Benefits & Vendor Relations Manager

Job Title: Benefit & Vendor Relations Manager

Location: Hybrid – Springfield, IL

Position Summary

The Benefit & Vendor Relations Manager oversees the administration, vendor management, financial controls, compliance, and delivery of employee benefit programs. This role serves as a primary contact for benefit vendors and consultants while ensuring plans are administered accurately and in accordance with plan documents, regulatory requirements, and company objectives. 

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee administration of health, welfare, retirement, and related employee benefit programs.
• Manage benefit vendors and consultants, including service levels, renewals, implementations, escalated issues, and performance improvement.
• Lead annual open enrollment, benefit communications, employee education, and new-hire orientation.
• Oversee benefit invoices, payments, accruals, reconciliations, and related financial controls.
• Coordinate benefit audits, regulatory filings, required notices, and compliance activities.
• Manage complex eligibility, enrollment, claims, appeals, and employee benefit issues.
• Lead benefit plan changes, vendor transitions, system testing, payroll deduction validation, and data-feed coordination.
• Maintain benefit reporting, compliance calendars, procedures, and audit-ready documentation.
• Support qualified and non-qualified retirement plan administration, as applicable.
• Identify opportunities to improve vendor performance, employee experience, internal controls, and operational efficiency. 

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in employee benefits, vendor management, or a related HR function.
• Strong knowledge of benefit plans, administration practices, financial controls, and applicable regulations.
• Experience managing vendors, audits, compliance activities, open enrollment, employee escalations, and benefit implementations.
• Strong analytical, project management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and benefit administration systems; Workday experience preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

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

Salary Range: $89,800 – $125,500

• Salary is commensurate with experience, location, skills, and other relevant factors.