HR Program Manager

Harris Health; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Harris Health in Houston seeks an HR Program Manager for Benefits Strategy & Governance to act as a strategic partner to the Director of Benefits, supporting design, governance, implementation, and performance of enterprise benefits programs within a multi-system environment.

This role emphasizes strategic and analytical work, aligning Benefits strategy with regulatory requirements and operational execution, while MyHR Service Center handles day-to-day operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Healthcare Administration, Finance, or related field required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in Benefits / Total Rewards.
• 5+ years in HR program or project management.
• Analytics or strategy roles.

Responsibilities

• Benefits Strategy, Plan Design, and Governance; partner with Benefits leadership to support plan design and long-term roadmap.
• Develop and maintain policies and administrative standards for all benefits programs.
• Lead vendor governance framework, including performance reviews and service delivery expectations.
• Partner with Finance and consultants on cost management, renewals, and financial performance of benefits programs.
• Oversight of compliance requirements; program integrity and consistency; RFPs and vendor negotiations.
• MyHR Operations liaison; translate strategy into executable operational processes.
• Define process ownership, service levels, and escalation pathways; monitor performance.
• Develop dashboards and executive-level presentations; deliver data-driven recommendations.

Skills

Benefits / Total Rewards

HR program management

Analytics

Strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Healthcare Administration, Finance, or related field

Master's degree

Job description

About Us

Harris Health is the public healthcare safety-net provider established in 1966 to serve the residents of Harris County, Texas. As an essential healthcare system, Harris Health champions better health for the entire community, with a focus on low-income uninsured and underinsured patients, through acute and primary care, wellness, disease management and population health services. Ben Taub Hospital (Level 1 Trauma Center) and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital (Level 3 Trauma Center) anchor Harris Health's robust network of 39 clinics, health centers, specialty locations and virtual (telemedicine) technology. Harris Health is among an elite list of health systems in the U.S. achieving Magnet® nursing excellence designation for its hospitals, the prestigious National Committee for Quality Assurance designation for its patient-centered clinics and health centers and its strong partnership with nationally recognized physician faculty, residents and researchers from Baylor College of Medicine; McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth); and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

At Harris Health, we prioritize the well-being of our most valuable asset--our people--ensuring a culture of compassion, collaboration and excellence in serving Harris County's most in need. With integrity and accountability at our core, we commit to 'leading with love', embodying our dedication to quality care, education, and a steadfast respect for every individual's contribution to our mission.

HR Program Manager ' Benefits Strategy & Governance

The HR Program Manager ' Benefits Strategy & Governance (BSG) serves as a strategic partner to the Director of Benefits, supporting the design, governance, implementation, and performance of enterprise benefits programs. This role operates within a centralized Benefits Strategy & Governance function responsible for plan design, vendor management, policy ownership, compliance oversight, and strategic initiatives, while MyHR Service Center teams administer benefits operations through a tiered service delivery model. This role is essential to maintaining alignment between Benefits strategy, regulatory requirements, and operational execution within a complex, multi-system environment.

The Program Manager Plays a Critical Role In

• ' Translating strategy into executable frameworks
• ' Driving program performance and continuous improvement
• ' Providing analytical insights to inform decision-making
• ' Ensuring operational alignment with MyHR

This position is intentionally strategic and analytical in nature, with limited involvement in day-to-day transactions.

Key Responsibilities

• Benefits Strategy, Plan Design, and Governance
  ' Partner with Benefits leadership to support plan design, program strategy, and long-term roadmap development
  ' Develop and maintain policies, and administrative standards for all benefits programs
  ' Lead vendor governance framework, including performance reviews, service delivery expectations, and issue resolution
  ' Partner with Finance and consultants on cost management, renewals, and financial performance of benefits programs
• ' Support Oversight Of
  Compliance requirements
  Program integrity and consistency
  RFPs, vendor selections, and contract negotiations
• MyHR Operations Liaison (Critical Function)
  ' Serve as the primary liaison between BSG and MyHR Service Center teams
  ' Translate strategy and policy into clear, executable operational processes
• ' Define And Maintain
  Process ownership
  Service expectations and SLAs
  Escalation pathways for complex Tier 2 cases
  Establish audit frameworks and monitor adherence to defined processesMonitor operational performance and identify:
  Breakdown points
  Process inconsistencies
  Opportunities to reduce handoffs and improve employee experience
• Analytics, Reporting, and Insights
  ' Compile And Analyze Data Across
  Plan metrics
  Vendor performance
  Employee experience trends
• ' Work with Leadership, HR Partners and Consultants to develop dashboards, reports, and executive-level presentations
  ' Deliver data-driven recommendations to improve plan performance and operational efficiency
• Support the organization's goal of more accurate reporting and improved benefits performance outcomes
• Program Leadership & Implementation
  ' Lead enterprise benefits initiatives from concept through implementation
  ' Manage
  Timelines
  Deliverables
  Cross-functional coordination (HR, Finance, vendors)
• ' Support Implementation Of
  New benefit programs
  Plan design changes
  Vendor transitions
  System/process enhancements
• Annual Enrollment Strategy & Execution
  Leads enterprise Annual Enrollment strategy, planning, and execution across Benefits, HRIS, Payroll, Communications, and vendors
  Develops and manages the end-to-end project plan, including system testing, readiness milestones, and go-live execution
  Oversees data validation, payroll testing, and enrollment readiness activities
  Coordinates employee engagement strategy, including vendor fairs and communication campaigns
  Ensures post-enrollment reconciliation and reporting accuracy
• Communication & Change Management
  ' Develop and execute communication strategies for benefits programs and changes
  Work with Communications Partners to create: Employee-facing materials
  Training resources for MyHR teams
  SNOW Knowledge Article Management
  Leadership communications
  Support adoption and minimize disruption during transitions and implementations
  Ensure clear ownership and accountability for roles and responsibilities between BSG and MyHR Service Team
  Enhance employee knowledge and understanding of benefits programs
• Policy, Process, and Continuous Improvement
  ' Develop And Maintain
  Policies
  Procedures
  Desk guides
  Workflow documentation
  Employee Resources
  Evaluate End-to-end Processes And Recommend Improvements To
  Increase efficiency
  Reduce duplication
  Strengthen controls to Identify and address gaps introduced by organizational change
  Support governance and oversight of regulatory compliance, including ACA/PPACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other applicable requirements
• Stakeholder Engagement
  ' Partner With
  HR leadership
  Finance
  MyHR Operations
  HR Partners
  External vendors
  Represent Benefits on committees, workgroups, and strategic initiatives
  Influence alignment across teams without direct authority

Minimum Qualifications

Education
' Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Healthcare Administration, Finance, or related field required
' Master's degree preferred

Experience

' 5+ years of experience in:

• Benefits / Total Rewards
• HR program or project management
• Analytics or strategy roles