Benefits Manager

🏥 Benefits Manager – Help Us Build a Healthier Workplace

📍 This role is onsite at least 4 days a week at one of 3 locations. Location Options: Des Plaines, IL (Chicago area), Addison, TX (Dallas area), Brookhaven (North - Atlanta GA area).

💼 Full-Time | Exempt

💰 Compensation: $120K–$140K Plus Bonus

🚫 Confidential Search – Role posted by a trusted HR Executive Search Partner

Why You’ll Love This Role

This is more than managing open enrollment—it’s about owning a strategic transformation.

If you're a benefits leader who wants to elevate employee wellbeing, modernize programs, and help a fast-growing national employer make smarter, data-driven decisions—this is your chance to shine.

You’ll be the architect of better outcomes: improving health plans, compliance, and communication while collaborating directly with HR leadership to shape culture and clarity across 1,100 employees nationwide.

Ideal for someone who thrives in change, believes benefits are a powerful business lever—not a back-office function—and wants to be part of a people-first team with momentum.

What You’ll Own & Lead

✅ Strategic Benefits Design & Execution

• Modernize and manage self-funded health plans, 401(k), life/disability, and voluntary benefits.
• Partner with vendors and brokers to optimize costs and coverage.
• Benchmark against industry leaders to keep offerings competitive.

✅ Compliance & Risk Management

• Lead compliance efforts (HIPAA, ACA, ERISA, 5500s, nondiscrimination testing).
• Improve documentation processes and audit-readiness.
• Own leave processes (FMLA, ADA, STD), partnering closely with HRBPs.

✅ Benefits Communication & Employee Experience

• Turn confusing plan language into clear, engaging education.
• Launch communication campaigns and wellbeing initiatives that stick.
• Build better onboarding experiences and total compensation clarity.

✅ Leadership, Analysis & Culture

• Supervise a Benefits & Leave Specialist and serve as a key escalation point.
• Collaborate with HR Tech, Legal, and Total Rewards leaders.
• Use data to track trends, utilization, and vendor performance—and drive smarter decisions.

What Makes You a Great Fit

✔ You’ve built or optimized benefit strategies—not just maintained them.

✔ You know your way around self-funded plans, vendor management, and compliance.

✔ You speak benefits fluently but translate it simply for employees.

✔ You enjoy collaborating with sharp teams and leadership that values results.

✔ You're ready to own the function—and raise the bar.

What You Need to Succeed

• 5 years in benefits leadership, including experience with self-funded plans
• Prior team supervision and vendor negotiation experience
• Strong knowledge of compliance and U.S. benefits laws
• Comfort with Workday (or similar HRIS), Excel, and reporting tools
• Bachelor’s degree required; CEBS or similar certification a plus
• Clear, confident communicator and strategic thinker

Why This Role Matters

This company is growing. Fast. They’ve got strong backing, sharp leadership, and a team hungry for clarity and consistency in their benefits experience. You’ll be solving real challenges—not just managing paperwork—and have access to the right people and tools to make it happen.

Ready to Build Something Better?

This isn’t a job for coasters or complainers. This is for someone who sees opportunity in complexity—and knows how to get things done.

📩 Apply now to join a mission-driven team where your expertise in benefits can truly make an impact.

To zach@crucialhire.com SUBJECT: Benefits Manager: 1251