Manager II, Health and Wellness Benefits

jbhunt; Lowell (MA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. is seeking a Manager II, Health and Wellness Benefits to lead a team within Human Resources in Lowell, AR. The role oversees end-to-end execution of benefits programs (401k, core benefits, leave, disability, life) and ensures compliance with federal/state regulations and internal policies.

The position emphasizes vendor management, process improvements, staff leadership, and cross-functional collaboration to achieve program objectives and optimize service delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR or related field with 4 years of Benefits Program Management and leadership experience or 6 years in related roles.
• Knowledge of federal, state and local employment laws and regulations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to build relationships with clients, vendors and peers.
• Ability to analyze situations and make informed decisions.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the operationalization of assigned benefits programs, ensuring effective service delivery and meeting program objectives.
• Lead the implementation of new or enhanced benefits programs and coordinate events to boost employee engagement.
• Manage vendor partnerships, monitor performance, and address issues to meet JB Hunt standards.
• Define and track service delivery standards, and develop action plans to close gaps and improve speed and quality.
• Provide guidance to internal stakeholders, escalate issues, and ensure compliant outcomes across functions.
• Ensure ongoing adherence to regulations and internal policies across operations.
• Improve benefits processes and cross-functional workflows while reducing redundancies.
• Perform personnel tasks including staffing, performance management, and attendance.
• Ensure data integrity and secure data exchanges between systems and vendors.
• Coordinate with vendors on projects with clear timelines and deliverables.
• Train the team on new processes and confirm readiness to execute.

Skills

Knowledge of employment laws

Confidentiality

Multi-tasking

Relationship building

Analytical decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/BA or related field

Master's degree in HR or related field

Tools

HRIS systems

Job description

Job Title:

Manager II, Health and Wellness Benefits

Department:

Human Resources

Country:

United States of America

State/Province:

Arkansas

City:

Lowell

Full/Part Time:

Full time

Job Summary:

Under general direction, this position oversees a team responsible for the end-to-end execution of designated Benefits programs and services aligned to one or more functional areas (401k, investments, core benefits, leave, disability, life). The role ensures compliance with federal and state regulations as well as internal policies, while establishing operational excellence and driving vendor performance. The incumbent collaborates with internal stakeholders and external vendors to ensure program objectives are met through resolving complex issues, diagnosing inefficiencies, and implementing initiatives to enhance effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the operationalization of assigned benefits programs, managing effective service delivery, accountability for program outcomes, and achievement of objectives
• Lead the implementation of new or enhanced benefits programs and coordinate benefits events to increase employee awareness, understanding, and engagement with available offerings
• Drive strong partnerships with vendors by coordinating general activities, tracking performance, identifying opportunities to improve or enhance service to meet J.B. Hunt standards and needs, and addressing breakdowns that create delays and/or risks
• Define and uphold service delivery performance by setting measurable standards, tracking results, and overseeing action plans that correct gaps and continuously improve speed, quality, and stakeholder satisfactions
• Provide guidance to internal stakeholders by leveraging expertise, serving as an escalation point, clarifying policy interpretation, reducing process challenges, leading cross-functional initiatives, and partnering with internal teams for balanced and compliant outcomes, especially in cases where risk, precedent, and/or impact is elevated
• Oversee ongoing adherence to regulations, laws, and internal policies by monitoring changes, incorporating requirements into operational guidance, and reinforcing consistent application
• Improve benefits processes and accessibility by anticipating emerging opportunities, proactively diagnosing systemic inefficiencies, establishing standardized and scalable workflows, and driving cross-functional enhancements that strengthen controls while removing redundancies
• Perform personnel tasks including, but not limited to staffing, performance management, annual review, and time and attendance
• Oversee the integrity of benefits data, exporting and information exchanges between internal systems and external vendors, to safeguard accuracy, regulatory compliance, and quality of reporting
• Coordinate with vendors to plan and execute projects that enhance service delivery and program performance, ensuring clear timelines, defined deliverables, and accountability across internal and external teams
• Train the team on new processes by aligning resources to the strategy, delivering clear instructions, and confirming personnel readiness to execute accurately and consistently
• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Management, or related field with 4 years of Benefits Program Management, HR Business Partner/Generalist, HR Compliance, or related experience and/or military equivalent with at least 2 years of which being leadership experience
OR 6 years of Benefits Program Management, HR Business Partner/Generalist, HR Compliance, or related experience and/or military equivalent with at least 2 years of which being leadership experience
AND Demonstration of the following skills and abilities through education, certifications, military, or other experiences:

• Knowledge of federal, state and local employment laws and regulations
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to manage multiple priorities
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with clients, vendors, and peers
• Ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Management, Communications, or a related field with 4 years of Benefits Program Management, HR Business Partner/Generalist, HR Compliance, or related experience and/or military equivalent with at least 2 years of which being leadership experience
• One or more relative certifications, such as Senior Professional in Human Resources, (SPHR), Certified Benefits Professional (CBP), Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS)
• Direct management experience
• Knowledge of approaches and techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving operations or process problems
• Ability to adjust to new or changing assignments and processes
• Experience with HRIS/Talent Management systems

This position is not eligible for employment-based sponsorship.

Compensation:

Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include skills, education, experience, geography, and other qualifications of the successful candidate. This position may be eligible for annual bonus and incentives based on profitability or volumes in accordance with the terms of the Company’s bonus and incentive plans, as applicable and in effect from time to time.

Benefits:

The Company offers the following benefits for full-time positions, subject to applicable eligibility requirements, as may be in effect from time to time: medical benefit, dental benefit, vision benefit, 401(k) retirement plan, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, paid time off commensurate with tenure (includes vacation and sick time), six weeks of paid maternity leave along with two weeks of paid parental leave, and six paid holidays annually.

Education:

Bachelors: Business Administration/Management (Required), Bachelors: Human Resources Management (Required), GED (Required), High School (Required)

Work Experience:

Human Resources, Management-Entry Level

Job Opening ID:

00625211 Manager II, Health and Wellness Benefits (Open)

“This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.”

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. is committed to basing employment decisions on the principles of equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, persons with disabilities, protected veterans or other bases by applicable law.