Senior Manager, Benefits

The Heritage Foundation; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The Heritage Foundation is seeking a Senior Manager, Benefits in Washington, DC to oversee and enhance our best-in-class benefits program, payroll operations, compliance reporting, and vendor relationships. This role serves as the primary resource for employee questions on benefits and leave programs and leads key annual processes.

You will partner with People Operations leadership to evaluate program effectiveness, negotiate broker renewals, and ensure compliance with federal and state

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; SHRM-CP/SCP certification preferred
• 6+ years of relevant experience
• Excellent communication skills in writing and speaking; ability to handle sensitive discussions
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with HRIS systems (UKG/Ultimate Software)

Responsibilities

• Oversee benefits administration, payroll operations, compliance reporting, and vendor relationships
• Lead annual open enrollment and regulatory filings
• Partner with People Operations to evaluate program effectiveness and ensure compliance with federal/state requirements
• Provide guidance to employees on benefits and leave programs
• Ensure timely and accurate payroll processing and HRIS updates
• Manage corporate insurance portfolio and renewals

Skills

Excellent communication

Attention to detail

Discretion with confidential info

Time management

Customer service

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR / related field

SHRM-CP/SCP certification preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

UKG/Ultimate Software HRIS

Job description

Reports to: Vice President, People Operations

Job Summary: The Senior Manager, Benefits is responsible for managing and enhancing Heritage’s best-in-class benefits program to attract and retain top talent. This role oversees benefits administration, payroll operations, compliance reporting, and related vendor relationships while serving as the primary resource for employee questions regarding benefits and leave programs. The Senior Manager leads key annual processes, including open enrollment and regulatory filings, and partners with People Operations leadership to evaluate program effectiveness, recommend improvements, and ensure compliance with applicable federal and state requirements.

Job Duties:

Benefits and insurance Management

• Manage Heritage’s benefits portfolio, and proactively recommend enhancements based on benchmarked data and employee feedback.
• Serve as the primary resource for employees regarding benefits, providing clear guidance and support, and monitoring utilization trends to recommend data-driven adjustments and improvements.
• Serve as plan administrator for Heritage's retirement programs and lead the annual 401(a) and 403(b) retirement plan audits.
• Lead the annual open enrollment process, including preparing and updating benefits communication.
• Work closely with the Vice President of People Operations to evaluate plan renewals, negotiate renewal rates with benefits brokers, and implement plan changes in the HRIS.
• Manage Heritage's corporate insurance portfolio, including tracking and executing renewals, and recommend appropriate coverage levels.

Title: Senior Manager, Benefits

Reports to: Vice President, People Operations

Job Summary: The Senior Manager, Benefits is responsible for managing and enhancing Heritage’s best-in-class benefits program to attract and retain top talent. This role oversees benefits administration, payroll operations, compliance reporting, and related vendor relationships while serving as the primary resource for employee questions regarding benefits and leave programs. The Senior Manager leads key annual processes, including open enrollment and regulatory filings, and partners with People Operations leadership to evaluate program effectiveness, recommend improvements, and ensure compliance with applicable federal and state requirements.

Job Duties:

Benefits and insurance Management

• Manage Heritage’s benefits portfolio, and proactively recommend enhancements based on benchmarked data and employee feedback.
• Serve as the primary resource for employees regarding benefits, providing clear guidance and support, and monitoring utilization trends to recommend data-driven adjustments and improvements.
• Serve as plan administrator for Heritage's retirement programs and lead the annual 401(a) and 403(b) retirement plan audits.
• Lead the annual open enrollment process, including preparing and updating benefits communication.
• Work closely with the Vice President of People Operations to evaluate plan renewals, negotiate renewal rates with benefits brokers, and implement plan changes in the HRIS.
• Manage Heritage's corporate insurance portfolio, including tracking and executing renewals, and recommend appropriate coverage levels.

Payroll and HRIS Administration

• Oversee and manage the biweekly payroll process, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with federal, state, and local wage and tax regulations.
• Manage the relationship with the third-party payroll provider to ensure all payroll-related data, including earnings, deductions, benefits, and tax withholdings, are accurately processed and updated.

Compliance and Regulatory Reporting

• Manage all compliance-related tasks, including EEO-1 reporting, ACA filings, and other federal and state-mandated submissions.
• Stay updated on evolving benefits, payroll, and state-specific regulations to ensure Heritage remains compliant.
• Ensure accurate filing and updates of all state and local tax requirements for employees.

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; SHRM-CP/SCP certification preferred

Experience: 6+ years of relevant experience

Communication: Excellent communication skills in writing and verbally, both one-on-one and small group presentations; ability to handle delicate communications

Technology: Proficient in Microsoft Suite; Ultimate Software (UKG) or other HRIS

Other Requirements:

• Understand and support the Heritage mission and vision for America, and the department's goals and objectives.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and the ability to independently manage complex responsibilities.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Capacity to think critically and manage time-sensitive matters, exercising sound judgment and accountability.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.

Benefits and Salary:

The Heritage Foundation offers a highly competitive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, best-in-class health care, vision, and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement funding, “take what you need” PTO and sick leave, 14 weeks of paid leave for new moms and 6 weeks of paid leave for new dads, among other programs.

The salary range for this role is $90,000 - $115,000 annually. This range is a good-faith estimate, and the final salary offered to a selected candidate depends on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, and other qualifications; internal and external market pay for comparable jobs; and level of hire based on aforementioned qualifications.