Benefits Project Manager

Front Door Defense; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Axiom Space is hiring a Benefits Manager to design, implement, and oversee the company-wide employee benefits program. This role focuses on governance, compliance, and a proactive benefits strategy in a complex, fast-paced environment.

You will manage relationships with brokers, vendors, and internal stakeholders, ensuring accurate communications and monthly reconciliation while preparing leadership reports. Strong project management and collaboration skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR or related field with 7+ years of benefits experience.
• Experience with fully insured, self-funded, and/or managed-funded plans.
• CEBS preferred.
• SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP/PHR/SPHR preferred.
• Workday knowledge preferred.
• International benefits administration experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and manage employee benefits programs (health, retirement, wellness, PTO, disability, life, FSA/HSA, voluntary benefits).
• Collaborate with brokers, vendors, insurers, and providers to ensure compliance and optimize the benefits package.
• Lead open enrollment campaigns and communicate updates to employees.
• Ensure compliance with ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ADA, Section 125, Medicare, and related regulations.
• Administer 401k tasks including loans and work with retirement plan vendors.

Skills

Communication

Confidentiality

Organization

Customer service

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related discipline

CEBS (preferred)

SHRM-CP / SHRM-SCP / PHR / SPHR (preferred)

Workday knowledge (preferred)

Tools

Workday

HRIS

Job description

Benefits Project Manager

Develop and implement a company-wide benefits program governance and rollout

Location: Houston, Texas

About The Role

Benefits Manager

Axiom Space is a human space exploration company, building era-defining space infrastructure and delivering technology-driven solutions that will empower civilization to transcend Earth. Beginning with Axiom Station, successor to the International Space Station, the company is pioneering a next-generation orbital settlement that will foster groundbreaking innovation and research in microgravity and drive the global space economy of tomorrow. Today, guided by the vision of leading humanity's expansion off planet, Axiom Space is the principal provider of commercial human spaceflight services and developer of advanced spacesuits for the Moon and beyond.

Axiom Space fosters a work environment inclusive of all perspectives. We are the pioneers of commercial space, leading the transformation of low-Earth orbit into a global space marketplace. Our mission-driven team is seeking a bold and dynamic Benefits Manager who is fueled by high accountability, execution horsepower, and driven to understand our world, science/technology, and life itself, for the benefit of all on Earth and beyond.

Position Summary

Since Axiom Space is a very complex work environment, we are looking for a resilient, high-energy Benefits Manager, who will have specialized benefits administrative experience and a comprehensive understanding of full-cycle employee benefits administration. This role requires a proactive, highly organized, detail-oriented individual contributor subject matter expert who can navigate the complexities of employee benefits governance and administration and manage inquiries from employees. As the company grows, this role could potentially have direct reports in the future. The ideal candidate will also be responsible for implementing best practices and an effective project management model and cadence. Excellent collaboration and interpersonal skills are essential to be successful in this role.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsible for designing, implementing, and managing employee benefits programs, which may include health insurance, retirement plans, wellness initiatives, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, disability, life insurance, FSA/HSA accounts, and voluntary benefits
• Collaborate with external benefits brokers, vendors, insurers, and other benefit providers to ensure compliance, resolve issues, and optimize the overall benefits package.
• Make recommendations on benefit negotiations and renewals in partnership with broker and internal stakeholders.
• Keep abreast of industry trends and regulatory changes to ensure the company's benefits programs remain competitive and compliant.
• Monitor Benefits programs performance, prepare reports, and present insights to senior leadership
• Plan annual open enrollment campaign, with updated, accurate information for employees regarding new services or plan changes.
• Serve to resolve benefits complexities for employees regarding inquiries, clarifications, and issue resolution.
• Conduct new hire benefits orientation.
• Responsible for communicating benefits information updates to all employees.
• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive and interactive wellness program with measurable key indicators to demonstrate impact to the overall organization.
• Responsible for administration of all leave of absences and disability, administration.
• Overall responsibility for ensuring compliance with state and federal legal and regulatory requirements affecting employee benefit programs, including ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ADA, Section 125, Medicare, etc.
• Administer the annual Verify Form 1095 reporting for the Affordable Care Act
• Ensure governance of Benefits plan document
• Reconcile benefits accounts, monthly.
• Responsible for 401k administrative tasks including 401k loans and collaborating with retirement plan vendors.

Communicate based on project models such as progress, status, and potential risks and issues to stakeholders and leadership.

Implement and maintain agile project management methodologies throughout the project lifecycle including sprints.

Coordinate and lead the meetings for the Axiom Space Benefits Committee.

Perform additional job duties as assigned

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related discipline, and 7+ years of progressive experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience with fully insured, managed-funded, and/or self-funded plans
• Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), preferred
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR, preferred

Knowledge of Workday, preferred

• International benefits administration experience, (outside the U.S.), preferred
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing at all levels of the organization
• Work independently as well as collaboratively within a team environment
• Provide a high level of customer service
• Maintain strictest confidentiality
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships across the organization
• Track record of making things happen in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
• Uses good judgement to problem-solve proactively, positively impacting hard challenges
• Demonstrated organization skills to meet tight deadlines with high quality results

Core Skills

• Passion for space and the mission
• Entrepreneurial, growth mindset
• High EQ and ability to collaborate within teams and cross-functionally
• Tech-solutioning in using systems and tools to move smarter and faster

Core Competencies:

• Accountability
• Technical Rigor
• Execution Discipline
• Pride of Delivery

Work Environment:

Generally, an office environment, but can involve inside or outside work depending on the task.

Requirements

• This position may require access to export controlled technical data or technology subject to NASA regulations, International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). In accordance with U.S. export control laws, final candidates may be required to undergo additional export control screening to determine eligibility for access. Meeting these requirements is a condition of employment.
• Management has the prerogative to select at any level for which the position is advertised
• Must be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet critical project milestones

Physical Requirements

• Work may involve sitting or standing for extended periods (90% of the time)
• May require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. (5% of the time)
• Equipment and Machines
• Standard office equipment (PC, phone, printer, etc.)

Axiom Space is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Axiom Space does not discriminate on the basis of race, regional color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.