Manager, Management

Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII) is a premier provider of global leadership advisory and on-demand talent solutions, serving the senior-level talent and consulting needs of the world's top organizations. In our role as trusted leadership advisors, we partner with our clients to develop future-ready leaders and organizations, bringing together our services and offerings in executive search, diversity and inclusion, leadership assessment and development, organization and team acceleration, culture shaping and on-demand, independent talent solutions.Heidrick & Struggles pioneered the profession of executive search more than 70 years ago. Today, the firm provides integrated talent and human capital solutions to help our clients change the world, one leadership team at a time.Job Description:The Role:The Manager, North America Benefits will be responsible for all aspects of the health, welfare, and retirement savings programs in the U.S. and Canada, ensuring compliance with regulations, cost-effectiveness, and the overall success of the programs. The incumbent works closely with HR, finance and other internal and external partners, and directly manages a Benefits Specialist.Responsibilities:• Benefits Program Administration:• Manage the operations of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, 401(k), RRSP/DPSP, leaves of absence, wellness programs, and other employee perquisites.• Provide project management for key activities such as annual renewals, open enrollment, and plan document, summary plan description and required legal notice updates.• Develop and manage benefits budget, ensuring expenses are within budget and aligned with forecasts. Review and approve payments for benefit invoices.• Maintain Workday Benefits Module and ensure proper life event management and payroll interfaces.• Use data insights to make recommendations for changes and to ensure benefit plans are competitive, cost-effective, and aligned with both employee company objectives.• Collaborate with internal and external partners to deliver benefits as intended, resolve issues, and drive continuous improvements to enhance operational efficiency and the employee experience.• Vendor Management:• Manage benefits brokers and vendors, addressing escalations, and serving as the lead for relationship oversight, compliance with applicable legislation and contracts, and assorted projects.• Assist with benefit RFPs and vendor selection, contract review/negotiation and performance guarantee enforcement.• Compliance & Regulatory Oversight:• Stay current on federal and state regulations, including ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and FMLA, and ensure the company’s benefits programs comply with all applicable laws.• Manage the preparation of and ensure timely filing/distribution of regulatory requirements such as 5500s, SARs, legal notices, ACA forms, etc.• Lead the management and reporting of benefits audits, including internal audits and external regulatory reviews.• Attend and prepare materials, as needed, for benefits governance committee meetings.• Employee Communication &Education:• Develop and deliver communications regarding benefit programs to increase awareness and improve plan participation.• Conduct employee education sessions, webinars, and 1:1 consultations, as necessary, to help employees navigate, make informed decisions about, and optimize the value of, the benefits programs.• Drive and implement enhancements to our benefits tools, technologies and communication to support the user experience.• Leadership:• Provide leadership, direction and support to the Benefits Specialist.• Indirectly lead our benefits vendors to drive maximum value from our partnerships.• Serve as the North America benefits subject matter expert.• Serve as lead benefits contact for M&A activity.Required Qualifications:• Bachelor’s degree• Minimum of five years’ progressive North America benefits experience and one to two years of people management experience.• Solid knowledge of health, retirement, disability and leave plans, self-insured benefits, and applicable regulations.• Strong analytical skills, sense of urgency, attention to detail and accuracy, well-organized and able to…