Director of Benefits & Wellbeing

Charlotte Hornets; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Hornets Sports & Entertainment seeks a Director of Benefits & Wellbeing to strategically design, implement, administer and continuously improve employee benefits and wellbeing programs supporting health, financial security and engagement.

Reporting to the Senior VP of People Strategy, you will lead benefits administration, vendor management, compliance (ERISA/ ACA), and analytics to drive cost efficiency and talent attraction in a dynamic sports environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Finance, or related field required.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive experience in benefits, total rewards or HR with leadership responsibilities.
• Deep knowledge of employee benefits design, administration, compliance and best practices.
• Strong understanding of ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA and related regulations.
• Experience managing vendor relationships, renewals and contract negotiations.
• Demonstrated success in wellbeing and wellness initiatives.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen to interpret benefits data and trends.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills; multitask capability.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills for executives and employees.
• Proven ability to influence decisions and build cross-functional relationships.
• High discretion and ability to handle sensitive information.
• Adaptable and able to thrive in a dynamic environment.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends and events in a professional sports setting.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive benefits and wellbeing strategy aligned with organizational goals.
• Oversee administration of all employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement and leave programs.
• Evaluate and recommend plan enhancements to maintain market competitiveness and support talent attraction/retention.
• Serve as primary point of contact for employees on benefits, providing education, guidance and support.
• Lead annual benefits planning, renewal, enrollment and communication processes.
• Manage relationships with brokers, consultants, carriers, wellness vendors and TPAs.
• Monitor benefits utilization, costs and trends; provide analytics and recommendations to leadership.
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA and related regulations.
• Design, implement and promote wellbeing initiatives focused on physical, mental and financial wellness.

Skills

Leadership experience

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Project management

Discretion/confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Finance, or related field

Job description

The Director of Benefits & Wellbeing is responsible for the strategic design, implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of Hornets Sports & Entertainment’s employee benefits, wellness and wellbeing programs. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of People Strategy, this role develops and executes a comprehensive benefits and wellbeing strategy that supports employee engagement, health, financial security and organizational performance.

Core Values

• We operate with the highest level of integrity, driven by moral standards that guide us in everything we do.
• We communicate with full candor; openly, honestly, and respectfully with clarity.
• We work in the spirit of one team, committed to one vision, shared values, and an inclusive culture that ensures every person feels valued and respected.
• We hold ourselves accountable, and responsible to raise high levels of expectations of ourselves and our team.
• We compete at the highest levels and strive to be the best at everything we do
• We act with resilience and thrive in the face of challenges bringing others along with us.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive benefits and wellbeing strategy aligned with organizational goals and employee needs.
• Oversee the administration of all employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement, voluntary benefits and leave programs.
• Evaluate and recommend benefit plan enhancements to maintain market competitiveness and support talent attraction and retention efforts.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees regarding benefits and wellbeing programs, providing education, guidance, and support on plan offerings, eligibility, enrollment, claims issues, and program resources while ensuring a high level of customer service and responsiveness.
• Lead annual benefits planning, renewal, enrollment and communication processes.
• Manage relationships with benefits brokers, consultants, carriers, wellness vendors and third-party administrators.
• Monitor benefits utilization, trends, and costs; provide analysis and recommendations to leadership regarding plan performance and cost management.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA and other related legislation.
• Design, implement, and promote employee wellbeing initiatives focused on physical, mental, emotional and financial wellness.
• Develop employee communication strategies and educational resources to improve understanding and utilization of benefits programs.
• Partner with Finance and HR leadership on budgeting, forecasting and financial management of benefit programs.
• Utilize data and employee feedback to assess program effectiveness and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Lead vendor selection, contract negotiations and performance evaluations.
• Supervise, coach, and develop the Benefits Manager, fostering professional growth and operational excellence.
• Support organizational and NBA initiatives related to employee engagement, total rewards, culture and workforce wellbeing.
• Maintain confidentiality and integrity in handling sensitive employee information.
• Perform other duties as assigned by leadership.

Required Skills, Experience And Abilities

To perform the job successfully, you should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive experience in benefits, total rewards or human resources, including leadership responsibilities.
• Deep knowledge of employee benefits design, administration, compliance and industry best practices.
• Strong understanding of ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA and other benefits-related regulations.
• Experience managing vendor relationships, benefit renewals and contract negotiations.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing wellbeing and wellness initiatives.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to interpret benefits data, trends and reporting.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills with the ability to effectively engage employees, executives, and external partners.
• Proven ability to influence decision-making and build strong cross-functional relationships.
• High level of discretion and ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive employee and organizational information.
• High level of adaptability and ability to thrive in a dynamic environment.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends and events as required within a professional sports environment.

Additional Information

This is a full time benefit eligible position. HSE is dedicated to creating and upholding a welcoming environment that celebrates diversity.

HSE provides valuable benefits and competitive time off policies to help you and your family lead healthy, balanced lives.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. All requests for medical or religious accommodations to perform the stated job duties will be considered.