Director, Retirement Plan Administration

apply; Florham Park (NJ); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

ADP Retirement Services seeks a Director, Retirement Plan Administration to provide strategic leadership for a team delivering retirement plan administration, compliance, and relationship management services. You will drive operational excellence while maintaining strong partner satisfaction and regulatory compliance.

The role requires balancing execution with strategic thinking, leading cross-functional initiatives, and fostering employee development within a global services organization.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in Retirement Services or related field
• 5+ years of leadership experience
• Deep understanding of qualified retirement plan administration and ERISA regulations
• Experience working with TPAs, financial advisors, or sponsors
• Ability to lead large-scale initiatives and influence stakeholders
• Strong business acumen with use of metrics to drive results
• Excellent communication and executive-level influencing skills
• College degree not required; relevant skills matter most

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for a team responsible for retirement plan administration activities.
• Ensure delivery of operational, compliance, and relationship management services.
• Balance operational excellence with strategic thinking and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate across Retirement Services and the broader organization to influence strategy.
• Lead regulatory and risk management processes and ensure client satisfaction.
• Mentor leaders and develop talent, manage staffing and performance.

Skills

Leadership

ERISA knowledge

Retirement plan operations

Relationship management

Strategic thinking

Job description

ADP Retirement Services is hiring a Director, Retirement Plan Administration

• Are you passionate about building high-performing teams while strengthening strategic partnerships within the retirement industry?
• Do you enjoy leading through complexity, influencing business outcomes, and developing solutions that improve the client and partner experience?
• Are you looking for an opportunity to combine your leadership expertise, retirement plan knowledge, and relationship management skills to drive organizational success?

If so, this may be the opportunity you've been searching for.

In this role, you'll make an impact by:

As the Director, Retirement Plan Administration, you will provide strategic leadership for a team responsible for supporting retirement plan administration activities. You will ensure the successful delivery of operational, compliance, and relationship management services while fostering strong partnerships that contribute to client retention and business growth.

This role requires a leader who can balance operational excellence with strategic thinking, driving continuous improvement while maintaining a strong focus on partner satisfaction, compliance, risk management, and employee development. As a trusted leader, you will collaborate across Retirement Services and the broader organization to influence strategy, solve complex problems, and ensure exceptional service delivery.

Here’s what you can expect on a typical day:

Strategic Leadership & Business Management

• Develop and execute strategic objectives that support Retirement Services business goals and partner relationship strategies.
• Lead operational initiatives focused on enhancing service delivery, scalability, compliance, and partner satisfaction.
• Evaluate business performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and overall customer experience.
• Prepare, analyze, and present business performance metrics, trends, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
• Manage departmental budgets, resource allocation, and operational planning activities.

Retirement Plan Operations & Compliance Oversight

• Provide executive oversight of retirement plan administration activities, including regulatory and operational processes.
• Ensure appropriate controls, procedures, and practices are maintained to support compliance and risk management objectives.
• Guide teams supporting Form 5500 filing activities, non-discrimination testing, operational corrections, and related retirement plan administration functions.
• Monitor key performance indicators and compliance measures to ensure service commitments and regulatory obligations are met.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to proactively identify and address operational risks.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop leaders and team members while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Establish clear performance expectations and measurable goals aligned with organizational priorities.
• Conduct performance reviews, provide ongoing feedback, and create development opportunities that support employee growth and career progression.
• Develop succession plans and mentor future leaders within the organization.
• Manage staffing strategies, workforce planning, talent acquisition, employee engagement, and retention initiatives.

Change Management & Continuous Improvement

• Lead transformational initiatives that improve processes, tools, workflows, and service delivery models.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to implement strategic projects and organizational changes.
• Leverage data, feedback, and performance metrics to identify opportunities for operational improvement.
• Promote innovation and encourage teams to develop solutions that improve partner and client experiences.
• Participate in enterprise initiatives, task forces, and strategic projects that support ADP's long-term growth objectives.

TO SUCCEED IN THIS ROLE:

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in Retirement Services, retirement plan administration, fiduciary services, compliance consulting, relationship management, or a related field.
• 5+ years of leadership experience with demonstrated success leading managers, consultants, or professional teams.
• Deep understanding of qualified retirement plan administration, ERISA regulations, fiduciary responsibilities, and retirement industry operations.
• Experience working directly with TPAs, financial advisors, fiduciary service providers, plan sponsors, or other retirement industry partners.
• Proven ability to lead large-scale initiatives, manage competing priorities, and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen with experience using operational metrics and performance indicators to drive results.
• Excellent communication, presentation, relationship management, and executive-level influencing skills.
• A college degree is great but not required. What's more important is having the skills needed to perform successfully in this role.

Other acceptable experiences could include:

• Equivalent experience in Retirement Services, Retirement Plan Administration, Compliance, Client Relationship Management, Financial Services, Operations Leadership, or a related discipline.
• Military experience. We recognize and appreciate the unique talents and experiences Veterans bring to the table. We value leadership, accountability, operational excellence, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills developed through military service and welcome those experiences in our organization.

BONUS POINTS FOR THESE:

• Advanced understanding of Form 5500 administration, non-discrimination testing, and retirement plan correction methodologies.
• Experience in leading relationship management organizations or client service teams.
• Proven success implementing operational improvements, service transformation initiatives, or process optimization programs.
• Advanced degree such as an MBA or related graduate education.
• Industry credentials related to retirement plans, benefits administration, fiduciary services, or financial services.
• Experience leading highly regulated service organizations.

You’ll love working here because you can:

• Lead with Impact. Shape the strategy and direction of a critical Retirement Services function.
• Influence Outcomes. Build meaningful partnerships that contribute directly to client success and business growth.
• Develop Talent. Mentor future leaders while building a high-performing, engaged team.
• Drive Innovation. Lead transformational initiatives that improve operational excellence and service delivery.
• Collaborate Across Partner with leaders throughout the organization to solve complex challenges and create long-term value.

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