Job Title: Benefits Director
Location: Houston, TX
Compensation: $140,000 – $160,000 / year
Benefits:
- Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
- PTO (vacation + sick time)
- 401(k), pension, and profit sharing
- Tuition reimbursement up to $9,000
- Employee wellness and support programs
- Free/discounted meals
- Strong culture of training and internal promotion
Position Summary
The Benefits Director is responsible for leading the strategy, design, implementation, and administration of the organization’s employee benefits programs. This role ensures that benefits offerings are competitive, cost‑effective, compliant, and supportive of a diverse employee population. Serving as the organization’s internal subject‑matter expert, the Benefits Director oversees benefits compliance, leave programs, reasonable accommodations, and all related regulatory requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Benefits Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and lead a comprehensive benefits strategy aligned with organizational goals and employee needs.
- Oversee the design, evaluation, and optimization of benefit programs, including core health plans, retirement benefits, wellness initiatives, and voluntary offerings.
- Manage RFPs, vendor evaluations, and plan redesign efforts.
- Ensure benefit programs support attraction, retention, and long‑term engagement.
Plan Administration & Operations
- Direct daily administration of all benefits for a large and distributed employee population.
- Lead annual open enrollment, plan renewals, cost projections, and benefit communication initiatives.
- Manage partnerships with brokers, carriers, consultants, and third‑party administrators to ensure effective plan performance and service delivery.
- Maintain accurate and accessible benefits communication channels and documentation.
- Oversee all required notices, plan documents, wrap documents, and compliance‑related materials.
- Manage billing processes, eligibility reconciliation, and resolution of discrepancies.
- Oversee benefit arrears processes and coordinate with payroll appropriately.
Compliance, Leave Programs, & Accommodations
- Serve as the internal expert on ACA compliance, including eligibility, tracking, affordability, reporting, and measurement periods.
- Oversee leave of absence programs (federal, state, and company‑specific), as well as employee accommodation processes.
- Ensure full compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and all related federal and state regulations.
- Manage IRS and regulatory penalty assessments, including research, response development, corrective actions, and communication.
- Partner with legal counsel, brokers, and vendors during compliance audits and government inquiries.
Data, Analytics & Financial Oversight
- Use data and analytics to assess plan performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and forecast future costs.
- Prepare and deliver executive‑level reports and recommendations.
- Develop and manage the annual benefits budget while ensuring strong value and cost control.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Lead, mentor, and develop the benefits team to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and strong employee service.
- Collaborate closely with HR, payroll, legal, and operational partners to ensure seamless execution of all benefits initiatives.
- Advise senior leadership on benefits trends, risk mitigation, and strategic opportunities.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, finance, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
- 10+ years of progressive benefits or total rewards experience, including at least 5 years at a senior leadership level.
- Experience supporting large-scale employee populations in a fast‑paced environment.
- Demonstrated success managing and developing a benefits team.
- Deep knowledge of ACA, ERISA, FMLA, HIPAA, ADA, COBRA, and associated regulations.
- Proven expertise in vendor management, plan design, and open enrollment oversight.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to simplify complex benefits concepts.
- High integrity and a commitment to protecting employee privacy.
Physical & Work Requirements
- Ability to perform computer‑based work for an extended portion of the workday.
- Ability to multitask and operate effectively in a fast‑moving environment.
- Strong organizational and project‑management skills.
- Ability to travel occasionally based on business needs.