Director, Benefits & Payroll

Entrepreneurial Spirit, Rooted in Tradition. Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) is a U.S. subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC) in Japan, which touts a storied reputation more than 300 years in the making. Our parent company - one of Japan’s most respected - is a research-driven pharmaceutical company that has tirelessly pursued medical breakthroughs with global reach. MTPC has discovered and produced several first-in-class medicines for serious diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes mellitus (DM), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and is currently developing medicines in Neurology in Parkinson’s (PD), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), and in high unmet areas in Immunology and Oncology.

MTPA is rapidly expanding its operations across all functional areas. MTPA’s commitment to patients and their communities continues with a robust late-stage pipeline of investigational treatments for difficult-to-treat diseases and commercializing products with significant unmet medical needs in North American markets. In the United States, MTPA launched rare disease treatments including RADICAVA® (edaravone) injectables in 2017 and RADICAVA® (edaravone) oral suspension in 2022. The company handles research, clinical development, sales, marketing, medical affairs , supply chain, and business development functions. MTPA is dedicated to improving the treatment environment for those with debilitating diseases, researching on real-world evidence, and creating hope for all facing illness.

The Director of Benefits and Payroll leads the strategic design, implementation, and administration of comprehensive benefits and payroll programs, ensuring they enhance employee well-being, drive engagement, and align with organizational goals. This role oversees health insurance, payroll operations, retirement plans, and wellness initiatives while ensuring regulatory compliance and cost-effectiveness.

Acting as a key advisor to leadership, the Director of Benefits and Payroll leverages data analytics and industry trends to optimize program offerings, improve operational efficiencies, and enhance the overall employee experience. Additionally, this role collaborates cross-functionally with HR, Finance, and Legal teams to drive seamless integration of payroll and benefits strategies while managing vendor relationships and budgetary oversight. Reports drectly to Vice President of Human Resources with one direct report Payroll and Benefits Manager (Individual Contributor) .

Responsibilities:

Benefits Administration

• Develops and executes a competitive benefits strategies aligned with company goals.
• Oversees the selection, administration, and communication of benefit plans (medical, dental, life, disability, FSA, HSA, COBRA, 401(k), etc.).
• Monitors benefit costs and optimize coverage while staying updated on regulatory changes.

Payroll Management

• Oversees payroll processing for accuracy, compliance, and timeliness.
• Manages payroll tax filings, deductions, and reporting.
• Ensures compliance with wage and hour laws (FLSA, IRS, and state/local regulations).
• Partners with Finance on payroll reconciliation, risk mitigation, audits, and fraud prevention.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensures compliance with ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, FMLA, COBRA, and other regulations.
• Conducts periodic audits to enhance administration and efficiency.

Vendor & Budget Management

• Manages relationships with vendors, brokers, and consultants to ensure high service quality.
• Negotiates contracts and oversee budget adherence for benefits and payroll programs.

Strategic Planning & Analysis

• Analyzes payroll and benefits data to identify trends and cost-saving opportunities.
• Implements strategies to improve employee experience and process efficiency.
• Provides executive reporting on benefits costs, payroll trends, and compliance.
• Develops and executes communication strategies for employee education on benefits and enrollment.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Leads, develops, and motivates a high-performing benefits and payroll team.
• Collaborates with HR, Finance, Legal, and executive leadership to align strategies with business goals.
• Fosters a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or business administration preferred or Equivalent experience required
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Group Insurance plans etc.
• Extensive experience in benefits management including knowledge of various plan types and regulations.
• Expertise in payroll processing, including tax regulations and compliance
• A strong knowledge of HR systems, tax laws, and benefits administration is essential
• Demonstrated experience managing vendor relationships
• Proven leadership and team management skills
• Outstanding interpersonal and customer service skills with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Working knowledge of compliance with ERISA, IRS laws, and current regulations pertinent to health and welfare plans
• Strong presentation skills; comfort level speaking to C-suite executives
• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and projects at once

Our Value Proposition

Enjoy the fast-moving, entrepreneurial spirit more typically found in a small biotech, complemented by the benefits of a global pharmaceutical/chemical conglomerate. At this time, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America offers our employees unparalleled opportunities for career success coupled with a supportive level of employee benefits.

MTP provides a competitive benefits package inclusive of Medical and Dental health benefits, short-term and long-term disability plans, Company Paid and Supplemental Life insurance and additional voluntary benefits such as Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, and ID Theft Protection. In addition, we provide a generous PTO policy based on tenure, commencing with 24 PTO days, pro-rated based on hire date.

The salary range for this position is $200,000 - $230,000. Factors such as scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, job-related skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and business considerations may influence base pay offered. This salary may be subject to a geographic adjustment (according to a specific city and state and depending on the role), if an authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.

This position is eligible to participate in our annual Short-Term Incentive (STI) program. Specific information about the plan including eligibility rules and target, will be furnished upon hire.

This position is eligible to participate in our Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program. Specific information about the plan including eligibility rules and target, will be furnished upon hire.