Sr. Manager, Benefits

Healthstream; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and Vision insurance

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

401k and Roth

Flexible Spending Account

Health Savings Account

Life Insurance

Short‑ and Long‑Term Disability

Medical Bridge Insurance

Critical Illness Insurance

Accident Insurance

Identity Protection

Legal Protection

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Fitness Reimbursement

Job summary

HealthStream seeks a Sr. Manager, Benefits to lead the design, implementation, and management of the company’s employee benefits programs, including medical, retirement, and wellness initiatives.

You will partner with executives to drive cost‑effective, compliant benefits while supporting workforce recruitment and retention. You will oversee enrollment, vendor relationships, and open enrollment campaigns, delivering education to employees and ensuring adherence to policy and regulatory

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field with at least 5 years in benefits administration.
• In‑depth knowledge of ERISA, HIPAA, ACA and related regulations.
• Experience managing self‑funded health plans with TPA oversight and cost optimization.
• Experience designing and implementing comprehensive benefit programs.
• Strong understanding of healthcare benefits, retirement plans, and wellness initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Define strategic direction for benefits programs and drive decisions across offerings.
• Lead day‑to‑day administration of benefit programs including enrollment and changes.
• Manage relationships with benefits broker and vendors for cost efficiency and compliance.
• Monitor plan performance, analyze claims trends, and adjust designs to manage spend.
• Communicate educate employees on benefits and conduct open enrollment campaigns.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, and Legal to ensure regulatory compliance and alignment with objectives.

Skills

Benefits strategy

Regulatory compliance

Vendor management

Data analytics

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business

Tools

HRIS

MS Office Suite

Benefits administration systems

Contract negotiation

Job description

Position Overview

The Sr. Manager, Benefits is an engaged and proactive strategic leader who serves as the face of HealthStream’s employee benefits — championing, designing, and executing a best-in-class benefits experience for HealthStreamers. This role is responsible for managing and administering HealthStream’s employee benefits programs, which include medical, retirement plans (401k), wellness programs, leave management, and voluntary products. As the company’s subject matter expert on benefit programs, the Sr. Manager, Benefits owns the full lifecycle of benefit plan evaluation, design, implementation, and administration. This leader will be deeply engaged — not only managing the operational details but actively driving the strategic direction of benefits to attract, retain, and support our employees. The Sr. Manager, Benefits will manage the relationship and partner with our benefits broker to ensure company benefits are in compliance with company policies and federal, state, and local regulations, and is also responsible for ensuring continuous education, training, and communications to employees on their available benefits.

Key Responsibilities

• Adhere to all HealthStream security policies, procedures, and assigned training.
• Serve as the strategic leader and primary executor of HealthStream’s benefits programs — setting the vision, driving decisions, and owning outcomes across all benefit offerings.
• Act as the face of benefits for the company, building trust and credibility with employees at all levels by being accessible, knowledgeable, and responsive on all benefits matters.
• Develop and execute a strategic vision for employee benefit programs, aligning them with the company’s goals, workforce needs, and financial objectives.
• Design and administer comprehensive benefits plans, including medical, dental, vision, disability, retirement (401k), wellness, and voluntary programs.
• Lead and manage HealthStream’s health plan, including oversight of plan performance, claims analysis, stop‑loss coverage, TPA relationships, and utilization management to ensure the plan is cost‑effective, compliant, and competitive.
• Monitor plan financials, analyze claims trends and cost drivers, and proactively implement plan design changes or wellness strategies to mitigate risk and manage spend.
• Partner closely with the VP of Human Resources, CFO, and COO on benefits cost management strategy, providing data‑driven insights and recommendations to control healthcare spend while maintaining a competitive benefits offering.
• Research, evaluate, and negotiate contracts with benefit plan providers, ensuring cost‑effectiveness and high‑quality services.
• Oversee the day‑to‑day administration of benefit programs, including enrollment, changes, and terminations, ensuring accurate and timely processing.
• Ensure the benefits team is responsive to employees’ benefit‑related inquiries and is providing guidance and resolving issues in a professional and timely manner.
• Stay updated on industry trends, best practices, and regulatory changes in benefits administration, proactively adjusting programs to remain competitive and compliant.
• Identify opportunities for efficiency and deploy automation where possible with a focus on continuous process improvements and cost savings.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, and Legal departments to ensure benefit programs meet financial objectives, regulatory requirements, and internal policies.
• Conduct regular audits and reviews of benefit plans, processes, and vendors, identifying areas for improvement and implementing necessary changes.
• Prepare and deliver proactive communications and educational materials to employees regarding benefit programs, ensuring high employee engagement and understanding.
• Manage and analyze benefits data, generating reports and insights to inform decision‑making and evaluate program effectiveness.
• Lead open enrollment processes, including communication campaigns, systems coordination, and employee education sessions.
• Coordinate with external auditors and consultants during benefit plan audits, ensuring accurate and timely completion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field and/or minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in benefits administration.
• In‑depth knowledge of benefit plan design, administration, compliance, and regulations, including ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, and other relevant legislation.
• Demonstrated experience managing a self‑funded health plan, including TPA oversight, stop‑loss negotiation, claims analytics, and plan design optimization.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing comprehensive benefit programs that align with company objectives and meet the needs of a diverse employee population.
• Strong understanding of healthcare benefits, retirement plans, and wellness initiatives, including emerging trends and best practices.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet deadlines.
• Exceptional analytical and problem‑solving abilities, with a keen attention to detail.
• Proven experience in vendor management, including contract negotiation and performance evaluation.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner to employees, leadership, and executive partners including the CFO and COO.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Proficient in HRIS and benefits administration systems, with advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Professional certifications in benefits administration (e.g., CEBS, CBP) are highly desirable.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $89,637 - $112,500. Salary will be determined on the candidate’s level of experience and qualifications. Compensation will be commensurate with skills, relevant experience, and performance in similar roles.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental and Vision insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Parental Leave
• 401k and Roth
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Savings Account
• Life Insurance
• Short‑ and Long‑Term Disability
• Medical Bridge Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Accident Insurance
• Identity Protection
• Legal Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Fitness Reimbursement

HealthStream is an equal opportunity employer. HealthStream prohibits employment practices that discriminate against individual employees or groups of employees on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran or military status, genetic information or any other category deemed protected by state and/or federal law.