Benefits Lead

Benefits Lead

Location: Portland, OR

Salary: $75,000 to $80,000 annually

Benefits: Medical, Vision, Dental, 403(b) Retirement

We are seeking an experienced Benefits Lead to head the administration, compliance, analysis, and continuous improvement of employee benefits and retirement programs. This role serves as the organization’s benefits subject matter expert and partners closely with HR, Payroll, Finance, brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators to ensure accurate administration, regulatory compliance, and a strong employee experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage health and welfare benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, spending accounts, and retirement programs.

• Lead annual renewals and open enrollment, including plan evaluation, system testing, communications, enrollment support, and reconciliation.

• Partner with brokers and vendors to evaluate plan performance, costs, utilization, competitiveness, and opportunities for improvement.

• Analyze benefits and financial data to support plan design, employee contribution, and cost-management decisions.

• Ensure accurate benefit data, payroll deductions, employer contributions, invoicing, and reconciliation across HRIS, payroll, and vendor systems.

• Conduct benefit audits, investigate discrepancies, and coordinate corrections.

• Support compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, FMLA, and applicable state requirements.

• Support retirement plan administration, including eligibility, contributions, vendor coordination, reconciliation, education, and compliance.

• Manage vendor relationships and resolve escalated employee benefit issues.

• Develop employee communications, educational materials, procedures, and benefit resources.

• Continuously improve benefit processes, controls, workflows, and service standards.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Finance, or a related field, plus 5+ years of progressive employee benefits experience; equivalent experience may be considered.

• Strong experience administering health, welfare, and retirement benefit programs.

• Working knowledge of ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, FMLA, and applicable state benefit regulations.

• Experience with open enrollment, benefit reconciliation, audits, vendor management, and employee communications.

• Experience working with HRIS, payroll, benefits administration, and/or carrier systems.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, project management, and communication skills.

• Ability to handle sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.

Preferred Qualifications

• CEBS, PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or similar certification.

• Experience administering a 403(b) or comparable retirement plan.

• Experience in a complex, multi-population organization.

• Experience with Oracle or similar HRIS/ERP platforms.

• Experience with benefits system implementation, configuration, testing, or data conversion.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.

Pay Details: $75,000.00 to $80,000.00 per year

Search managed by: Sada Dewey

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Military connected talent encouraged to apply

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The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Massachusetts Candidates Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.