Onsite Requirement: 5 days/week for 1st 6 months followed by 3 days/week
Our state government client is seeking a lead Benefits person to serve as the strategic and operational leader for statewide employee benefits programs. This executive-level position is responsible for the administration, oversight, compliance, and continuous improvement of comprehensive employee benefits programs serving a large and diverse public-sector workforce in a complex, unionized environment. This person oversees the full portfolio of employee benefit offerings, including administration of the State’s self-funded healthcare programs and insured benefit offerings, such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, wellness initiatives, leave-related benefits, and deferred compensation programs. The incumbent is responsible for benefits strategy, plan design, policy development, annual open enrollment, vendor and consultant management, employee communications, and regulatory compliance under applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
This position serves as the State’s functional leader for benefits administration within the Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) platform, Workday, and is responsible for ensuring effective system configuration, process optimization, data integrity, reporting, operational continuity, and oversight of benefits-related business processes and integrations. This person provides leadership and direction to professional Benefits Unit staff and works collaboratively with executive leadership, agency human resources teams, labor relations, union representatives, finance, procurement, legal counsel, actuaries, brokers/consultants, and external vendors to ensure compliant, equitable, fiscally responsible, and customer-focused delivery of benefits services statewide. The position carries significant fiscal and operational responsibility, including benefits budget oversight, healthcare cost forecasting, claims and utilization trend analysis, reserve and vendor performance review, and strategic evaluation of program effectiveness and long-term sustainability. The incumbent advises senior leadership regarding emerging healthcare trends, compliance risks, workforce wellbeing initiatives, legislative and regulatory developments, and benefits strategy recommendations impacting the State workforce. The successful candidate must possess substantial experience leading complex employee benefits programs and demonstrate the ability to navigate highly regulated environments, manage competing priorities, lead organizational change, and provide strategic guidance within a large public-sector organization.
Responsibilities:
- Directs and oversees the administration of statewide employee benefits programs, including self-funded and insured benefit offerings.
- Leads strategic planning and evaluation of employee benefit programs to support workforce needs, financial sustainability, and operational effectiveness.
- Oversees annual open enrollment activities, benefits communications, eligibility administration, and related operational processes.
- Directs the State’s benefits administration functions within the Workday HCM platform, including system configuration, testing, reporting, integrations, and process improvements.
- Ensures compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations governing employee benefits programs, including ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, ERISA-related provisions, FMLA coordination requirements, Medicare coordination, and Secure 2.0 requirements.
- Oversees vendor relationships, consultant partnerships, contract administration, procurement activities, and vendor performance management.
- Reviews and analyzes healthcare claims data, utilization reports, financial trends, and actuarial projections to support strategic decision-making and cost containment initiatives.
- Collaborates with labor relations and union representatives regarding benefits-related matters, negotiations, and implementation activities.
- Develops and monitors budgets, forecasts expenditures, and evaluates financial performance of employee benefits programs.
- Supervises and develops professional Benefits Unit staff and establishes operational priorities and performance expectations.
- Provides guidance and consultation to executive leadership, agency HR teams, employees, and other stakeholders regarding benefits strategy, compliance, policy interpretation, and program administration.
- Leads or participates in complex cross-functional initiatives related to benefits administration, HR systems, organizational change, and operational improvements.
- Performs related work as required.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, or a related field; and
- Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in employee benefits administration, including substantial responsibility for administration of complex health and welfare benefit programs, self-funded healthcare plans, compliance management, vendor oversight, and benefits strategy; and
- Minimum of five (5) years of supervisory or management experience leading professional staff and complex operational functions; and
- Demonstrated experience administering benefits programs within a large, complex organization, preferably within a public-sector and/or unionized environment; and
- Demonstrated experience leading benefits administration activities within Workday Benefits or a similarly complex enterprise HRIS environment.
- Experience supporting a unionized employee population is strongly preferred
- Advanced degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
- Professional certification such as CEBS, CBP, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or related designation.
- Extensive knowledge of employee benefits plan design, funding structures, administration, compliance requirements, and industry best practices.
- Experience administering self-funded healthcare plans and interpreting healthcare claims analytics, utilization trends, stop-loss arrangements, and cost-containment strategies.
- Knowledge of public-sector personnel administration principles, civil service systems, and collective bargaining environments.
- Experience supporting labor negotiations and collective bargaining strategy related to employee benefits.
- Experience with government procurement processes, contract administration, and vendor performance management.
- Strong analytical and financial acumen, including the ability to interpret complex financial, actuarial, and operational data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
- Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change initiatives and complex cross-functional projects.
- Exceptional communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and highly visible environment.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Thorough knowledge of employee benefits administration principles, practices, and regulatory requirements.
- Thorough knowledge of applicable federal and state laws governing employee benefits programs.
- Thorough knowledge of benefits administration systems and HR technology platforms, including Workday Benefits administration functionality.
- Ability to lead and manage professional staff and complex operational functions.
- Ability to analyze complex financial, operational, and utilization data and develop strategic recommendations.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, union representatives, vendors, agency leadership, and external stakeholders.
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and operate effectively in a complex public-sector environment.
Compensation Range: $137,000 - $156,000
Onsite Requirement: 5 days/week for 1st 6 months followed by 3 days/week
Pay: $137,000.00 - $156,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
Education:
Experience:
- people management: 3 years (Required)
- supporting a unionized employee population: 4 years (Required)
- Benefits administration: 7 years (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Providence, RI 02908 (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Providence, RI 02908
