Sr. Benefits Manager

Empower AI is AI for government. Empower AI gives federal agency leaders the tools to elevate the potential of their workforce with a direct path for meaningful transformation. Headquartered in Reston Va. Empower AI leverages three decades of experience solving complex challenges in Health Defense and Civilian missions. Our proven Empower AI Platform provides a practical sustainable path for clients to achieve transformation that is true to who they are what they do how they work with the resources they have. The result is a government workforce that is exponentially more creative and productive. For more information visit .

Empower AI is proud to be recognized as a 2024 Military Friendly Employer by Viqtory the publisher of G.I. Jobs. This designation reflects the companys commitment to hiring and supporting active-duty and veteran employees.

The Senior Benefits Manager leads the strategy design administration and optimization of Empower AIs employee benefits programs. Empower AI aims to equip federal agency personnel with AI tools and insights allowing them to focus on higher-value mission-focused objectives. This role reports to VP Human Resources and ensures that all benefit offerings are competitive costeffective compliant with regulations and aligned with organizational goals. The Senior Benefits Manager serves as the subjectmatter expert on health and welfare plans retirement programs leave administration SCA administration and vendor management while providing guidance to Senior leadership and HR/Payroll partners.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a longterm benefits strategy that supports talent attraction retention and employee wellbeing in a competitive government contractor environment.

• Monitor industry trends and government contractor benchmarks to ensure offerings remain competitive and compliant. Analyze market trends benchmarking data and workforce insights to recommend enhancements or new programs.
  
  

• Partner with senior HR and Finance leaders to align benefits strategy with organizational priorities and budget.

• Manage benefits for cleared and uncleared populations including unique requirements for secure facilities and classified programs.
  
  
• Provide subjectmatter expertise during proposal development including fringe rate modeling SCA modeling benefits narratives and costallowability considerations under FAR.

Program Management

• Oversee the administration of health dental vision life disability retirement wellness and voluntary benefit programs across multiple states and contract types.
• Lead annual open enrollment ensuring clear communication and seamless execution for a dispersed workforce.
• Lead the implementation of Empower AIs new UKG benefits portal.

• Oversee leave programs including FMLA state leave laws and contractspecific leave requirements.
  
  

• Ensure accurate and timely processing of benefits transactions plan changes and employee inquiries.
• Serve as the final point of resolution for benefits issues. Oversee and manage mailbox.

Compliance & Governance

Manage compliance with governmentcontractingspecific requirements including:

• Service Contract Act (SCA) health & welfare benefits
• FAR and CAS rules related to benefit cost allowability
• Contractspecific benefit obligations

• Oversee all required filings audits plan documents and nondiscrimination testing.
• Maintain strong internal controls and documentation for all benefits processes.

Vendor & Budget Management

• Manage relationships with brokers carriers TPAs and technology vendors.
• Lead RFP processes contract negotiations and performance evaluations.
• Monitor plan costs forecast trends and recommend costcontainment strategies.
• Overall responsibility for all benefits billing and budget administration.

Employee Experience & Communication

• Develop clear engaging benefits communications and education materials.
• Partner with Communications Specialist to educate employees on all benefit offerings changes webinars etc
• Partner with HRBPs and managers to ensure consistent understanding of benefits policies.
• Drive initiatives that improve employee awareness utilization and satisfaction.

Team Leadership

• Supervise and mentor benefits generalist.
• Establish benefit team goals workflows and service standards.
• Develop and maintain annual benefits calendar with project plan milestones.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Requirements:

• Bachelors degree in Human Resources Business Administration or related field.
• 710 years of progressive experience in benefits administration or total rewards.
• Deep knowledge of U.S. benefits regulations and SCA compliance requirements.
• Experience managing vendors brokers and largescale benefits programs.
• Strong analytical communication and projectmanagement skills.

Preferred:

• Experience working in a government contracting environment.
• Masters degree or HR certification (CEBS SHRMCP/SCP PHR/SPHR).
• Experience with HRIS/benefits platforms (Workday UKG ADP etc.).
• Background in multistate or global organizations

Physical Requirements:

• Sitting for long periods
• Ambulate throughout an office

All hiring and promotion decisions at Empower AI are based on merit to bring the best talent available to contribute to our firms overall success. It is the policy of Empower AI not to discriminate against any applicant for employment or employee because of age color sex disability national origin race religion or veteran status. Empower AI is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.