Senior Manager – Healthcare, Retirement Benefits
Northwest Center
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Hybrid
Location: Seattle • Washington • United States
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Salary
💰 $125,000 - $145,000 per year
Job Level
About the role
- Own the design, administration, and continuous improvement of all employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, EAP, wellness, and commuter benefits.
- Serve as the internal subject matter expert on benefits strategy, including plan design, cost drivers, and market positioning.
- Own recommendations and outcomes for benefits decisions, applying sound judgment to balance cost, compliance, employee experience, and operational complexity.
- Partner with HR leadership and Finance on renewal strategy, vendor selection, and long-term planning.
- Lead administration and oversight of the organization’s 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans.
- Serve as the primary liaison to retirement plan advisors and recordkeepers.
- Coordinate plan audits, compliance testing, Form 5500 preparation, and required notices.
- Prepare materials and insights for retirement plan committee meetings and executive review.
- Act as the primary point of contact for all benefit vendors, brokers, and consultants.
- Set clear expectations and hold external partners accountable for performance, service quality, and deliverables.
- Evaluate vendor effectiveness and address issues or escalations as needed to ensure timely, accurate service.
- Partner closely with Finance on billing reconciliation, accruals, forecasting, and audit support.
- Translate complex benefits topics into clear recommendations and employee-facing communications.
- Lead open enrollment planning and execution, including system configuration, communications, and post-enrollment review.
- Ensure all benefit programs comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
- Represent the organization confidently in audits, reviews, and executive discussions related to benefits and retirement plans.
- Monitor legislative and regulatory changes and recommend necessary updates.
- Maintain accurate documentation, SOPs, and internal controls related to benefits administration.
- Establish clear processes and guardrails to scale benefits operations reliably, reducing reliance on manual and individual handling.
- Ensure knowledge, decisions, and workflows are shared and accessible, with self-service as the default wherever possible.
Requirements
- 8+ years of progressive benefits experience, including hands-on administration of both healthcare and retirement plans, preferably in complex or multi-entity organizations.
- Demonstrated experience working directly with brokers, advisors, and senior leaders.
- Strong working knowledge of benefits compliance, audits, and retirement plan governance.
- Proven ability to operate independently, manage multiple priorities, and bring structure to complex programs.
- High comfort level partnering with Finance and navigating detailed, data-driven discussions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- CEBS, CBP, PHR, SPHR, or related certification preferred.
- Experience leading or supporting benefits strategy through periods of organizational change preferred.
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
benefits administrationhealthcare plansretirement planscompliance testingForm 5500 preparationvendor selectionbilling reconciliationdata-driven discussionsopen enrollment planningaudits
Soft Skills
communication skillsindependent operationmulti-priority managementstructuring complex programspartnership with Financeleadershipproblem-solvingaccountabilitytranslating complex topicscollaboration
Certifications
CEBSCBPPHRSPHR