Manager, Benefits

Global Industrial Company; Port Washington (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Global Industrial Company seeks a strategic benefits leader to design and manage health and welfare programs, including self-funded medical plans. You will oversee compliance, vendor negotiations, and annual renewals while partnering with Finance and HR on forecasting and cost modeling.

Responsibilities include program design, employee communications, and cross-functional leadership to support a distributed workforce across multiple sites, with focus on cost containment and population health

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of progressive benefits or HR program experience.
• Strong knowledge of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and multi-state compliance.
• Experience with vendor negotiations, renewals, and RFPs.
• Analytical skills to interpret claims and financial data.
• Experience with HRIS platforms (SuccessFactors or similar).
• Excellent communication, including executive-level presentations.
• Experience supporting industrial, distribution, or manufacturing populations.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy, design, and annual planning for health & welfare programs.
• Own self-funded medical plan performance and cost containment oversight.
• Analyze claims trends and cost drivers; develop population health improvements.
• Partner with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and long-range cost modeling.
• Lead renewals, RFPs, and negotiations for benefits programs.
• Oversee benefits administration, eligibility, and HRIS data accuracy.
• Ensure ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA compliance and 5500 filings.
• Develop benefits communications for a distributed workforce.
• Partner with HR, Finance, Legal and Safety to ensure seamless program delivery.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Analytical decision-making

Vendor and relationship management

Project management

Employee-centric communication

Compliance orientation

Distributed/workforce adaptability

Tools

HRIS (SuccessFactors)

Job description

Strategic Plan Design & Financial Management

• Lead strategy, design, and annual planning for all health & welfare programs.
• Own self‑funded medical plan performance, including stop‑loss strategy, network evaluation, and high‑cost claimant oversight.
• Analyze claims trends, utilization, and cost drivers; develop recommendations for cost containment and population health improvement.
• Partner with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, accruals, and long‑range cost modeling.

Vendor, Broker & Renewal Leadership

• Lead annual renewals, RFPs, and negotiations for medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, life, disability, EAP, and voluntary benefits.
• Manage broker and carrier relationships, ensuring strong SLA performance and issue resolution.
• Evaluate PBM and stop‑loss options to optimize cost and risk protection.

Operations & Program Oversight

• Oversee day‑to‑day benefits administration, eligibility, life events, and HRIS/carrier data accuracy.
• Partner with HRIS and Payroll to ensure accurate system configuration, data integrity, and process alignment. Identify areas for process improvement, use of AI, and automation.
• Lead Open Enrollment strategy, communications, testing, and execution.
• Provide oversight of LOA, disability, and workers’ compensation coordination with HR, Safety, and third‑party administrators.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, and multi‑state leave laws.
• Own 5500 filings, plan documents, SPDs, SBCs, and required notices.
• Maintain SOX controls and support internal/external audits.
• Monitor regulatory changes and implement required updates.

Employee Experience & Communications

• Develop clear, accessible benefits communications tailored to a distributed, shift‑based workforce.
• Lead benefits education initiatives to improve understanding and engagement.
• Oversee wellness and population health programs focused on MSK, chronic conditions, and safety‑related risks.

Leadership & Cross‑Functional Partnership

• Partner with HR, HRIS, Payroll, Finance, Legal, and Safety to ensure seamless program delivery.
• Present recommendations, financial impacts, and program performance to senior leadership.

Competencies and Skills

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of progressive benefits experience, including self‑funded medical plan management.
• Strong knowledge of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and multi‑state compliance.
• Experience with vendor negotiations, renewals, and RFPs.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret claims and financial data.
• Experience with HRIS platforms (SuccessFactors or similar).
• Excellent communication skills, including executive‑level presentations.
• Experience supporting industrial, distribution, or manufacturing populations.

Preferences

• CEBS or CBP certification.
• Experience in a publicly traded company.
• M&A integration experience.
• Pharmacy/PBM strategy experience.
• Experience with wellness or population health programs.

Competencies

• Strategic thinking with operational execution.
• Analytical decision‑making.
• Vendor and relationship management.
• Project management excellence.
• Employee‑centric communication.
• High integrity and compliance orientation.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, distributed environment.

EEO/AA Statement

Global Industrial provides equal employment opportunities to all employee and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absences, compensation and training.