Benefits Program Manager - Retirement & ESPP (Hybrid - LA or Dallas)

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Benefits Program Manager for Retirement Plans, with hybrid work in Dallas or Los Angeles. The role focuses on ESPP plan administration, design recommendations, and enhancing the employee experience within a global benefits team.

You will oversee enrollment, payroll deductions, and data integrity while ensuring compliance with IRC 423 and related regulations. AECOM values collaboration across Total Rewards, Finance, Legal, and Payroll to align operations with financial

Qualifications

• Significant hands‑on ESPP experience.
• Strong understanding of ESPP design and employee communications.
• Experience with plan governance, audits, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Own ESPP plan administration and participant experience.
• Oversee enrollment periods, payroll deductions, refunds, and data maintenance.
• Maintain ESPP records and vendor data exchanges.
• Support ESPP communications and plan design education materials.
• Ensure compliance with IRC 423, SEC, ERISA, DOL and IRS requirements.
• Collaborate with Total Rewards, Compensation and Equity teams.
• Coordinate with Legal, Finance, Tax, Payroll and Equity Administration.
• Support plan governance activities and RFPs; research global expansion of ESPP.
• Identify opportunities including AI to improve efficiency and employee experience.
• Advise HR leadership on timely issue resolution.

Skills

ESPP experience

Project management

Regulatory knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Data governance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Business

Tools

Workday

ADP

Oracle

Job description

Benefits Program Manager - Retirement & ESPP (Hybrid - LA or Dallas)

• Full-time
• State/Province: California
• Business Group: Corporate
• Legal Entity: AECOM
• Business Line: Corporate
• Work Location Model: Hybrid
• Operating Group: Corporate
• Primary Location: US - Los Angeles, CA - 300 S Grand A
• Compensation: USD 80,000 - USD 110,000 - yearly

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

AECOM has an opening for a Benefits Program Manager - Retirement Plans to join our Global Benefits & Well-being team in our Dallas office or a hybrid work location. The role provides professional level support to the ongoing administration of AECOM’s retirement benefits program. The qualified candidate should have diverse exposure to various forms of retirement/financial plans such as stock programs (employee stock purchase plans ESPP). defined contribution, defined benefit plans, and non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements.

This position will offer some flexibility for hybrid work schedules to include both in-office presence and telecommute/virtual work, to be based in either Dallas, TX or Los Angeles, CA.

Responsibilities include:

• Serve as the primary ESPP subject matter expert, owning plan administration, design recommendations, and participant experience.
• Oversee ESPP operations across enrollment, purchase periods, payroll deductions, refunds, qualified dispositions, and data file maintenance.
• Maintain ESPP benefits records, manage vendors and ensure accurate data exchange and reconciliations.
• Support ESPP communications, including educational materials explaining plan design and employee value.
• Ensure compliance with IRC Section 423, global tax regulations, and securities laws.
• Collaborate with Total Rewards, Compensation, and Equity teams to ensure alignment across benefit programs.
• Partner with Legal, Finance, Tax, Payroll, and Equity Administration teams to align operations with financial reporting and payroll processes.
• Support plan governance activities, including committee meetings, fiduciary documentation, audits, and RFPs.
• Research ESPP expansion globally
• Identify opportunities, including the use of AI to improve operational efficiency, automate processes, and enhance the employee experience.
• Act as a trusted advisor to HR leadership to research, analyze and resolve issues timely.
• Monitor industry trends, regulatory developments, and best practices in retirement and stock programs.
• Serve as back-up for Qualified and Non-Qualified plan administration.

• Bachelor’s Degree, in Finance, Business Administration, or related field, plus at least 6 years of relevant experience, or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education.
• Significant hands‑on ESPP experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Section 423 ESPP, SEC regulations, ERISA, DOL,, and IRS requirements.
• Prior experience managing global ESPP programs for publicly traded company stock programs.
• Strong project management and problem‑solving skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with both defined contribution savings and defined benefit pension plans is preferred
• HRIS/Payroll/Benefit systems, such as Workday, ADP and ORACLE experience is preferred

• Sponsorship for US work authorization is not available for this position, now or in the future
• Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in‑person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well‑being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public‑and private‑sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting‑edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award‑winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community—where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.