Sr. Manager - Benefits and Payroll

Serenity Mental Health Centers; Lehi (UT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Serenity Healthcare in Lehi, UT seeks a Payroll & Benefits Senior Manager to lead our benefits and HR operations, with deep expertise in self-funded health plans and payroll oversight across multiple states. This role blends strategic direction with hands-on problem solving, supporting two HR staff and ensuring compliant, accurate processes.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in benefits, payroll, and HR operations, and a track record of managing self-funded plans while partnering with brokers and

Qualifications

• 7+ years progressive experience in benefits, payroll, and HR operations
• Strong experience administering self-funded health plans
• Knowledge of benefits administration, plan design, renewals, and vendor relationships
• Hands-on payroll backup experience across multiple states
• Experience leading payroll, benefits, and HR operations teams
• Understanding of employment law, HR compliance, and employee relations

Responsibilities

• Lead administration and ongoing management of employee benefit programs, focusing on self-funded health plan
• Serve as internal expert for benefits administration and vendor relationships
• Provide leadership and backup for payroll processing, ensuring accuracy and timeliness
• Oversee compliance with federal/state requirements and renewals
• Develop and coach the payroll/benefits/HR operations team and establish clear ownership

Skills

Benefits administration

Payroll operations

HR operations

Leadership

Multi-state experience

Self-funded health plans

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business/Finance

Job description

Payroll & Benefits Senior Manager

Location: Lehi, UT
Department: Human Resources
Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Role

Serenity Healthcare is seeking an experienced Payroll & Benefits Senior Manager to lead our payroll, benefits, and HR operations team. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone with deep expertise in employee benefits, particularly self-funded health plans, along with strong payroll knowledge and practical experience navigating HR matters across multiple states.

This is not intended to be a traditional, heavily HR-focused position. Our primary need is a strong benefits leader who understands the financial and operational complexities of a self-funded plan, can provide oversight and backup support for payroll, and brings the judgment and maturity necessary to help manage employee-related issues as they arise to support the 2 current HR employees.

The ideal candidate is level-headed, highly accountable, detail-oriented, and comfortable balancing strategic oversight with hands-on problem solving.

Key Responsibilities

Benefits Administration

• Lead the administration and ongoing management of Serenity Healthcare's employee benefit programs, with a strong emphasis on our self-funded health plan

• Serve as the internal subject-matter expert for benefits administration

• Partner with benefits brokers, carriers, third-party administrators, and other vendors

• Review plan performance, utilization, costs, claims trends, and opportunities to improve plan effectiveness

• Manage annual benefits renewals and open enrollment

• Ensure accurate employee enrollment, eligibility, deductions, and benefit changes

• Help employees and leaders resolve complex benefits questions and escalations

• Ensure benefit programs remain compliant with applicable federal and state requirements

Payroll Oversight

• Provide leadership and oversight for payroll operations

• Serve as a knowledgeable backup for payroll processing when needed

• Ensure payroll processes are accurate, timely, and well controlled

• Support resolution of payroll discrepancies, deductions, tax issues, and other escalated payroll matters

• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, and efficiency

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop the team responsible for payroll, benefits, and HR administration

• Establish clear expectations, ownership, and accountability across the team

• Build efficient processes and ensure work is completed accurately and consistently

• Coach team members and provide support on complex or escalated situations

• Create appropriate cross-training and backup coverage across payroll, benefits, and HR functions

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive experience in benefits, payroll, and HR operations

• Strong experience administering and managing self-funded employee health plans

• Demonstrated knowledge of benefits administration, plan design, renewals, and vendor/broker relationships

• Working knowledge of payroll operations with the ability to serve as a hands-on backup when necessary

• Previous experience leading and developing a payroll, benefits, HR, or HR operations team

• Experience supporting employees across multiple states

• Working knowledge of employment law, employee relations, and HR compliance

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to understand benefits costs, claims information, and plan performance

• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy

• Strong judgment and the ability to remain calm, objective, and level-headed when handling sensitive issues

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or a related discipline preferred

Why Serenity Healthcare

Serenity Healthcare is a rapidly growing organization focused on transforming the way patients access mental health treatment. As we continue to expand, we need experienced operational leaders who can build scalable processes while maintaining the accuracy, accountability, and employee support required in a growing multi-state organization.

Serenity Healthcare is an equal opportunity employer – if you’re qualified, you’re welcome here.This position is contingent on successfully completing a criminal background check and drug screen upon hire.