Director of Benefits

Benesch; Cleveland (OH); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Benesch in Cleveland is seeking a Director of Benefits to lead the full benefits function with strategic vision and hands-on execution. This role designs and implements a forward-looking benefits and wellbeing strategy that supports the Firm's talent objectives, employee and partner experience, financial stewardship, and a high-performing workplace.

You will oversee health and welfare, retirement and financial wellbeing programs, leaves and disability, and Firm-wide wellness initiatives while

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes a multi-year benefits and wellbeing strategy aligned with Benesch's priorities and market position.
• Advises CHRO and senior leadership on plan design, funding, cost-sharing, and investment priorities with data-driven recommendations.
• Maintains a disciplined benefits roadmap with renewals, RFPs, enrollments, compliance, and vendor reviews.
• Monitors regulatory trends and competitor offerings to strengthen competitiveness and participant value.
• Partners with HR, Finance, Payroll, Legal, Internal Communications and leadership to execute benefits priorities.

Job description

Benesch is proud to announce the opening for a Director of Benefits in our Cleveland office! This position is hybrid and has work from home flexibility.

Who We Are

At Benesch we pride ourselves on exceeding expectations and building trust not only with our clients but with our employees - Benesch's #1 asset. Committed to providing not only the highest level of legal service to our clients, Benesch also aspires to create a positive work environment for our employees. Our Firm continues to earn placement on Chicago and Cleveland's Top Workplaces list, along with Cleveland's NorthCoast 99 Top Workplaces rankings. We also continue to advance on the AmLaw 125 list, placing us among the top 125 law firms in the country.

Benesch is proud to be recognized for being a Firm that attracts and retains top talent - making Benesch a great place to work. We offer a hybrid schedule, career development and growth, transparent and visible leadership teams, and a place where diversity, equity and inclusion is celebrated. In addition, the Firm offers a full array of benefits which can be viewed at www.mybeneschbenefits.com.

Working with Us - Come and "Be Benesch!"

We are one of the fastest growing firms in the nation, and have offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Miami, New York City, San Francisco, and Wilmington. We continue to expand our geographic footprint and value the talent that comprises each of our locations. If you are someone who champions a First in Service approach and are ready to be part of an exciting and growing Firm, we would invite you to apply to join our team.

Position Summary:

The Director of Benefits provides strategic leadership and hands-on direction for the full benefits function at Benesch. The Director develops and executes a forward-looking benefits and wellbeing strategy that supports the Firm's talent objectives, employee and partner experience, financial stewardship, and commitment to a high-performing workplace. This role is accountable for the design, administration, governance, communication, and continuous improvement of health and welfare benefits, financial wellbeing programs, leaves and disability programs, workers' compensation, and Firm-wide wellness initiatives.

The Director serves as a trusted advisor to the Chief Human Resources Officer and Firm leadership, translating market trends, utilization data, financial results, regulatory developments, and workforce needs into clear recommendations. The role combines enterprise-level strategy with tactical execution, including vendor and broker management, annual renewals and RFPs, budget ownership, compliance oversight, escalated participant advocacy, technology optimization, and leadership of the benefits team.

Benefits Strategy and Leadership

1. Develops and leads a multi-year benefits and wellbeing strategy aligned with the Firm's business priorities, talent strategy, culture, growth, and market position within the legal and professional services sector.
2. Advises the CHRO and senior leadership on plan design, funding, cost-sharing, emerging benefits, policy direction, risk, and investment priorities. Presents clear, decision-ready recommendations supported by financial, competitive, utilization, and employee-experience data.
3. Maintains a disciplined benefits roadmap and annual operating calendar that integrates renewals, RFPs, open enrollment, compliance, communications, vendor reviews, audits, and program launches.
4. Monitors legislative, regulatory, market, workforce, and healthcare trends and proactively recommends changes that strengthen competitiveness, sustainability, access, and participant value.
5. Partners across Human Resources, Finance, Payroll, Legal, Internal Communications, People Systems, and Firm leadership to ensure benefits priorities are coordinated and effectively executed.

Plan Design, Financial Stewardship and Analytics

• Leads the evaluation, design, implementation, and ongoing management of the Firm's health and welfare, retirement and financial wellbeing, leave, disability, life, voluntary, and ancillary benefit programs.
• Owns benefits budgeting, forecasting, renewal modeling, monthly variance review, invoice governance, and executive reporting. Identifies cost drivers, financial risks, savings opportunities, and areas for strategic reinvestment.
• Uses claims, utilization, enrollment, demographic, engagement, service, and financial data to evaluate program performance and guide decisions. Establishes meaningful scorecards and key performance indicators for the function.
• Oversees plan audits, eligibility and census reconciliation, funding and billing controls, compliance testing, and documentation to support accurate and financially sound administration.
• Balances employee and partner experience, access, program quality, market competitiveness, administrative feasibility, fiduciary considerations, and total cost in benefits recommendations.

Vendor, Broker and Consultant Management

• Serves as the executive relationship owner for benefit brokers, consultants, carriers, administrators, technology partners, wellbeing providers, and other third parties supporting the benefits function.
• Leads competitive RFPs, finalist evaluations, negotiations, contracting, implementation, and transition planning in partnership with Procurement, Legal, Finance, and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• Establishes measurable service levels, performance guarantees, implementation standards, reporting expectations, escalation protocols, and governance routines. Conducts periodic business reviews and holds vendors accountable for outcomes.
• Evaluates vendor performance, fees, transparency, service quality, participant experience, data security, financial results, and strategic fit. Develops corrective action plans and recommends vendor changes when performance does not meet expectations.
• Coordinates vendors and internal teams to resolve complex or systemic participant issues while protecting confidentiality and ensuring a consistent, high-touch experience across Firm offices.

Benefits Operations and Tactical Execution

• Provides leadership and oversight for end-to-end benefits administration, including new-hire and life-event enrollment, annual enrollment, eligibility, executive and partner benefits, COBRA, leaves, disability, claims support, appeals, workers' compensation, and participant communications.
• Ensures benefits administration platforms, interfaces, payroll deductions, plan configurations, workflows, records, and data are accurate, secure, well controlled, and continuously improved.
• Leads annual open enrollment strategy and execution, including plan decisions, system readiness, testing, communications, educational programming, enrollment support, and post-enrollment reconciliation.
• Serves as the senior escalation point for complex benefits, leave, disability, claims, access, and vendor service matters. Ensures issues are resolved promptly, consistently, and with appropriate documentation.
• Establishes and maintains standard operating procedures, controls, service standards, calendars, and cross-training to support reliable execution, business continuity, and a scalable benefits operating model.
• Remains actively engaged in critical deliverables and is prepared to execute tactical work directly when needed to ensure deadlines, service expectations, and compliance obligations are met.

Wellbeing Strategy and Engagement

• Develops an integrated, inclusive wellbeing strategy that addresses