Senior Benefits Strategy Director

Washington University in St. Louis; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 187,000 - 329,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 22 days vacation

Competitive health insurance

Metro U-Pass transit

403(b) Retirement Plan

Job summary

Washington University in St. Louis is seeking a Senior Director of Benefits to lead a 15-person team and shape the future of employee benefits in a complex healthcare and higher education environment in Saint Louis.

The role blends strategic oversight with hands-on execution, covering medical, retirement, leave programs, analytics, and vendor management, with emphasis on compliance, cost control, and clear communication to executives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or related field.
• 10 years of experience with at least 5 years in leadership developing a complex, strategic benefits program.
• Leadership experience (5+ years) in benefits program development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and ongoing evolution of the benefits strategy, governance framework, and market benchmarks.
• Design, develop, implement, and oversee cost-effective benefit programs (medical, dental, vision, life, retirement, etc.).
• Ensure financial stewardship with budgets, forecasts, and long-range cost projections; develop dashboards and KPIs.
• Lead benefits communication and education strategies to improve understanding and utilization.
• Mentor and develop a team of 15 benefits professionals and manage vendor relationships and compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Benefits Administration

Strategy Development

Project Management

Financial Analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Workday HRIS

Job description

Washington University in St. Louis is seeking a Senior Director of Benefits to lead a 15-person team and shape the future of employee benefits in a complex healthcare and higher education environment in Saint Louis.

The role blends strategic oversight with hands-on execution, covering medical, retirement, leave programs, analytics, and vendor management, with emphasis on compliance, cost control, and clear communication to executives.