Benefits Manager

Dewberry Engineers Incorporated; Merrifield (VA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

Dewberry is seeking a Benefits Manager to join our Benefits Team in Fairfax, VA. This role manages day-to-day benefits operations, supports enrollment, and acts as a subject matter expert to HR regional leaders and managers.

You will oversee compliance with ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and related laws, lead benefit implementations, manage vendor relationships, and drive process improvements to enhance the employee experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
• 6+ years of benefits management/administration experience.
• Proactive, self‑driven with initiative.
• Strong knowledge of employee benefits programs and retirement plans.
• In‑depth understanding of ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA.
• Excellent communication, both written and oral.
• Strong analytical and detail‑oriented skills.
• Advanced Excel and Office proficiency.
• Tech‑savvy with HRIS experience.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Discretion and confidentiality in handling information.
• Ability to collaborate with HR teams, leaders, and vendors.
• Willingness to travel 5–10%.
• Hybrid work in Fairfax, VA.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of benefits programs.
• Support annual benefits enrollment planning, communication, and execution.
• Process monthly billing reconciliation.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA.
• Serve as primary HRIS POC for benefits tasks and data accuracy.
• Co‑lead ADA accommodations process.
• Audit benefits data for accuracy and compliance.
• Manage and track employee leave programs (FMLA, disability, state leave).
• Support vendor management and implementations.
• Lead benefit implementations and data‑feed testing.
• Assist design, evaluation, and enhancement of benefit plans.
• Present Dewberry's benefits offerings to offices with the Director.
• Manage E‑Verify employment verification process.
• Identify process improvements to enhance experience and efficiency.
• Analyze benefits usage and trends for strategic improvements.
• Promote employee engagement and wellness initiatives.

Skills

Proactiveness

Communication

Analytical thinking

Multitasking

Confidentiality

Collaboration

Travel readiness

Excel

HRIS proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

HRIS

Excel

Job description

Benefits Manager

Dewberry is hiring a Benefits Manager to join our Benefits Team. Our team designs and delivers benefits programs that align with the Company's strategic business goals. This includes comprehensive health offerings, retirement plans, leave management, wellness initiatives, and compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

The Benefits Manager will be an experienced professional who can perform a wide range of responsibilities across strategy, compliance, employee engagement and benefit administration. The primary focus of this role will be to support the day-to-day operations of our benefits programs, assist employees with benefits-related questions, serve as a subject matter expert and consultant to HR Regional Directors, Operational and Business Unit Managers, and employees, assist with vendor management, plan design, communications, process improvements and serve in a deputy capacity to the Director of Benefits.

In addition, the Benefits Manager will play a critical role in benefits compliance, including oversight of ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and other regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will be a collaborative problem-solver, an exceptional communicator, and a strategic thinker who is equally comfortable navigating complex plan design questions and simplifying benefits information for employees. This high‑visibility, high‑value work will have a clear and lasting impact on Dewberry's culture and business success.

Dewberry prides itself on a culture of collaboration where in-person interaction with our employees and each other is essential for full exchange of ideas, successful project delivery, developing meaningful professional relationships and gaining mentorship. While we support digital tools for benefits tactics, we prioritize the value of face‑to‑face interaction. This will be a hybrid position based in our Fairfax, VA office.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of benefits programs (e.g., health, retirement and leave)
• Support annual benefits enrollment processes, including planning, communication, and execution
• Process monthly billing reconciliation
• Monitor and ensure compliance with federal and state regulations (e.g., ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA)
• Serve as the primary HRIS POC for benefits-related system tasks, including testing, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring data accuracy
• Co‑lead the ADA accommodations process
• Oversee and audit benefits data for accuracy and compliance
• Manage and track employee leave programs (e.g., FMLA, disability & State leave)
• Support vendor management
• Leads benefit implementations projects including the setup and testing of electronic data file feeds (e.g., eligibility, payroll, vendor integrations), ensuring data integrity, system compatibility and time execution across internal systems and external partners
• Assist in the design, evaluation, and enhancement of benefit plans and programs
• Partner with Director of Benefits to present Dewberry's benefits offerings and updates to various offices
• Manage and oversee E‑Verify employment verification process
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance employee experience and operational efficiency
• Analyze current benefits, evaluating the use, services, coverage, effectiveness, cost, plan experience and competitive industry trends in benefits programs in order to recommend strategic improvements
• Promote employee engagement and education around benefits and wellness initiatives

Required Skills & Required Experience

• Bachelor's degree required
• 6+ years of experience in Benefit management/administration
• Proactiveness! Self‑driven professional with a strong initiative and forward‑thinking approach who actively seeks opportunities to add value and contribute to the organization
• Strong knowledge of employee benefits programs (strong knowledge of retirement programs a plus)
• In‑depth understanding of benefits compliance requirements (ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, etc.)
• Exceptional communication skills (oral and written) with the ability to explain complex benefits clearly
• Strong problem solver who is analytical and detail‑oriented
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel
• Highly tech‑savvy, with strong HRIS proficiency, skilled in testing system enhancements, resolving technical issues and ensuring data accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
• High level of discretion and confidentiality when handling sensitive employee information
• Ability to collaborate effectively with HR teams, business leaders, and external vendors
• Project management skills, especially in areas like open enrollment, vendor coordination, and compliance tracking
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 5‑10% for meetings, trainings or events
• Must be able to work in our Fairfax, VA office on a hybrid basis

Don't meet every single requirement? At Dewberry we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace for our employees. So, if you're excited about this role, but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the position description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may just be the right candidate for this or other opportunities.

*At this time, Dewberry will not sponsor a new applicant for work authorization.

*Dewberry is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation.

*Only recipients of an offer of employment from Dewberry, will be required to submit to a background screening which may include, but is not limited to, employment verification, educational and other credential verification, driving record check, criminal background check, and an investigative consumer report. These screenings will be conducted by Dewberry's background vendor of choice and will be conducted in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local law.

Salary Range

The projected range for this position is $75,000-$97,000 annually. Depending upon other factors, i.e., skills, experience, location, market conditions, the range may vary slightly.