The Senior Benefits Partner is a key member of the Total Rewards Center of Excellence (COE), responsible for providing Tier 2 operational and technical support for health, retirement, and leave of absence programs across a rapidly growing, multi-unit organization. This role ensures consistent and compliant administration of benefits by serving as the escalation point for complex issues, supporting program execution, and enabling standardized processes across operating companies.

Working closely with regional HR teams, Shared Services, vendors, and employees, the Senior Benefits Partner resolves advanced benefits, 401(k), and leave administration matters, maintains data accuracy across systems, and supports scalable program delivery during periods of organizational growth and integration. The position emphasizes operational excellence, governance, and employee experience rather than benefits strategy ownership.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Monitor daily benefits operations and serve as escalation point for complex benefits issues unresolved by Tier 1 HR Operations. Investigate and help resolve eligibility, enrollment, claims, and vendor-related issues. Provide technical guidance to regional HR and Shared Services teams. Partner with Payroll to resolve deduction, taxation, and reconciliation discrepancies. Manage sensitive benefits cases as needed.
• Support day-to-day administration of health, welfare, retirement, and leave programs, ensuring consistent eligibility application, accurate documentation, and dependable operational timelines. Deliver ongoing benefits training and guidance to regional HR teams across multiple operating companies.
• Provide escalation support for leave of absence programs including FMLA, ADA accommodations, state and local leave programs, short and long-term disability coordination. Partner with leave vendors to resolve complex or sensitive cases. Support regional HR teams with leave guidance aligned to company policy and compliance requirements. Monitor leave workflows to ensure consistent administration across operating companies.
• Coordinate and execute operational aspects of annual open enrollment, including system configuration, testing, enrollment monitoring, and issue resolution. Partner with leadership, regional HR teams, Shared Services, and vendors to ensure smooth open enrollment execution.
• Support retirement plan administration, including 401(k) eligibility, contributions, corrections, loans, and distributions; assist with compliance testing, audits, and required notices. Partner with Payroll and recordkeepers to reconcile contribution files and resolve discrepancies. Maintain retirement plan procedures and operational documentation.
• Partner with the M&A team to assist with onboarding acquired companies into existing benefits and retirement programs, supporting plan transitions and eligibility setup during periods of growth.
• Act as the Benefits COE liaison with carriers, brokers, and vendors; support file feeds, eligibility audits, billing accuracy, and invoice validation.
• Ensure compliance with ACA, COBRA, ERISA, Section 125, and leave regulations by maintaining audit-ready documentation.
• Execute operational components of annual open enrollment. Partner with HRIS team to configure and test benefit system changes. Monitor enrollment completion and resolve exceptions. Support communications prepared by Total Rewards leadership.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and recommend process improvements; perform data audits and support benefits technology enhancements

Key Competencies

• Demonstrates strong subject matter expertise in benefits and retirement programs.
• Possesses solid knowledge of leave administration, including statutory and company sponsored programs.
• Applies advanced problem-solving skills and effectively manages escalated, complex benefits issues.
• Operates with a strong operational governance mindset to ensure consistency, control, and compliance.
• Maintains in depth knowledge of health and welfare benefits and retirement plan administration, with strong ERISA and regulatory compliance expertise.
• Brings a customer focused approach with the ability to translate complex benefits concepts into clear, actionable guidance.
• Builds strong, collaborative relationships across HR, Finance, Payroll, Legal, and external vendors.
• Exhibits exceptional attention to detail with a strong commitment to data integrity, confidentiality, and high-quality service delivery.
• Effectively manages time and priorities in fast paced, deadline driven environments.
• Communicates clearly and effectively through strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrates empathy, integrity, and professionalism when handling sensitive employee information.
• Adapts to organizational change with flexibility, resilience, and commitment.
• Maintains composure and sound judgment in high pressure situations.
• Uses the full Microsoft Office Suite with strong proficiency.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; equivalent professional experience also considered
• Minimum 6+ years of progressive benefits administration experience in a multi-state, multi-unit environment. Experience in resolving complex benefits and retirement-related issues.
• Certified Benefits Professional (CBP), Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), or similar designation preferred
• Demonstrated experience supporting health & welfare benefits and retirement plans in multi-state, multi-company organization
• M&A benefits integration expertise preferred
• Experience with major HCM/benefit administration platforms (e.g., Workday, ADP, UKG, Oracle, Dayforce, or similar).

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essentials functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The workplace is in a corporate office environment and the temperature in the work environment is usually moderate. The position’s primary office is the Shared Services, Irving, TX office; however, telework or work at home, on the road, or in a satellite location for portions of the workweek may occur, depending upon project needs and requirements in coordination with your direct supervisor and/or most senior leader of your department.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable the individuals with disabilities to perform the essentials functions. Must be able to walk, bend, stand, and reach constantly during a workday. May be required to lift items such as document boxes at a maximum of 10 to 15 pounds.