Sr Manager, Benefits

Socket.dev; Williamsburg (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is seeking a Benefits Director to lead the benefits team and oversee comprehensive programs including health, retirement, and leave administration in a large U.S. organization.

The role requires a strong grasp of benefits compliance (ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, ADA), and experience implementing HRIS/workday modules. Expect strategic guidance and cross‑functional collaboration with Finance, HR, and leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, business, finance or related field.
• Seven+ years of progressive experience in employee benefits.
• Two+ years of people management experience.
• Broad knowledge of U.S. employee benefits (health, retirement, leave).
• Strong compliance knowledge (ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, ADA).

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and develop the benefits team and set priorities.
• Oversee day-to-day administration of benefit programs (medical, dental, vision, life, disability, 401(k), pension).
• Provide strategic leadership balancing employee needs, cost, and organizational objectives.
• Oversee leave and workers' compensation programs.
• Lead Workday Benefits module implementation and optimization.
• Collaborate with Finance and Payroll on funding, deductions, and reporting.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field

Job description

Who We Are

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is "that the future may learn from the past" through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia's colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.

Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 89 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.

Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today's evolved tastes. Each year over five million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.

About the Position

Main Duties:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead, manage, and develop the benefits team, including setting priorities, allocating workloads, coaching team members, and supporting professional development.
• Oversee the day-to-day administration of the company's full portfolio of benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, 401(k), pension, and other employee benefit programs.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership for benefits programs, balancing employee needs, plan competitiveness, cost management, and organizational objectives.
• Oversee the administration of leave programs, including coordination of FMLA, ADA, short- and long-term disability, and other applicable federal, state, and company leave programs.
• Oversee the company's workers' compensation program, including claims administration, vendor/carrier relationships, reporting, and coordination with HR and other stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, third-party administrators, consultants, and other external partners.
• Lead the annual benefits renewal and open enrollment process, including plan design, vendor negotiations, communications, systems readiness, testing, and employee support.
• Lead the implementation and ongoing optimization of the Workday Benefits module, serving as the benefits subject matter expert and partnering with HRIS, IT, vendors, and cross-functional stakeholders on requirements, plan configuration, integrations, testing, data validation, deployment, and ongoing process improvements.
• Partner with Finance and Payroll to ensure accurate benefits funding, deductions, reconciliations, invoices, and financial reporting.

• Partner with HRIS to ensure benefits and leave programs are accurately configured, maintained, tested, and administered within HR systems.
• Monitor benefits utilization, costs, trends, and vendor performance and develop recommendations to improve plan effectiveness and manage costs.
• Ensure benefits programs and processes comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, ADA, and other applicable requirements.
• Oversee required benefits compliance, reporting, filings, audits, and documentation.
• Establish and maintain effective benefits policies, procedures, controls, and operational processes.
• Serve as a senior subject matter expert and escalation point for complex employee benefits and leave matters.
• Develop clear and effective employee communications and educational materials to help employees understand and maximize their benefits.
• Use benefits data and analytics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities and provide insights and recommendations to HR leadership.
• Identify opportunities to improve benefits processes, technology, service delivery, and the overall employee experience.
• Lead benefits-related projects and initiatives, including system implementations, vendor transitions, plan changes, and process improvements.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality and discretion when handling sensitive employee, medical, leave, and benefits information.

This job description reflects the general responsibilities of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Duties and responsibilities may evolve over time based on operational needs.

Required & Preferred Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• Seven+ years of progressive experience in employee benefits, with demonstrated experience managing comprehensive benefits programs.
• Two+ years of people management experience, with a track record of developing and leading high-performing teams.
• Broad knowledge of U.S. employee benefits, including health and welfare plans, retirement plans, life and disability programs, and leave administration.
• Strong understanding of benefits compliance and regulatory requirements, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and ADA.
• Experience overseeing leave administration and workers' compensation programs preferred.
• Experience managing relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, consultants, and third-party administrators.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate plan costs, utilization, vendor performance, and other benefits data.
• Experience with HRIS and benefits administration systems, including system implementations, integrations, testing, and data validation.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple complex programs and deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively partner with employees, HR leaders, Finance, Payroll, HRIS, vendors, and senior leadership.
• Strong judgment and problem-solving skills, particularly when handling sensitive or complex employee benefits matters.
• Ability to balance strategic program management with hands-on operational oversight in a dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing benefits programs in a mid-sized or large organization with a diverse employee population.
• Experience with both defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plans, including 401(k) and pension administration.
• Professional benefits certification such as CEBS, SHRM-CP/SCP, or related credential.
• Experience leading benefits technology implementations or significant process transformations.

Compensation Disclaimer:

The compensation listed below for this position represents the anticipated hiring range and is provided in accordance with Virginia pay transparency requirements. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as the selected candidate’s skills, qualifications, experience, education, certifications, internal equity, and the specific requirements of the role.

Range: $110,000 - $165,000/year