Director of Benefits

The Cheesecake Factory; Calabasas (CA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Equity grants

Benefits start day one

401K with company match

Vacation progressively increases

Sick time

Tuition reimbursement

Adoption assistance

Dining discount

Gift card program

Job summary

The Cheesecake Factory is seeking a Director of Benefits to lead strategy, governance, and administration of our comprehensive employee benefits programs. You will report to the Vice President of Total Rewards and oversee health and welfare, retirement, leave of absence, and time-off programs while acting as the benefits subject-matter expert, vendor manager, and fiduciary overseer.

We value strategic leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and data-driven decision-making to optimize costs

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Administration, Finance, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive benefits leadership experience.
• Experience managing self-insured medical plans and large multi-state programs.
• Strong knowledge of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA and related regulations.
• Proven success in vendor management, contract negotiations, and cost control.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the VP, Total Rewards to develop a comprehensive benefits strategy aligned with business goals.
• Lead design, administration, and continuous improvement of health, retirement, and leave programs.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and cost-effective benefits portfolios.
• Oversee budgets, vendor performance, and program financial sustainability.
• Lead a high-performing benefits team and cross-functional partnerships.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Benefits expertise

Vendor management

Data analytics

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Administration, Finance, or related field

Job description

Eligible for a hybrid work schedule split between home & office, with a minimum of 3 days in the office each week.

The Director of Benefits is responsible for the strategy, governance, administration, compliance, and financial management of the Company's comprehensive employee benefits programs. Reporting to the Vice President of Total Rewards, you'll oversee all health and welfare, retirement, leave of absence, and time-off programs while serving as the Company's subject matter expert in benefits, vendor management, and fiduciary oversight.

You will develop and execute benefits programs that support business objectives, optimize employee health outcomes, manage costs, ensure regulatory compliance, and deliver an exceptional employee experience.

You’ll Thrive in This Role If You Are

• A strategic leader who can balance employee experience, business objectives, and financial stewardship.


• A subject matter expert in employee benefits, compliance, and fiduciary governance.


• Skilled at building partnerships across HR, Finance, Payroll, Legal, Internal Audit, and executive leadership.


• Passionate about leading and developing high-performing teams.


• Comfortable using data, analytics, and market trends to drive business recommendations and program enhancements

Here’s more of what you’ll get to do:

Benefits Strategy & Program Leadership

• Partner with the VP, Total Rewards to develop and execute a comprehensive benefits strategy aligned with business, talent, and financial objectives.


• Lead the design, administration, and continuous improvement of health and welfare, retirement, leave of absence, time-off, wellness, and financial well-being programs.


• Evaluate market trends, regulatory developments, and competitive benchmarks to ensure a compelling and cost-effective benefits portfolio.

Benefits & Leave Management

• Oversee health and welfare programs, including medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, disability, life, wellness, and voluntary benefits.


• Direct retirement programs, including 401(k) and deferred compensation plans, while supporting financial wellness initiatives.


• Lead leave of absence, accommodation, and time-away programs, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.


• Ensure compliance with all applicable benefits and leave regulations, including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and related requirements.


• Manage benefits budgets, healthcare cost forecasting, vendor performance, and program financial sustainability.


• Lead relationships with consultants, carriers, administrators, recordkeepers, and other vendors to optimize service delivery and outcomes.

Benefits Operations & Team Leadership

• Drive operational excellence through effective benefits administration, open enrollment execution, process improvements, and benefits technology optimization.


• Utilize data and analytics to inform decision‑making, enhance program performance, and improve the employee experience.


• Lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing benefits team while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and customer service.

What we require:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.


• 10+ years of progressive benefits leadership experience, including 5+ years leading enterprise‑wide health and welfare, retirement, and leave of absence programs.


• Significant experience managing self‑insured medical plans and large‑scale benefits programs in complex, multi‑state organizations.


• Extensive knowledge of benefits compliance and administration, including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, IRS regulations, and federal, state, and local leave laws.


• Demonstrated success managing vendor relationships, strategic sourcing initiatives, and complex contract negotiations.


• Strong financial acumen with experience managing multimillion‑dollar benefits budgets, healthcare forecasting, and cost‑containment strategies.


• Experience supporting organizations with 20,000+ employees preferred; experience supporting organizations with 40,000+ employees strongly preferred.


• Exceptional analytical, project management, communication, presentation, and executive influencing skills.

What We Prefer

• Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS)


• SHRM‑SCP or SPHR certification


• Experience in a publicly traded company


• Experience partnering with Benefits Committees and Retirement Plan Committees


• Experience with benefits analytics, population health, and value‑based healthcare strategies


• Experience working with health and retirement plans in Canada.

What we offer:

• Eligible for annual bonus


• Eligible for annual equity grants


• Eligible for benefits first day of the month following date of hire


• 401K with company match


• 3 weeks of vacation which increases to 4 weeks starting in your 5th year


• 5 days of sick time per year (first year prorated)


• Tuition Reimbursement of $2,500 for qualified programs


• Adoption Assistance Benefit of $2,500


• 25%-35% discount when dining as a guest


• Reusable gift card loaded annually for your dining enjoyment

About the Company:

Named to FORTUNE Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For®” list every year since 2014, The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated is a leader in experiential dining. We are culinary‑forward and relentlessly focused on hospitality. Delicious, memorable experiences created by passionate people—this defines who we are and where we are going.

We currently own and operate over 370 restaurants throughout the United States and Canada under brands including The Cheesecake Factory®, North Italia®, Flower Child® and a collection of other FRC brands. Internationally, 35 The Cheesecake Factory® restaurants operate under licensing agreements. Our bakery division operates two facilities that produce quality cheesecakes and other baked products for our restaurants, international licensees and third‑party bakery customers.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace for all. We welcome applicants from a wide variety of identities, ideas, perspectives, backgrounds and experiences to apply. The Cheesecake Factory offers reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities.

#SoCheesecake #LifeAtCheesecake

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