Benefits Manager

Play a critical role in the strategic and operational management of Giant Eagle's benefit programs. Lead administration, optimization, and continuous improvement of benefit programs and related processes. Partner closely with internal stakeholders and external vendors to ensure compliance, operational excellence, financial stewardship, and a positive Team Member experience. Lead strategic initiatives, supports program development and vendor management activities, and provides leadership to members of the Benefits team.

Key Competencies:

• Experience Required: 5 to 10 years of benefits experience, including administration of health, dental, and 401(k) retirement plans.
• Previous Experience managing complex benefit offerings across different employee populations (union and non-union)
• Experience interpreting collective bargaining agreements, administering union-specific benefit provisions, supporting labor negotiations, and evaluating proposed changes to benefit programs.
• Demonstrated experience leading annual open enrollment, vendor implementations, benefits technology projects, and cross-functional initiatives from planning through execution.
• Knowledge of applicable U.S. employee benefits regulations, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and retirement plan compliance. Ability to support audits, regulatory changes, and plan governance.
• Advanced Excel skills, including PivotTables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data analysis, financial reporting, and interpretation of benefits utilization, cost, and performance metrics.
• Ability to analyze plan costs, support annual budgets and forecasts, assess financial implications of benefits changes, and partner with Finance.
• Experience conducting benefits due diligence, assessing plan differences.
• Experience evaluating benefit offerings, benchmarking programs, recommending enhancements, and balancing employee needs with financial sustainability.
• Education Desired: Bachelor's Degree in HR, Business, Finance or related field

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead the administration and ongoing management of benefit programs and related processes. Ensure efficient and effective service delivery, resolution of escalated issues, accurate execution of program requirements, and a positive Team Member experience. Develop and maintain processes, procedures, training materials, and operational documentation to support benefit program administration.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with vendors, consultants, and other external partners. Monitor performance, resolve operational issues, support contract administration, and participate in vendor evaluations, implementations, and service improvement initiatives.
• Support the ongoing compliance, governance, and oversight of benefit programs. Monitor regulatory developments, implement required changes, maintain documentation, support audits and reporting requirements, and ensure timely and accurate participant communications.
• Lead and support cross-functional projects related to benefits, technology, compliance, organizational change, process improvement, and other departmental initiatives. Develop project plans, coordinate resources, manage timelines, and communicate project status to stakeholders.
• Support the evaluation and continuous improvement of benefit programs through research, analysis, benchmarking, and stakeholder feedback. Develop recommendations that align with organizational objectives, workforce needs, and market trends. Support labor negotiations.
• Analyze program performance metrics, operational data, and financial trends. Support budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and audit activities. Provide insights and recommendations to support decision-making and effective resource management.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to maintain and enhance Workday and other benefit plan technology solutions and processes. Lead testing activities, troubleshoot issues, support system implementations, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and user experience.
• Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and guidance to Benefits team members. Support performance management, employee development, workload prioritization, and department objectives while fostering a collaborative and customer-focused team environment.