Senior Benefits Manager

SEIU (Service Employees International Union)

JOB TITLE: Senior Benefits Manager      

GRADE: E

ANNUAL SALARY: $121,078.77

LOCATION: Washington, DC HQ

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW: We are the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), a union of about 2 million diverse members in healthcare, the public sector, and property services. We believe in and fight for our Vision for a Just Society: where all workers are valued and all people respected, no matter where we come from or what color we are; where all families and communities can thrive; and where we leave a better and more equitable world for generations to come. We are an anti-racist union determined to check corporate power and uproot structural racism through unions, worker power, collective action, and government, legislative, and political action. We fight for Unions for All and a Government that Works for All so that all of us, across race and place, can have power together in unions and participate fully in our democracy.

PURPOSE: The Senior Benefits Manager serves as the organization's strategic leader and subject matter expert for all employee benefits, leave administration, and wellness programs. Reporting to the Director of People, Talent and Human Resources, this role is responsible for developing, administering, and continuously improving a comprehensive benefits strategy that supports employee well-being, organizational goals, and SEIU's commitment to attracting and retaining top talent. This role provides leadership over benefits operations, vendor relationships, compliance, leave management, employee education, and benefits analytics and organizational wellness.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Any one position may not include all of the specific duties and responsibilities listed. Examples provide a general summary of the work required and should not be treated as a total and complete list of expected duties to be performed by employees in the classification.

Total Well-Being, Benefits Strategy & Workforce Experience

• Develop and lead a comprehensive employee well-being strategy that supports the whole employee, including physical health, mental and emotional well-being, financial wellness, family support, work-life integration, and overall quality of life.

• Design and implement benefits programs that align with SEIU's commitment to creating a healthy, engaged, and high-performing workforce while supporting employee attraction, retention, and long-term success.

• Partner with organizational leadership to ensure benefits and wellness programs reinforce the organization's values, culture, and employee experience strategy.

• Champion a preventative and proactive approach to employee well-being by leveraging data, employee feedback, and industry trends to identify opportunities for enhanced support and engagement.

• Lead the development of programs that promote financial wellness, including retirement readiness, financial literacy education, debt management resources, and long-term financial security.

• Design and oversee health and wellness initiatives that encourage preventive care, mental health awareness, resilience, stress management, and healthy lifestyle choices.

• Partner with leadership and HR teams to equip managers with tools, resources, and training that foster psychologically safe, inclusive, and supportive work environments.

• Develop strategies that strengthen employee connection, belonging, engagement, and overall workplace satisfaction across all levels of the organization.

• Evaluate workforce well-being trends and employee experience metrics to identify opportunities that improve organizational health and enhance the employee value proposition.

• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on the relationship between benefits, wellness, organizational culture, employee engagement, and workforce effectiveness.

• Integrate wellness, benefits, leave administration, and employee support services into a cohesive framework that recognizes employees as whole individuals with personal, family, financial, and professional needs.

• Lead the creation of a multi-year workforce well-being roadmap that balances employee care, organizational sustainability, and operational effectiveness.

Compliance & Policy Management

• Ensure organizational compliance with all federal, state, and local laws governing employee benefits programs, including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, State leave laws, Retirement plan regulations

• Oversee the preparation, review, and distribution of required notices, disclosures, Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs), and regulatory filings.

• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and recommend appropriate policy and program changes.

• Lead internal and external audits related to benefits and leave administration.

• Partner with Legal and HR leadership to mitigate organizational risk and ensure policy compliance.

Employee Experience & Communication

• Partner with the HR Program Manager to develop and deliver clear, accessible benefits communications, including guides, FAQs, presentations, and digital content.

• Facilitate benefits section of orientations for new hires  ongoing education sessions for employees and managers.

• Provide confidential support to employees navigating complex benefits or leave situations.

Leave Management

• Oversee administration of Paid Family Leave, FMLA, ADA accommodations, short‑term and long‑term disability, and other leave programs.

• Ensure consistent application of policies and compliance with legal requirements.

• Coordinate with managers, employees, and third‑party administrators to support smooth leave transitions.

Benefits Administration & Operations

• Serve as the senior liaison in the administration of all employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement plans, FSAs, HSAs, wellness initiatives, and voluntary benefits in partnership with the Fund

• Ensure accurate and timely processing of benefit enrollments with our HRIS team including, life event changes, terminations, and qualifying events.

• Direct annual open enrollment strategy, including planning, employee communications, system readiness, testing, training, and implementation.

• Partner with Payroll and HRIS teams to ensure accurate benefit deductions, system integrations, and compliance requirements.

• Establish quality assurance measures and conduct regular audits to ensure data integrity and operational excellence.

• Act as the senior escalation point for complex employee benefits issues and executive-level inquiries.

Vendor & Benefits Fund Management

• Lead relationships with insurance carriers, brokers, consultants, third-party administrators, wellness providers, and the Benefits Fund.

• Manage vendor performance through service-level agreements, reporting, audits, and operational reviews.

• Lead benefits contract evaluations, renewals, negotiations, and requests for proposals (RFPs).

• Partner with vendors to identify opportunities for enhanced service delivery, education, cost containment, and employee engagement.

• Monitor claim trends and utilization patterns to identify opportunities for strategic improvements.

DIRECTION & DECISION MAKING: This position reports to the Director of People, Talent, and Human Resources and works independently.

QUALIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• 5–7+ years of progressive experience in benefits administration, with at least 2 years in a senior or lead capacity.

• Experience with HRIS and benefits administration platforms (e.g., Workday, ADP, UKG, Paylocity).

• Strong knowledge of federal and multi-state  benefits regulations.

• Deep expertise in benefits administration, compliance, and vendor management.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and identify trends.

• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and empathetically.

• High attention to detail and accuracy.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.

• Strong customer‑service orientation and commitment to confidentiality.

• Collaborative mindset with the ability to partner across departments.

• Hybrid or on‑site work environment.

• Occasional extended hours during peak periods (e.g., open enrollment, year‑end).

• Regular interaction with employees, managers, vendors, and HR team members.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Work is generally performed in an office setting, but may be required to work in other settings conducive to performing the work required to complete the assignment, such as field assignments. Long and extended hours and travel required. 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS: SEIU offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package that reflects our values as a labor organization and our commitment to the well-being and long-term security of our staff. Benefits include:

• A comprehensive, employer-sponsored health benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage

• A defined benefit pension plan 

• Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays

• Additional benefits consistent with a mission-driven workplace

SEIU believes that workers deserve dignity, stability, and the ability to plan for their futures, and our benefits are designed to support that belief.