Benefits Manager: Self-Funded Plans & M&A Ops

Karman Space & Defense; Mukilteo (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) match

PTO

HSA with company contribution

FSA

Life & AD&D insurance

Disability insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Karman Space & Defense seeks a Benefits Manager to oversee end-to-end benefits administration and ensure accurate, compliant benefits processing. You will coordinate with brokers during a shift to self-funded models and manage Open Enrollment, plan design evaluations, and vendor relationships across the organization.

Ideal candidates have 5–8 years of experience in benefits administration, ADP WF N expertise, and strong negotiation skills to support mergers, acquisitions, and integration

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of hands-on, full-cycle benefits administration experience.
• Experience supporting a transition from fully insured to self-funded health plans.
• Direct experience managing benefits administration and Open Enrollment setup within ADP Workforce Now (WFN).
• Demonstrated negotiation skills supporting broker and carrier relationships, RFP processes, and contract structures.
• Knowledge of mental health and digital wellness programs.
• Strong understanding of ERISA, IRS, DOL, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, stop‑loss insurance, claim analytics, and plan accounting.
• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, integrations, and benefits-related organizational changes.

Responsibilities

• Leads full-cycle benefits administration, including daily operations, eligibility management, qualified life events, billing, and compliance processes.
• Partners with the external insurance broker to support the transition from a fully insured to a self-funded benefits model and evaluates plan design and third-party administrator (TPA) and PBM structures.
• Monitors self-funded plan performance by reviewing utilization data, auditing billings, and assessing stop-loss claims with broker and finance partners.
• Drives operational work for GTM benefits strategies, collaborating on vendor evaluations, RFPs, and SLA adherence.
• Supports M&A due diligence and post-merger integrations by reviewing existing benefit plans, coordinating transitions, and onboarding newly acquired employees.
• Serves as the primary administrator for the ADP Workforce Now (WFN) benefits module and maintains plan setup, eligibility rules, reporting, and carrier feeds.
• Oversees annual Open Enrollment, including system configuration, employee communications, vendor coordination, and post-enrollment audits.
• Manages wellness, employee assistance program (EAP), and mental health vendor operations and tracks participation and program effectiveness.
• Coordinates employee benefits communications and partners with HR leadership to align strategies and recommendations.

Skills

Benefits administration

Negotiation

RFP processes

Contract structures

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, or related field

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

Job description

Karman Space & Defense seeks a Benefits Manager to oversee end-to-end benefits administration and ensure accurate, compliant benefits processing. You will coordinate with brokers during a shift to self-funded models and manage Open Enrollment, plan design evaluations, and vendor relationships across the organization.

Ideal candidates have 5–8 years of experience in benefits administration, ADP WF N expertise, and strong negotiation skills to support mergers, acquisitions, and integration