Manager Benefits Retirement, Life & Disability

Manager Retirement, Life & Disability

We are seeking a strategic Retirement, Life, and Disability Benefits Manager to lead the development and execution of strategies for our retirement, life insurance, and disability benefits programs. This role will oversee the administration of these programs and ensure they align with the organization's overall Total Rewards strategy, support employee financial and personal well-being, and remain compliant with all applicable laws and regulations.

The Company is one of North America's leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

Manage daily operations and administration of US and Canadian retirement plans, life and disability (short and long-term) benefit programs, ensuring accurate and timely processing of enrollments, changes, terminations and claims.
• Ensure programs comply with US laws (e.g. ERISA, IRS, DOL) and Canadian legislation, including statutory filings, manage annual audits, and nondiscrimination testing
• Develop and execute benefit strategies for both US and Canada that align with the organization's Total Rewards strategy
• Work with internal communications to develop and deliver teammate communication and education programs to reach diverse teammate populations effectively.
• Manage relationships with US and Canadian vendors, ensuring performance standards and compliance.
• Stay informed on changes in both US and Canadian benefit regulations and trends to identify and implement best practices to improve teammate experience and operational efficiency.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports
- Hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company-wide processes, tools and resources

Indirect Reports
- May delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Travel and/or Driving Requirements

- Travel is not an essential duty and function of this job. Driving is not an essential duty or function of this job.

Minimum Qualifications
Education Level: (Preferred): Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance or related field preferred.

Field of Study/Area of Experience: 4-6 years of experience managing or supervising a benefits team, including training, performance management and workflow coordination. Hands-on experience managing US and/or Canadian retirement, life and disability plans.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Thorough understanding of US and Canadian retirement, life and disability benefit programs, including relevant regulations and compliance requirements (e.g. US: ERISA, IRS, DOL; Canada: Income Tax Act)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills - ability to analyze complex benefits data, cost trends, and vendor reports as well as problem-solving skills to resolve benefit issues, claims escalations, and compliance gaps.
• Experience with benefit audits, compliance and data validation processes (e.g. Form 5500 filings, non-discrimination testing, etc.)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for teammate education, vendor negotiations, and cross-functional collaboration; ability to explain complex benefits topics clearly to non-technical audiences
• Proficient with HRIS and benefits administration systems (e.g. Workday, Oracle). Comfortable with data file feeds, payroll integrations, and vendor platforms. Strong excel skills and experience with reporting tools.
• Ability to align benefit strategies with overall Total Rewards and business goals. Awareness of market trends and ability to recommend improvements or plan design changes.
  
  

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Sedentary Requirements
The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in a remote office environment. Typically requires the ability to sit for extended periods (66%+ each day), the ability to hear the telephone, the ability to enter data on a computer, and may also require the ability to lift to 10 pounds.

Additional Information Regarding Job Duties and Job Descriptions

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one's supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job positions, or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

The Company is one of North America's leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations and administration of US and Canadian retirement plans, life and disability (short and long-term) benefit programs, ensuring accurate and timely processing of enrollments, changes, terminations and claims.
• Ensure programs comply with US laws (e.g. ERISA, IRS, DOL) and Canadian legislation, including statutory filings, manage annual audits, and nondiscrimination testing
• Develop and execute benefit strategies for both US and Canada that align with the organization's Total Rewards strategy
• Work with internal communications to develop and deliver teammate communication and education programs to reach diverse teammate populations effectively.
• Manage relationships with US and Canadian vendors, ensuring performance standards and compliance.
• Stay informed on changes in both US and Canadian benefit regulations and trends to identify and implement best practices to improve teammate experience and operational efficiency.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports
- Hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company-wide processes, tools and resources

Indirect Reports
- May delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Travel and/or Driving Requirements

- Travel is not an essential duty and function of this job. Driving is not an essential duty or function of this job.

Minimum Qualifications
Education Level: (Preferred): Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance or related field preferred.

Field of Study/Area of Experience: 4-6 years of experience managing or supervising a benefits team, including training, performance management and workflow coordination. Hands-on experience managing US and/or Canadian retirement, life and disability plans.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Thorough understanding of US and Canadian retirement, life and disability benefit programs, including relevant regulations and compliance requirements (e.g. US: ERISA, IRS, DOL; Canada: Income Tax Act)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills - ability to analyze complex benefits data, cost trends, and vendor reports as well as problem-solving skills to resolve benefit issues, claims escalations, and compliance gaps.
• Experience with benefit audits, compliance and data validation processes (e.g. Form 5500 filings, non-discrimination testing, etc.)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for teammate education, vendor negotiations, and cross-functional collaboration; ability to explain complex benefits topics clearly to non-technical audiences
• Proficient with HRIS and benefits administration systems (e.g. Workday, Oracle). Comfortable with data file feeds, payroll integrations, and vendor platforms. Strong excel skills and experience with reporting tools.
• Ability to align benefit strategies with overall Total Rewards and business goals. Awareness of market trends and ability to recommend improvements or plan design changes.
  
  

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Sedentary Requirements
The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in a remote office environment. Typically requires the ability to sit for extended periods (66%+ each day), the ability to hear the telephone, the ability to enter data on a computer, and may also require the ability to lift to 10 pounds.

Additional Information Regarding Job Duties and Job Descriptions

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one's supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job positions, or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by law.