Sr. Manager, Benefits

Lactalis Heritage Dairy; Buffalo (NY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off from day one

Education Reimbursement

Retirement plan contributions

Job summary

Lactalis USA in Buffalo, NY seeks a Senior Manager, Benefits to lead strategy, administration, and compliance of US health, welfare, retirement, and wellbeing programs.

You will manage a team of three Benefits Specialists, oversee enrollment, COBRA, vendor relationships, and collaborate with Payroll, HRIS, Finance, and external providers to ensure accurate and employee‑centred benefits.

This hybrid role offers growth opportunities within a global dairy leader.

Qualifications

• Master's degree preferred in HR, Management, Finance, or similar.
• 8+ years of progressive benefits experience focusing on health, welfare, retirement, leave, and wellbeing.
• CEBS or similar benefits certification preferred; knowledge of IRS, DOL and related law required.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy, administration, and improvements of U.S. health, welfare, retirement, and wellbeing programs to deliver competitive, compliant, cost‑effective offerings.
• Manage and develop a team of three Benefits Specialists through coaching, prioritization, performance management, and accountability for service delivery.
• Oversee benefits operations, including eligibility, enrollment, life events, payroll deductions, vendor integrations, COBRA, retirement programs, and annual enrollment.
• Manage relationships with benefits vendors, brokers, consultants, carriers, and third‑party administrators, including contracts, performance, service standards, and issue resolution.
• Partner with Payroll, HRIS, Finance, HR leadership, and external providers to ensure accurate administration, data integrity, compliance, and a positive employee experience.
• Establish and maintain operational controls, standard operating procedures, audits, and service standards that support efficient, scalable, and compliant operations.
• Lead annual renewals and budget management through plan design evaluation, benchmarking, forecasting, financial analysis, vendor negotiations, and cost‑containment strategies.
• Analyze utilization, claims, market trends, employee feedback, and vendor performance to identify program enhancements, mitigate risk, and improve operations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, retirement plan, and leave‑related regulations.
• Lead benefits projects, system implementations, vendor transitions, and process improvements that strengthen efficiency, compliance, employee experience, and organizational effectiveness.
• Develop and oversee employee communications, education, training, presentations, annual enrollment materials, and self‑service resources that promote benefits understanding and engagement.
• Serve as the senior escalation point and subject matter expert for complex benefits and retirement matters, advising employees, leaders, HR Business Partners, and other stakeholders.

Skills

Benefits leadership

Vendor management

HR policies

Project management

Education

Master's degree preferred in HR/Management/Finance

Job description

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family‑owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award‑winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go‑Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis USA, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Senior Manager, Benefits based in Buffalo NY.

As a Senior Manager, Benefits, the role will carry out responsibilities such as but not limited to leading the strategy, administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of the organization's health, welfare, retirement, and wellbeing programs. The position oversees all aspects of benefits operations, including vendor management, regulatory compliance, annual enrollment, financial administration, and employee communications, while partnering closely with HR, Finance, Payroll, HRIS, and external providers. The role serves as the organization's subject matter expert on benefits and retirement programs, drives process and technology enhancements, analyzes program effectiveness and cost trends, and ensures a compliant, efficient, and employee‑centric benefits experience that supports business objectives. The Senior Manager, Benefits reports to the Organization and HR VP.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Lead the strategy, administration, and continuous improvement of U.S. health, welfare, retirement, and wellbeing programs to deliver competitive, compliant, cost‑effective offerings.
• Manage and develop a team of three Benefits Specialists through coaching, prioritization, performance management, and accountability for service delivery.
• Oversee benefits operations, including eligibility, enrollment, life events, payroll deductions, vendor integrations, COBRA, retirement programs, and annual enrollment.
• Manage relationships with benefits vendors, brokers, consultants, carriers, and third‑party administrators, including contracts, performance, service standards, and issue resolution.
• Partner with Payroll, HRIS, Finance, HR leadership, and external providers to ensure accurate administration, data integrity, compliance, and a positive employee experience.
• Establish and maintain operational controls, standard operating procedures, audits, and service standards that support efficient, scalable, and compliant operations.
• Lead annual renewals and budget management through plan design evaluation, benchmarking, forecasting, financial analysis, vendor negotiations, and cost‑containment strategies.
• Analyze utilization, claims, market trends, employee feedback, and vendor performance to identify program enhancements, mitigate risk, and improve operations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, retirement plan, and leave‑related regulations.
• Lead benefits projects, system implementations, vendor transitions, and process improvements that strengthen efficiency, compliance, employee experience, and organizational effectiveness.
• Develop and oversee employee communications, education, training, presentations, annual enrollment materials, and self‑service resources that promote benefits understanding and engagement.
• Serve as the senior escalation point and subject matter expert for complex benefits and retirement matters, advising employees, leaders, HR Business Partners, and other stakeholders.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The incumbent is responsible for providing leadership and oversight for the organization's benefits function, including the management and development of a team of three Benefits Specialists. Direct benefit program administration, compliance, vendor management, and continuous process improvements to support organizational and employee needs

WORK CONDITIONS

• Travel may be required occasionally.
• Extended hours may be necessary depending on the project needs.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, phone or, and / or allowance(s) will be provided.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, a cell phone is required.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential duties and responsibilities.
• This position requires physical presence in the office, in accordance with the guidelines of the Hybrid Work Policy.

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

• Master's degree is preferred.
• A major in Human Resources, Management, Finance or other applicable academic background is preferred.

Experience

• 8+ years of progressive benefits experience focused on managing health, welfare, retirement, leave, and wellbeing programs experience is required.

Certifications and specific knowledge

• The following certification is preferred for this role: CEBS or similar benefits certification.
• Knowledge of benefits policies, procedures and practices including IRS, Department of Labor and other employment law implications for benefit programs is required.

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally‑recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affirmative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.