Benefits Manager

Industry: Higher Education

Location (city, state): Washington, DC

Assignment Type: Contract through January 2027

Pay: $30–$35/hour (depending on experience)

Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, with a 1-hour unpaid lunch; 35 hours/week. Onsite 4 days per week, with Tuesdays required as a core onsite day.

Benefits: This position is eligible for medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).

About Our Client Our client is a well-established higher education institution seeking an experienced Benefits Manager to provide additional support to its Human Resources team during the annual Open Enrollment season. This is an excellent opportunity for a benefits professional with strong knowledge of health and welfare programs, retirement benefits, compliance, reporting, and employee communications.

Job Description The Benefits Manager will join the HR Benefits team and play an important role in preparing for, executing, and wrapping up the annual Open Enrollment process. This position will also provide ongoing support for a broad range of employee benefit programs, including health and welfare, life and disability, retirement, and educational benefits.

The ideal candidate will bring strong benefits administration experience, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with HR leadership, employees, vendors, and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and support the planning, implementation, and completion of the annual Open Enrollment process.
• Assist with the administration and ongoing improvement of health, welfare, retirement, life, disability, and educational benefit programs.
• Partner with HR leadership to evaluate benefits strategies, operational needs, and program effectiveness.
• Research benefits trends, prepare reports, and analyze data to support organizational decision-making.
• Assist with budgeting, financial analysis, forecasting, and cost modeling related to benefits programs.
• Monitor applicable federal and state regulations and help ensure benefits programs remain compliant.
• Review existing policies and practices and provide recommendations for enhancements when appropriate.
• Collaborate with benefits providers, consultants, financial partners, and internal procurement and finance teams.
• Support retirement program initiatives and help identify opportunities to improve program effectiveness and manage costs.
• Assist with benefits-related system testing, configuration, and implementation activities.
• Develop and communicate benefits information clearly to employees and other stakeholders.
• Provide knowledgeable guidance and customer service to employees and leadership regarding benefits programs and processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• At least 5 years of progressive experience in benefits administration.
• Hands-on experience with health and welfare benefits, Open Enrollment, compliance, reporting, and auditing.
• Working knowledge of applicable federal and state employment and benefits regulations.
• Strong financial analysis, budgeting, modeling, and reporting capabilities.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Experience with Workday is preferred.
• Experience supporting benefits system configuration or testing is a plus.
• Strong communication, consultation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with employees, HR leadership, vendors, and cross-functional partners.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.

Additional Details

• This position is expected to begin as soon as possible and will run through January 2027.
• The role is onsite 4 days per week in Washington, DC, with Tuesdays designated as a required core onsite day.
• The position is expected to work approximately 35 hours per week.
• Overtime may be available at the discretion of the supervisor.
• Due to the critical nature of the Open Enrollment period, no time off will be permitted during the first two weeks of November.
• The interview process consists of a single panel interview.

Perks

• Opportunity to join an established HR/Benefits team during a critical annual enrollment period.
• Exposure to a broad range of benefits programs and HR initiatives.
• Collaborative environment working with HR leadership and cross-functional partners.
• Opportunity to contribute to benefits strategy, compliance, analytics, and program improvement.

Addison Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Addison Group provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Addison Group complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Reasonable accommodation is available for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.