Director, Benefits and Leave Administration

Ultimate Staffing; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 153,000 - 187,000; Full time

Job summary

Ultimate Staffing is seeking a Director of Benefits and Leave Administration in Irvine, CA. Hybrid work with onsite preference 4 days/week. Direct Hire with a salary around $170K plus 20% bonus.

You will lead health and welfare benefits, manage enterprise leave programs, and ensure multi-state regulatory compliance while guiding a high-performing team. The role requires deep ERISA/ACA knowledge, hands-on analytics, and strong vendor management.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive benefits and leave administration experience.
• 5+ years of leadership experience.
• Experience supporting organizations with 5,000+ employees.
• Demonstrated success mentoring, developing, and holding teams accountable.
• Multi-state benefits administration experience required.
• Strong knowledge of ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, ADA, LOA regulations.
• Experience with IRS filings, Form 5500s, audits, and compliance reporting.
• Experience managing self-funded and fully insured health plans.
• Experience supporting union, SCA, prevailing wage, or highly customized benefit structures.
• Advanced Excel and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead administration and strategy for health and welfare benefit programs.
• Oversee enterprise leave programs, including FMLA, ADA, paid leave, military leave.
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, ADA, IRS, and DOL requirements.
• Manage Form 5500 filings, audits, reporting, and regulatory compliance activities.
• Lead annual renewals, open enrollment, and employee communication initiatives.
• Manage relationships with brokers, carriers, TPAs, consultants, and outside counsel.
• Analyze claims, utilization, and cost trends to support business decisions.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to the benefits and LOA team.
• Support benefit-related integrations during mergers and acquisitions.
• Partner closely with HR, Finance, Legal, Payroll, and Executive Leadership.

Skills

Benefits leadership

Leave administration

Multi-state experience

ERISA compliance

Vendor management

Team leadership

Excel analytics

Union/SCA experience

Cost & reporting analysis

Education

CEBS/SPHR certification

Tools

Excel

HRIS systems

Form 5500 reporting tools

Job description

Job Title: Director, Benefits and Leave Administration

Location: Irvine, CA (Hybrid; onsite preference 4 days/week)

Employment Type: Direct Hire

Salary: $170K+ 20% bonus

Our client, a leading North American employer with a workforce of more than 300,000 employees across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, is seeking a strategic and experienced Director of Benefits & Leave Administration to lead health and welfare benefits, leave programs, compliance, and team development in a highly complex, multi-state environment.

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a benefits professional who thrives in large-scale organizations and enjoys balancing strategy, compliance, operations, vendor management, and people leadership.

This position supports a highly complex benefits operation that includes multiple employee populations, union and non-union workforces, leave administration programs, and extensive compliance requirements across North America.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead administration and strategy for health and welfare benefit programs
• Oversee enterprise leave programs, including FMLA, ADA, paid leave, military leave, and state-specific leave laws
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, ADA, IRS, and DOL requirements
• Manage Form 5500 filings, audits, reporting, and regulatory compliance activities
• Lead annual renewals, open enrollment, and employee communication initiatives
• Manage relationships with brokers, carriers, TPAs, consultants, and outside counsel
• Analyze claims, utilization, and cost trends to support business decisions
• Provide leadership and mentorship to the benefits and LOA team
• Support benefit-related integrations during mergers and acquisitions
• Partner closely with HR, Finance, Legal, Payroll, and Executive Leadership

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive benefits and leave administration experience
• 5+ years of leadership experience
• Experience supporting organizations with 5,000+ employees
• Demonstrated success mentoring, developing, and holding teams accountable in a collaborative environment
• Multi-state benefits administration experience required
• Strong knowledge of ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, ADA, and LOA regulations
• Experience with IRS filings, Form 5500s, audits, and compliance reporting
• Experience managing self-funded and fully insured health plans
• Experience supporting union, SCA, prevailing wage, or highly customized benefit structures
• Advanced Excel and analytical skills
• Proven vendor, broker, and contract management experience
• Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting large, complex employee populations
• Union, SCA, prevailing wage, or highly regulated workforce experience
• CEBS, SPHR, or related certification

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Strategic leadership role supporting a workforce of 300,000+ employees
• Opportunity to influence enterprise-wide benefits and leave strategy
• Exposure to executive leadership and key business stakeholders
• Strong team environment with opportunity to mentor and develop staff
• Competitive compensation package including bonus opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, or military or veteran status. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.