Director of Benefits & Wellbeing

HSE LOGO; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Hornets Sports & Entertainment seeks a Director of Benefits & Wellbeing to strategically design, implement, administer and continuously improve our employee benefits, wellness and wellbeing programs. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of People Strategy, this role aligns programs with engagement, health and financial security for the workforce.

The Director will oversee the Benefits Manager, collaborate with Finance, Legal and external vendors to deliver competitive, cost-effective programs

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, Finance or related field.
• 8–10 years of progressive experience in benefits/total rewards or HR with leadership responsibilities.
• Deep knowledge of employee benefits design, administration and compliance.
• Strong understanding of ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA and related regulations.
• Experience managing vendor relationships, renewals and negotiations.
• Proven wellbeing initiative design and implementation experience.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with ability to interpret benefits data and trends.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills; ability to engage executives and partners.
• Proven ability to influence decision-making and build cross-functional relationships.
• High discretion and ability to handle sensitive information confidentiality.
• High adaptability 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 benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, voluntary benefits and leave programs.
• Evaluate and recommend plan enhancements to stay competitive for talent attraction and retention.
• Serve as primary contact for employees on benefits and wellbeing issues with education and support.
• Lead annual benefits planning, renewal, enrollment and communications.
• Manage relationships with brokers, consultants, carriers, wellness vendors and third-party admins.
• Monitor utilization, trends and costs; provide analysis and recommendations to leadership.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws (ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA).
• Design and promote wellbeing initiatives addressing physical, mental, emotional and financial wellness.
• Develop employee communications and educational resources to improve understanding of benefits.
• Partner with Finance and HR leadership on budgeting and forecasting for benefit programs.
• Use data and feedback to assess program effectiveness and identify improvements.
• Lead vendor selection, contract negotiations and performance evaluations.
• Supervise and develop the Benefits Manager for growth and excellence.
• Support NBA and organization initiatives related to engagement and total rewards.
• Maintain confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information.
• Perform other duties as assigned by leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Benefits design

Regulatory compliance

Vendor management

Data analytics

Financial acumen

Project management

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Confidentiality

Adaptability

Evenings/weekends events

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.

The Director serves as the organization’s subject matter expert on benefits and wellbeing programs, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations while delivering a best-in-class employee experience. This position oversees the Benefits Manager and collaborates closely with Finance, Legal and external vendors to provide competitive, cost-effective, and employee-focused programs that align with the organization's culture and business objectives.

Core Values

The Charlotte Hornets organization embodies the following 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.