Global Benefits & Leaves Manager

The Vertex Companies LLC; Mississippi; On-site; USD 71,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare options

Life Insurance

Disability insurance (Short/Long Term)

401(k) plan with immediate matching

Flexible Spending Accounts

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Life-long Learning program

Job summary

The Vertex Companies, LLC is seeking a Global Benefits & Leaves Manager to lead day‑to‑day administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of worldwide employee benefits and leave programs. You will collaborate with the Total Rewards Lead, HR, Payroll, and vendors to ensure compliant, high‑quality programs that positively impact employees.

You will manage open enrollment, vendor relationships, reporting, and data analysis, supporting decision‑making and a best‑in‑class employee experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5 years of related experience, a Master's degree and 3 years of related experience, or 8 years of related experience and 3 years of supervisory experience.
• Experience managing health and welfare programs in multiple countries.
• Experience evaluating and working with third‑party vendors and brokers.
• Experience with HRIS platforms; Workday preferred.
• Exceptional analytical skills, including hands‑on experience with Power Query or similar data‑transformation tools.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex data and analysis into clear, compelling insights and recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Monitor program effectiveness, market trends, employee feedback, and utilization, and provide insights and recommendations to the Total Rewards Lead.
• Partner with the Total Rewards Lead to implement benefits and wellbeing initiatives aligned with the broader Total Rewards strategy.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for benefit brokers, carriers, leave vendors, wellness providers, retirement plan administrators, and other benefit partners.
• Lead vendor performance reviews and service-level evaluations.
• Manage the annual renewal process in partnership with the Total Rewards Lead, including data review, vendor coordination, implementation planning, analytics, cost modeling, and preparation of recommendations.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.
• Coordinate regulatory filings and required benefit notices.
• Oversee internal and external audits.
• Partner with leave administration vendors, HR teams, and people leaders to ensure compliant administration of all paid and unpaid leaves of absence, which include but are not limited to FMLA, ADA accommodations, state leave programs, disability programs, and company leave programs.
• Serve as the primary escalation and program contact for employee leaves, partnering with vendors, HR, Payroll, and people leaders to ensure timely and compliant administration.
• Lead annual open enrollment planning and execution including partnering with HRIS on Workday configuration and testing.
• Analyze benefit costs, utilization, enrollment trends, and program performance; identify risks, opportunities, and recommended actions.
• Develop reporting, dashboards, and financial analyses to support Total Rewards and leadership decision-making.
• Maintain internal employee documentation including the handbooks and intranet pages.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and scale benefits and leave administration across countries, including process, technology, vendor, and employee‑experience improvements.

Skills

Power Query

Analytical skills

Communication

Workday

Vendor management

HRIS

Education

Bachelor's degree + 5 years experience

Master's degree + 3 years experience

8 years experience with no degree

Job description

Description

Company Description
The Vertex Companies, LLC (Vertex) is a $180M global consulting firm that integrates strategic advisory, project management, and dispute resolution services for organizations facing complex challenges in a world of risk. We embody our core values of embracing lifelong learning, operating with urgency, maximizing value, and driving collaboration to better outcomes for our clients, colleagues, and communities. Join us if you are looking for a career that offers you a chance to love what you do and deliver meaningful impact.

Job Description

The Global Benefits & Leaves Manager is responsible for day-to-day management, administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of Vertex’s global employee benefit and leave programs. This role partners closely with the Total Rewards Lead to execute the company’s benefits strategy and provides data, market insights, and recommendations to support program decisions. The Manager serves as a key partner to Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, brokers, carriers, and external vendors to ensure programs operate effectively, remain compliant, and deliver a positive employee experience. This role will have 1 direct report.

Core Responsibilities

• Monitor program effectiveness, market trends, employee feedback, and utilization, and provide insights and recommendations to the Total Rewards Lead.
• Partner with the Total Rewards Lead to implement benefits and wellbeing initiatives aligned with the broader Total Rewards strategy.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for benefit brokers, carriers, leave vendors, wellness providers, retirement plan administrators, and other benefit partners.
• Lead vendor performance reviews and service-level evaluations.
• Manage the annual renewal process in partnership with the Total Rewards Lead, including data review, vendor coordination, implementation planning, analytics, cost modeling, and preparation of recommendations.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.
• Coordinate regulatory filings and required benefit notices.
• Oversee internal and external audits.
• Partner with leave administration vendors, HR teams, and people leaders to ensure compliant administration of all paid and unpaid leaves of absence, which include but are not limited to FMLA, ADA accommodations, state leave programs, disability programs, and company leave programs.
• Serve as the primary escalation and program contact for employee leaves, partnering with vendors, HR, Payroll, and people leaders to ensure timely and compliant administration.
• Lead annual open enrollment planning and execution including partnering with HRIS on Workday configuration and testing.
• Analyze benefit costs, utilization, enrollment trends, and program performance; identify risks, opportunities, and recommended actions.
• Develop reporting, dashboards, and financial analyses to support Total Rewards and leadership decision-making.
• Maintain internal employee documentation including the handbooks and intranet pages.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and scale benefits and leave administration across countries, including process, technology, vendor, and employee‑experience improvements.

Qualifications & Competencies

• Bachelor's degree and 5 years of related experience, a Master's degree and 3 years of related experience, or 8 years of related experience and no degree, and 3 years of supervisory experience.
• Experience managing health and welfare programs in multiple countries.
• Experience evaluating and working with third‑party vendors and brokers.
• Experience with HRIS platforms; Workday preferred.
• Exceptional analytical skills, including hands‑on experience with Power Query or similar data‑transformation tools.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex data and analysis into clear, compelling insights and recommendations.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong knowledge of benefits and leave compliance, with experience navigating requirements across multiple countries and partnering with local experts where needed.
• Demonstrated appropriate use of AI to automate and improve work.
• Experience supporting M&A integration activities preferred, but not required.
• Experience with self‑funded medical plans preferred, but not required.

Additional Information

At Vertex, we invest in top talent with a highly competitive total compensation package that rewards performance and supports long‑term success. Total compensation includes a base salary and a discretionary variable bonus program, depending on your level. Our comprehensive benefits package offers multiple healthcare and dental plan options, as well as company‑paid Life Insurance, Short‑Term Disability, and Long‑Term Disability coverage—ensuring peace of mind for you and your family.

• Multiple healthcare and dental plan options.
• Company‑paid Life Insurance.
• Short‑Term Disability.
• Long‑Term Disability coverage.
• 401(k) plan with immediate matching and full vesting.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Suite of exclusive perks that enhance everyday life.
• Tuition reimbursement and personalized support for employees pursuing advanced education.
• Generous paid time off program, including vacation, sick time, and paid holidays (with prorated options for eligible part‑time employees).
• Lifetime of Learning program offering tuition reimbursement and personalized support for employees pursuing advanced education.

The Salary Ranges For This Role Are As Follows

• $75,000 - $204,000 USD annually (Geographical Tier C - Sample Locations - Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Miami)
• $71,000 - $194,000 USD annually (Geographical Tier D - Sample Locations - Mississippi, Mobile AL, Bowling Green KY, Tulsa)

Notice To Third Party Agencies

Please note that The Vertex Companies employs a fully staffed recruiting team. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Agreement, Vertex will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, Vertex explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Vertex.