Retirement Plan Manager

Guardian Life; Town of Bethlehem (NY); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Guardian Life is seeking a Retirement Plan Manager to support governance, compliance, and strategic management of all retirement programs including defined contribution, defined benefit, and executive plans.

The role partners with internal stakeholders and external service providers to ensure regulatory compliance, strong participant experience, and operational excellence across the retirement program ecosystem.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of experience in retirement plan administration, governance, fiduciary support, consulting, or retirement program management.
• Deep expertise in qualified and non-qualified retirement plans including defined benefit and defined contribution.

Responsibilities

• Support plan design reviews and evaluation of new programs with materials, reports, and analyses.
• Benchmark retirement program effectiveness and identify enhancement opportunities.
• Lead implementation of new programs with end-to-end processes.
• Support governance, compliance, risk management, and fiduciary oversight across plans.
• Coordinate nondiscrimination testing, regulatory filings, audits, and plan documentation alignment.

Skills

Retirement plan governance

Fiduciary oversight

Defined benefit

Defined contribution

Vendor management

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Job description

Is the opportunity to join a culture where “We Do the Right Thing,” and “We Courageously Shape Our Future Together” important to you? If so, Guardian is seeking a motivated individual to join our team as a Retirement Plan Manager.This role will support the governance, compliance oversight, and strategic management of the company’s qualified and non-qualified retirement programs, including defined contribution, defined benefit, and executive retirement plans. Additionally, supports the retirement plan operating model, governance framework, fiduciary oversight processes, vendor management strategy, and administration oversight. The Manager will partner with internal stakeholders and external service providers to help ensure operational excellence, regulatory compliance, effective risk management, and strong participant experience.The successful candidate will combine deep retirement plan expertise with strong business judgment, and continuous improvement capabilities to help evolve Guardian’s retirement programs and support long-term organizational objectives and design reviews and lead implementation of new programs.**You will****Retirement Strategy, Plan Design and Project Management*** Support management in plan design reviews and evaluation of new programs by preparing materials, reports, analyses, and recommendations.* Evaluate retirement program effectiveness through benchmarking, market analysis, participant outcomes, and regulatory developments to identify enhancement opportunities.* Support participant engagement through strategic review and planning.* Lead implementation of new programs by developing end-to-end processes that are fit for purpose for Guardian’s plans.**Retirement Plan Governance, Compliance & Risk Management*** Use technology, where applicable, to streamline operations, increase efficiency, and improve accuracy.* Support consistent operational controls, governance practices, and risk management standards across all retirement plans. Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, compliance, fiduciary, and participant risks.* Maintain robust operational documentation, controls, standard operating procedures, and evidence of oversight activities.* Lead remediation efforts related to operational issues, audit findings, compliance exceptions, escalations, and data integrity concerns across all plans.* Coordinate and oversee nondiscrimination testing, regulatory filings, audits, annual limits, and other compliance requirements in partnership with service providers and internal partners.* Support alignment among plan documents, Summary Plan Descriptions, administrative practices, and operational procedures across all retirement plans.**Vendor & Fiduciary Service Management*** Serve as a key contact supporting vendor relationships for retirement plan service providers, including recordkeepers, administrators, consultants, auditors, custodians, and fiduciary service providers.* Support vendor governance reviews, performance evaluations, issue resolution, corrective action plans, and service delivery improvements.* Evaluate vendor capabilities, service models, fees, controls, and participant outcomes to support strategic decision-making.* Support vendor sourcing, transitions, implementations, and operating model changes, as needed.* Monitor vendor performance against agreed-upon service standards and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.**Participant Experience & Communications*** Support the development and execution of retirement communication strategies designed to improve participant engagement, financial wellness, and retirement readiness.* Partners with recordkeepers and service providers to evaluate participant behaviors, communication effectiveness, and service outcomes.* Identify opportunities to enhance participant education, digital capabilities, and overall retirement planning experience.**Enterprise Partnership & Transformation*** Serve as a retirement subject matter expert for internal stakeholders.* Support retirement-related operating model improvements, process transformations, and implementation of new services.* Support automation, analytics, AI-enabled solutions, and process simplification initiatives to improve efficiency and strengthen controls.* Support strategic retirement initiatives, vendor RFP and transitions, and long-term retirement program evolution aligned with organizational priorities.**You are*** A strategic retirement professional with proven expertise across defined benefits, defined contribution, and non-qualified retirement plans.* Able to lead projects that implement new services and programs, collaborate effectively with stakeholders, and contribute insights to leadership.* An innovative thinker who continuously seeks opportunities to improve participant outcomes, strengthen controls, and simplify operations.* Able to support risk management and compliance requirements related to fiduciary obligations, regulatory compliance, participant experience, and business objectives.* A collaborative team member who can translate complex retirement concepts into actionable business recommendations.* Capable of managing multiple priorities across retirement plans in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.**Required Qualifications*** Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.* 8+ years of experience in retirement plan administration, governance, fiduciary support, consulting, or retirement program management.* Deep expertise in qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, including defined benefit, defined contribution, and executive retirement programs.* Strong knowledge of ERISA fiduciary requirements, Internal Revenue Code retirement plan provisions, and retirement governance practices.* Proven ability to implement plan design changes and new programs while mitigating operational risks and managing participant communications.* Experience supporting retirement governance activities, committee support, and regulatory compliance efforts.* Experience reviewing and implementing operating model improvements within a highly regulated environment.* Experience supporting complex vendor relationships and influencing service provider performance.* Proven ability to identify, assess, and manage operational, compliance, and fiduciary risk.* Advanced analytical and Excel skills.**Preferred Qualifications*** Experience in a large corporate or financial services environment.* Experience implementing fiduciary service arrangements or retirement operating model transformations.* Experience supporting pension risk management and retirement technology modernization initiatives.**Location*** Hybrid - 3 days in office located in Hudson Yards, NYC; Holmdel NJ; Stamford CT or Bethlehem PA. 2 days WFH.**Salary Range:**$103,450.00 - $169,960.00The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation. **Our Promise** At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards. **Inspire Well-Being** As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits. *Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.* **Equal Employment Opportunity** Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law. **Accommodations** Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail]. Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site. **Visa Sponsorship** Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment-based visas (e.g., such as an H-1B). In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.