Manager - US Benefits

Job title:                             Manager - US Benefits  Department / Division:      US Benefits / Human Resources Salary Grade:                     EX1_18 Salary Range                      $127,000 - $157,000 per year, plus annual bonus Location:                            Ada, MI (For this role, you will be expected to be in the office Monday- Thursday. Additional days may be required based on business needs.)

 

What we are looking for

We are seeking a US Benefits Manager to lead the strategy, operations, compliance, and continuous improvement of our US health, welfare, disability, and absence management programs. This role is critical in shaping how we design and deliver benefits that support employee health, well-being, productivity, and engagement, while ensuring market competitiveness, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with our Total Rewards strategy and business goals. 

The US Benefits Manager oversees a comprehensive portfolio of programs, including but not limited to: 

• Medical, prescription, dental, and vision plans 

• Life insurance and income protection 

• Paid time off, absence, and leave programs 

• Workers’ compensation 

• Ancillary and voluntary benefits 

• Legacy and retiree benefit plans 

This role collaborates closely with HR, Payroll, Legal, Finance, Corporate Risk, and many external vendors to ensure seamless delivery and exceptional employee experience. 

 

What You’ll Do 

• Lead the design, administration, and ongoing evaluation of US Health and Welfare benefit programs. 

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations across health, welfare, disability, and leave programs. 

• Oversee vendor relationships, including performance management, contract negotiations, and service delivery. 

• Manage financial modeling, cost projections, and trend analysis to support strategic planning. 

• Drive employee communications, including program updates, guidance materials, and issue resolution. 

• Lead disability, leave, and workers’ compensation program execution in partnership with internal and external stakeholders. 

• Implement process improvements, systems enhancements, and cross-functional integrations. 

• Support team development, operational excellence, and continuous improvement within the Benefits function. 

 

Required Qualifications 

• BA/BS in Business Administration or related field 

• 10+ years of relevant experience in US benefits, health & welfare programs, disability/leave, or related Total Rewards areas 

 

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 

• Deep expertise in US employee benefits programs (health, prescription, disability, timeoff, workers’ compensation) 

• Strong understanding of federal and state regulations (ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, FMLA, ADA, USERRA, etc.) 

• Experience aligning benefits strategy with broader Total Rewards and business objectives 

• Proven ability to design, implement, and administer benefit plans and policies 

• Demonstrated leadership experience, including developing staff and building capability 

• Strong operational knowledge of benefits administration, compliance, and plan governance 

• Experience managing insured and selffunded plans, including cost and risk management 

• Strong background in vendor and contract management, including RFPs and renewals 

• Strategic, conceptual, and analytical thinking with a drive for innovation and process improvement 

• Strong leadership and influence skills across teams, leaders, and external vendors 

• Excellent communication and presentation capability, including simplifying complex data 

• High-level problemsolving, decisionmaking, and issueresolution skills 

• Strong cross-functional collaboration and relationship-building 

• Effective project leadership, including planning, execution, and risk management 

• High attention to detail and a commitment to operational excellen