Manager Benefits - HR Benefits

FirstEnergy; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstEnergy in Akron, Ohio is seeking a Manager, Benefits to lead Health & Welfare strategy, plan design, and administration for active employees and retirees. You will oversee budgets, vendor governance, communications, and program implementation.

The role requires 7+ years in health and welfare benefits, strong leadership, and collaboration across HR, Finance, and Legal to ensure compliant, cost-effective benefits aligned with Total Rewards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Finance, or related discipline; minimum 7 years of relevant experience (10 years if no degree).
• Experience managing a broad portfolio of Health & Welfare benefit programs.
• Strong knowledge of employer-sponsored medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance, wellbeing, spending accounts, and voluntary benefit programs.
• Experience with self-insured health plans and cost management.
• Knowledge of Health & Welfare regulations and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead Health & Welfare strategy, design, and administration across active employees and retirees.
• Manage multi-million-dollar Health & Welfare budgets and financial analysis.
• Oversee vendor governance, performance reviews, and contract renewals with providers and consultants.
• Oversee benefits communications and enrollment activities, ensuring a high-quality participant experience.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal/state requirements and maintain plan documentation.
• Lead market benchmarking to maintain competitiveness and alignment with Total Rewards.
• Coach and develop the benefits team; foster collaboration with HR and business partners.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Vendor management

Communication

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, or Finance

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

PowerPoint

Teams

Job description

Key Responsibilities

The Manager, Benefits reports to the Director, Benefits and Absence and is responsible for the strategic design, development, implementation, communication, and ongoing administration of the Company’s Health & Welfare benefit programs for active employees and retirees. This position provides leadership and subject matter expertise across the full Health & Welfare portfolio and is accountable for

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

The Manager, Benefits reports to the Director, Benefits and Absence and is responsible for the strategic design, development, implementation, communication, and ongoing administration of the Company’s Health & Welfare benefit programs for active employees and retirees. This position provides leadership and subject matter expertise across the full Health & Welfare portfolio and is accountable for

Health & Welfare Strategy and Plan Management

• Lead the strategy, design, implementation, and ongoing administration of the Company’s comprehensive Health & Welfare benefit programs, including:
  • Self-insured medical plans
  • Prescription drug benefits
  • Dental and vision plans
  • Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance
  • Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and other tax-advantaged benefit accounts
  • Employee wellbeing programs and initiatives
  • Voluntary and supplemental benefit programs
  • Educational assistance programs
  • Catastrophic Assistance and Relief (CARE) program
  • Other Health & Welfare programs and employee benefit offerings
  • Retiree medical plans
• Develop and execute Health & Welfare strategies that support the Company’s Total Rewards philosophy, business objectives, workforce needs, and employee value proposition.
• Evaluate plan design opportunities, emerging benefit trends, utilization, employee demographics, market practices, and cost drivers to develop recommendations for benefit enhancements, changes, or new programs.
• Lead the evaluation of opportunities to improve quality, affordability, access, employee experience, and administrative efficiency across the Health & Welfare portfolio.

Financial Management and Analytics

• Manage multi-million-dollar Health & Welfare benefit budgets, forecasts, funding activities, and financial analysis.
• Partner with Finance, actuaries, consultants, and vendors to evaluate program costs, utilization trends, claims experience, and emerging cost drivers.
• Monitor benefit program performance and identify opportunities to manage healthcare costs while maintaining competitive, high-quality benefits for employees and their families.
• Develop business cases, financial analyses, and recommendations to support benefit strategy and investment decisions.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators and metrics to evaluate program effectiveness, vendor performance, employee engagement, utilization, and financial results.

Vendor and Partner Management

• Develop and maintain strong strategic partnerships with health plans, pharmacy benefit managers, benefit administrators, consultants, wellbeing partners, and other benefit vendors.
• Lead vendor governance activities, including performance reviews, service-level monitoring, issue resolution, implementation activities, contract renewals, and ongoing vendor management.
• Partner with Procurement, Legal, and Finance on vendor selection, contracting, renewals, competitive bidding activities, and evaluation of benefit solutions.
• Hold vendors accountable for delivering contractual commitments, service standards, financial guarantees, and a high-quality participant experience.

Benefits Administration and Employee Experience

• Provide leadership and oversight for the day-to-day administration of Health & Welfare benefit programs, ensuring accurate, efficient, and consistent service delivery.
• Oversee annual Open Enrollment, new program implementations, plan changes, and other benefit enrollment activities.
• Lead the development and execution of benefits communications that educate employees about their benefits, increase awareness and engagement, promote healthcare consumerism, and help employees make informed benefit decisions.
• Monitor and resolve complex or escalated benefits issues involving eligibility, enrollment, coverage, claims, and vendor service.
• Identify opportunities to simplify benefits administration and improve the employee experience through technology, process improvements, automation, and vendor capabilities.

Governance and Compliance

• Ensure Health & Welfare benefit programs are administered in accordance with applicable federal and state requirements and Company plan provisions.
• Maintain and oversee benefit plan documentation, including Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs), plan documents, policies, procedures, employee communications, and required notices.
• Coordinate required Health & Welfare compliance activities, filings, notices, audits, including applicable Affordable Care Act reporting, Summary Annual Reports, PCORI requirements, OPEB and other benefit-related requirements.
• Partner with Legal and external advisors on benefit compliance matters, plan documentation, regulatory developments, and interpretation of benefit plan requirements.
• Maintain appropriate governance processes and documentation to support effective benefit plan administration and fiduciary oversight.

Market Competitiveness and Benefits Strategy

• Lead benchmarking and market analysis of Health & Welfare programs to evaluate competitiveness, identify trends, and support recommendations for changes to the Company’s benefit offerings.
• Monitor emerging healthcare and benefits trends, regulatory developments, vendor solutions, and innovative approaches to healthcare delivery and cost management.
• Develop recommendations that balance market competitiveness, employee value, financial sustainability, and organizational objectives.
• Support the broader Total Rewards strategy by ensuring Health & Welfare programs help the Company attract, retain, engage, and support employees.

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of benefits professionals responsible for Health & Welfare program administration and strategic initiatives.
• Establish clear priorities, goals, and performance expectations and ensure successful execution of key benefit initiatives and operational deliverables.
• Build team capability and subject matter expertise while creating opportunities for professional development and career growth.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and innovative team environment aligned with Company Core Values and Behaviors.
• Build strong working relationships across HR and the business and serve as a trusted benefits subject matter expert to HR leaders and key stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business, Finance, or a related discipline and a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience required. In lieu of a degree, a high school diploma and a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience required.
• Demonstrated experience managing or supporting a broad portfolio of Health & Welfare benefit programs.
• Strong knowledge of employer-sponsored medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance, wellbeing, spending accounts, and voluntary benefit programs.
• Experience with self-insured health plans, benefit plan design, vendor management, financial analysis, and healthcare cost management strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of applicable Health & Welfare benefit regulations and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex benefits and financial information and translate findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Experience leading complex benefit implementations, annual enrollment processes, vendor initiatives, and cross-functional projects.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results within established timelines.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders across multiple levels of an organization.
• Strong problem-solving skills and sound judgment, with the ability to independently address complex benefits issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to confidentiality and appropriate handling of sensitive employee and benefits information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience leading or developing benefits professionals.
• Experience managing large, complex Health & Welfare programs and vendor relationships.
• Experience with benefits benchmarking, healthcare analytics, plan design modeling, and vendor procurement activities.