Employee Benefits Operations Manager | Sandton

The Recruitment Council; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

The Recruitment Council is hiring an experienced Employee Benefits Operations Manager to direct and modernize the operational backbone of a leading EB division. You will oversee retirement funds, group risk administration, and ensure seamless coordination among employers, consulting teams, and underwriters.

This role emphasizes governance, admin mastery, and digital innovation, with a focus on workflow automation, client service excellence, and effective SLAs.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a tertiary qualification in Commerce/Finance/Business Administration or related field.
• 6+ years in operational/administrative roles within Employee Benefits (retirement funds & group risk).
• Strong governance and administration capabilities with focus on accuracy and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Drive secretarial and administrative support for the Management Committee (MANCO).
• Prepare and distribute executive agenda packs, board packs, and minutes.
• Translate strategy into operational workflows with division leadership.
• Deliver employer and scheme presentations, benefit summaries, and onboarding packs.
• Oversee employer relationships, client portal credentials, and annual review checklists.
• Produce and evaluate scheme administration reports, MI, and employer correspondence.
• Track corporate client reviews, scheme audits, and consultative check-ins.
• Manage SLAs with employers and fund administrators; ensure regulatory compliance (FAIS, FICA).
• Act as operational liaison with insurers, asset managers, and underwriters for new schemes.
• Support day-to-day operations and handoffs between EB consultants, paraplanners, and staff.
• Lead technology adoption across division, e.g., Microsoft 365 Copilot and workflow automation.
• Monitor new business pipelines and operational metrics including capacity and turnaround times.
• Provide mentorship and day-to-day guidance to junior staff.
• Oversee records management and internal HR coordination.
• Coordinate client engagement sessions and corporate functions; support social presence.

Skills

EB knowledge

Governance

Stakeholder mgmt

Team mentorship

Education

Degree in Commerce/ Finance/ Business Administration

Tools

Microsoft 365 Copilot

SharePoint

Teams

Excel

PowerPoint design

Job description

Our client seeks an experienced, proactive Employee Benefits Operations Manager to direct, modernize, and enhance the operational backbone of their employee benefits division. In this role, you will lead the operational engine behind retirement fund and group risk consulting, ensuring seamless coordination between corporate employers, consulting teams, and product underwriters.

This position is tailored for a seasoned EB professional who combines strong governance and administrative mastery with an appetite for digital innovation, workflow automation, and client service excellence.

Responsibilities

• Drive secretarial and administrative support for the Management Committee (MANCO), including scheduling, executive member succession, and committee voting procedures.

• Prepare, review, and distribute executive agenda packs, board packs, and formal meeting minutes.

• Collaborate closely with division leadership to translate strategic business goals into operational workflows.

• Deliver tailored employer and scheme presentations, benefit summary guides, and member onboarding packs.

• Oversee employer relationships, maintaining updated contact registers, client portal credentials, and annual review checklists.

• Produce and evaluate recurring scheme administration reports, management information (MI), and formal employer correspondence.

• Organize and track scheduled corporate client reviews, ensuring timely scheme audits and consultative check-ins.

• Structure, maintain, and review Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with corporate employers and umbrella/standalone fund administrators.

• Oversee strict adherence to FICA, FAIS, and statutory industry compliance standards across all client files.

• Serve as the central operational liaison with insurers, asset managers, and product underwriters to ensure rapid implementation of new schemes and prompt resolution of administrative escalations.

• Streamline day-to-day operations and pipeline handoffs between employee benefit consultants, paraplanners, and administrative support personnel.

• Spearhead technology adoption across the division, integrating Microsoft 365 Copilot and automated workflow solutions to elevate efficiency and data accuracy.

• Track scheme implementations and new business pipelines, reporting on key operational metrics, capacity, and service turnaround times.

• Supervise operational capacity, providing coaching, guidance, and day-to-day mentorship to junior administrators and support staff.

• Oversee general office administration, records management, and internal HR coordination.

• Coordinate corporate client engagement sessions, scheme wellness days, and corporate functions, while assisting with the division’s professional social media presence.

Requirements

• Education: Relevant tertiary qualification (Degree in Commerce, Finance, Business Administration, or related field).

• Experience: Minimum of 6+ years of operational/administrative experience specifically within the Employee Benefits (Retirement Funds & Group Risk) sector.

• Technology: Demonstrated proficiency across the Microsoft 365 environment, including M365 Copilot, SharePoint, Teams, advanced Excel, and executive PowerPoint design.

• EB Technical Acumen: Sound working understanding of corporate employee benefit structures, umbrella funds, risk benefits, and scheme onboarding.

• Operational Precision: High-precision administrative capabilities, sharp attention to detail, and methodical documentation habits.

• Corporate Communication: Articulate written and verbal skills, with the ability to communicate credibly with corporate employers, trustees, and executive committees.

• Adaptability & Resilience: Self-directed, composed under tight deadlines, and adept at balancing competing priorities.

• Mentorship & Team Spirit: Collaborative disposition with a genuine commitment to upskilling junior colleagues.