Manager, Health & Welfare Benefits - Chicago or Decatur, IL

Job description

Manager, North America Health & Welfare Benefits - Chicago or Decatur, IL

Job Summary

The Manager, North America Health & Welfare Benefits is responsible for the strategy, governance, compliance, and operational delivery of U.S. and Canada health and welfare benefit plans. This role oversees medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and voluntary benefit programs, ensuring alignment with the organization’s Total Rewards philosophy, cost management objectives, and employee value proposition.

The role partners with HR leadership, Legal, Finance, Payroll, Risk Management, and external vendors to deliver compliant, competitive, and high-quality benefit programs while managing financial and regulatory risk.

Duties/Responsibilities

Strategy & Program Management

• Lead design, administration, and governance of North America health and welfare plans
• Support development of benefit strategy aligned with market benchmarking and workforce needs.
• Evaluate program performance, utilization trends, and cost drivers.
• Lead annual benefits renewal strategy and vendor negotiations with consultants and carriers.
• Lead plan amendments and operational implementation of design changes

Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure compliance with applicable regulations including

• ERISA
• ACA
• COBRA
• HIPAA
• FMLA (programmatic impact)
• State and provincial benefit regulations
• Oversee required filings, audits, and regulatory reporting.
• Partner with Legal and external advisors on policy interpretation and risk mitigation

Vendor and Carrier Management

• Manage relationships with insurance carriers, brokers, and third-party administrators.
• Monitor service-level agreements and performance metrics.
• Lead quarterly and annual vendor business reviews.
• Lead contract and rate negotiation strategy.

Financial Management

• Lead benefits budgeting, forecasting, and cost modeling.
• Analyze claims experience and trend data.
• Partner with Finance on plan cost projections.
• Evaluate cost containment and plan optimization opportunities.

Annual Enrollment & Communications

• Lead strategy and execution of annual enrollment.
• Ensure clear, compliant, and effective employee communications.
• Partner with Communications and HR Business Partners to improve employee understanding and engagement.

Absence Management Coordination

• Partner with absence administration teams on disability, leave, and accommodation program alignment.
• Lead integrated health, disability, and leave strategy.

Governance & Reporting

• Prepare leadership dashboards and benefits metrics reporting.
• Support benefits committee or governance forums.
• Maintain plan documentation and internal controls.

Project Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Lead benefits-related projects including system implementations, vendor transitions, or regulatory changes.
• Drive automation and digital self-service opportunities.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Strategic benefits program management
• Compliance and risk awareness
• Financial and analytical thinking
• Stakeholder influence and collaboration
• Communication and change leadership

Education and Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Finance, or related field
• 7 + years of progressive experience in health and welfare benefits administration
• Strong knowledge of U.S. & Canada benefits regulations
• Experience managing carriers, brokers, or TPAs.
• Financial analysis and vendor management experience.

Preferred

• CEBS, SHRM, or related certification
• Experience in large, multi-state or multinational organizations.
• Knowledge of Canadian benefit programs.

Excited about this role but don’t think you meet every requirement listed?

We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.

REF:112510BR