrative and operational oversight for the day to day effectiveness and coordination of VRS benefits and programs. These include Group Life Insurance (GLI), Defined Benefit (DB) plans, the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program (VSDP), the Virginia Local Disability Program (VLDP), Long Term Care (LTC), and the Line of Duty Act (LODA).

This role leads four (4) functional supervisors and their teams, ensuring consistent program delivery, operational excellence, and a high standard of customer service. Reporting to the Chief Customer Programs Officer, the Retirement Benefits Administration Manager drives efficiency, innovation, and alignment across functional areas while fostering collaboration, staff development, and continuous improvement.

Essential functions include but not limited to:

• Develops and oversees operational processes for the functional areas of GLI, DB, VSDP, VLDP, LTC and LODA.
• Supervises and directs the activities of direct and indirect reports and performs supervisory duties including recruitment; training and development; performance management and coaching and corrective action to address performance accordance with VRS policies.
• Ensures adequate coverage for all functional areas.
• Communicates clearly, concisely and effectively orally and in writing, exercising tact and discretion in handling varied situations with a variety of staff from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Develops and implements procedures, manuals and work methods and makes recommendations for improvements.
• Works closely with the Customer Programs Officer to implement administration and operational changes.
• Facilitates the career growth of teams developing training and development plans.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to optimize workflows, solve complex problems and drive business critical initiatives.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders to identify opportunities for process improvement and optimization to find solutions that will increase operational efficiency.
• Develops and proactively measures progress on department KPIs, conducts audits ensuring targets are met for all functional areas.
• Provides oversight of vendor performance against contracts managing risks, ensuring compliance and developing strong vendor relationships.
• Acts as the final escalation point for vendor contract issues and resolves conflicts and disputes.
• In coordination with the agency procurement team and area supervisor, oversees the selection and onboarding process including RFPs.
• Ensures seamless execution of department initiatives, driving alignment and meeting internal and external deadlines.
• Maintains current knowledge of changes in directives, policies, legislation and regulations that affect all functional areas and provides subject matter expertise on technical and procedural matters.
• Remains abreast on information and technology affecting functional areas to increase innovation and ensure compliance.
• Assists with organizational change initiatives and develops, monitors, and coordinates resources.
• Builds and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Five (5) years of progressive experience in benefit administration or a variety of administrative areas to include five (5) years of management experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Additional Considerations

• Demonstrated experience of management and supervisory principles, practices and methods related to selection, training, and performance management.
• Ability to research and analyze service delivery methods.
• Ability to interpret, apply and explain laws, rules and regulations.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to use strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of management and internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in benefits administration.

$126,834 - $150,000