Retirement Benefits Manager - Global Industrial

Motion; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Motion Industries is seeking a Retirement Benefits Manager to lead strategy, administration and governance of the company’s retirement plans and financial wellness initiatives in the U.S. and Canada.

This role partners with HR, Finance, Payroll, Legal, and external providers to ensure compliant, cost-effective programs and optimal participant outcomes. The ideal candidate will provide expert guidance on defined contribution plans, nonqualified deferred compensation, and related educational

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in HR, business, finance or related field.
• 5–8 years of progressive retirement benefits experience.
• Knowledge of ERISA, IRC, SECURE Act and regulatory filings preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as SME for all retirement plans and programs, ensuring compliant administration and employee support.
• Assist in design, implementation, governance and ongoing oversight of retirement and financial wellness plans.
• Manage relationships with third‑party admins, trustees, auditors, consultants, and service providers.
• Coordinate retirement plan committee meetings, materials, reporting and documentation.
• Monitor industry trends and changes to assess impacts and recommend enhancements.
• Prepare executive‑level reporting and analytics for HR leadership and fiduciary committees.

Skills

Defined contribution knowledge

Retirement plan governance

Vendor management

HRIS & reporting

Communication & stakeholder mgmt

Analytical & project mgmt

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business/Finance

Tools

Financial systems

Job description

Summary

The Retirement Benefits Manager serves as the lead subject matter expert for the Company's retirement, and financial wellness plans and programs. This individual contributor role is responsible for the strategy, administration, compliance, governance, vendor management, and continuous monitoring of retirement programs, including qualified and nonqualified defined contribution plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, plans, and financial wellness initiatives within the U.S and Canada. This role also supports retirement plan governance activities, including the research, analysis, and preparation of retirement plan appeal recommendations for Committee review and determination.

The Retirement Benefits Manager serves as the lead subject matter expert for the Company's retirement, and financial wellness plans and programs. This individual contributor role is responsible for the strategy, administration, compliance, governance, vendor management, and continuous monitoring of retirement programs, including qualified and nonqualified defined contribution plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, plans, and financial wellness initiatives within the U.S and Canada. This role also supports retirement plan governance activities, including the research, analysis, and preparation of retirement plan appeal recommendations for Committee review and determination. The Retirement Benefits Manager partners closely with Human Resources Shared Services, Finance, Payroll, Legal, external consultants, recordkeepers, and trustees, to ensure retirement programs remain competitive, compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with the Company's Total Rewards strategy and employee financial well-being objectives.

Job Duties

• Serve as the primary subject matter expert for all retirement benefit plans and programs, including qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, ensuring effective administration, compliance and employee support.
• Assist in the evaluation, design, implementation, administration, and ongoing governance of retirement, and financial wellness plans and programs.
• Manage relationships with third-party administrators, trustees, , auditors, consultants, and other retirement plan service providers.
• Partner with fiduciary committees and leadership teams to support retirement plan governance processes for decision-making.
• Coordinate and support retirement plan committee meetings, including development of materials, reporting, and documentation.
• Monitor industry trends, legislative changes, and marketplace developments to assess potential impacts and recommend program enhancements.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, including ERISA, Internal Revenue Code requirements, SECURE Act provisions, and other retirement-related laws and regulations.
• Coordinate annual compliance testing, audits, Form 5500 filings, plan amendments, participant disclosures, and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Assist with lead retirement plan vendor reviews, contract management activities, and service-level performance evaluations.
• Analyze plan participation, savings rates, investment utilization, and other metrics to identify opportunities to enhance employee retirement readiness.
• Develop and implement retirement education and financial wellness strategies to improve employee engagement and outcomes.
• Partner with Human Resources Shared Services, Payroll, HRIS, Finance, and external providers to ensure accurate plan administration and participant transactions.
• Provide guidance for escalated compliance and administration questions from the HR Service Center management team.
• Educate community HR leaders on benefit initiatives by developing and leading informational webinars as needed
• Lead the development of all employee communications related to retirement plans and programs including print and electronic media
• Support mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and integration activities impacting retirement plans, as needed.
• Prepare executive-level reporting, analytics, and recommendations for HR leadership and fiduciary committees.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on operational efficiency, participant experience, and retirement readiness outcomes.
• Act as the escalation point for complex retirement plan questions and administration issues.
• Research, analyze, and prepare recommendations for retirement plan administrative and benefit claim appeals, including drafting appeal determinations and supporting materials for review by Plan Committee.
• Maintain documentation and records related to retirement plan appeals, Committee decisions, and fiduciary governance activities.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
• Five (5) to eight (8) years of progressive retirement benefits experience.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Strong knowledge of qualified defined contribution plans, including 401(k) plan administration and compliance requirements.
• Experience supporting retirement plan governance, audits, and regulatory filings.
• Experience managing external vendors, consultants, recordkeepers, and investment advisors.
• Strong analytical, project management, and financial acumen skills.
• Proficiency with HRIS, retirement administration platforms, and reporting tools.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence decisions and drive results across multiple functions without direct authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• CEBS, CRPS, QKA, CPC, CFP, or similar retirement-related professional certification.
• Experience supporting nonqualified deferred compensation plans
• Experience working with large employer retirement programs.
• Knowledge of fiduciary governance practices and benefit committee operations.
• Experience developing financial wellness and retirement readiness initiatives.
• Familiarity with mergers, acquisitions, and retirement plan integration activities.
• Strong planning, organization, delegation and decision-making abilities

Leadership

• Embodies the following values: serve, perform, influence, respect, innovate, team.
• Effectively communicates by motivating and inspiring others through clear and proactive communication.
• Demonstrates ownership and accountability for retirement program performance and participant outcomes.
• Operates as a trusted advisor to HR leadership, fiduciary committees, and business stakeholders.
• Influences decisions through expertise, data-driven recommendations, and strong business acumen.
• Balances strategic thinking with operational excellence and attention to detail.
• Builds productive partnerships across HR, Finance, Payroll, Legal, and external service providers.
• Drives continuous improvement and innovation in retirement plan design, administration, and participant engagement.
• Leads through expertise, collaboration, and influence rather than direct people management.

Physical Demands

• Principal duties of this job are performed primarily in an office environment, with occasional travel for meetings, conferences, vendor reviews, or employee education events.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in both virtual and in-person settings.
• May occasionally travel domestically to support retirement plan governance, vendor management, or strategic initiatives.

Licenses & Certifications

None required.

Supervisory Responsibility

0-5 Direct Reports

Budget Responsibility

No

Company Information

Motion Industries offers an excellent benefits package which includes options for healthcare coverage, 401(k), tuition reimbursement, vacation, sick, and holiday pay.

GPC conducts its business without regard to sex, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, military status, status as a veteran, or any other protected characteristic. GPC's policy is to recruit, hire, train, promote, assign, transfer and terminate employees based on their own ability, achievement, experience and conduct and other legitimate business reasons.