Director, Benefits & Total Rewards

The Director, Benefits & Total Rewards is responsible for the leadership, development, implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of the organization's benefits and total rewards programs. This role ensures all benefit offerings are competitive, cost-effective, legally compliant, and aligned with the organization's business objectives and employee value proposition.

The Director serves as People Operations subject matter expert on employee benefits, retirement plans, leave administration, and total rewards strategy while partnering closely with executive leadership, legal, third-party consultants, brokers, and vendors. This leader drives benefit strategy, oversees annual benefit renewals and open enrollment, evaluates emerging market trends, and develops a high-performing benefits team.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive benefit and total rewards strategy that supports AEG Vision’s goals, talent acquisition, employee engagement, and retention.
• Lead the design, implementation, administration, and ongoing evaluation of health and welfare, retirement, wellness, leave, and voluntary benefit programs and recommend benefit solutions that enhance employee experience while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
• Drive cost containment initiatives and analyze benefit plan utilization, costs, trends, and financial performance while maintaining high-quality employee benefits.
• Monitor industry developments and recommend enhancements to maintain a competitive total rewards strategy and serve as an advisor to leadership on benefits strategy, regulatory changes, plan performance, and emerging trends.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, IRS, DOL, and other governing requirements.
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with third-party brokers, consultants, carriers, actuaries, legal counsel, and external vendors and work closely with consultants and leadership to ensure plans remain in compliant.
• Support distinct self-funded and fully funded health plan strategies and financial oversight, including review of claims experience and funding recommendations.
• Deliver ongoing and effective communications to achieve employee awareness, understanding, appreciation and utilization of their benefits.
• Provide strategic guidance on complex employee benefit matters, retirement programs, leave administration, and total rewards initiatives.
• Establish a cadence of reporting, analysis, and governance for leadership.
• Evaluate vendor performance through service-level agreements, key performance indicators, and regular business reviews.
• Leverage technology and analytics to streamline administration, enhance reporting and identify opportunities to automate processes and improve the experience, without compromising employee value.
• Lead the annual benefits renewal and open enrollment projects, including strategy, planning, communications, negotiations, and vendor selection processes.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and develop team capabilities through mentoring, training, and career development opportunities; Establish department goals, performance expectations, and succession planning initiatives.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships across AEG Vision to better support our business objectives and our employees.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
• 10 years of progressive leadership experience in benefits and total rewards.
• Background in Compensation preferred.
• Experience developing and administering comprehensive employee benefit programs within a mid-sized or large organization.
• Strong knowledge of retirement plans, leave administration, wellness programs, total rewards strategy and employee benefits regulations and compliance requirements.
• Strong strategic planning , analytical and financial management skills.
• Demonstrated experience supporting self-funded and fully funded health plans and leading annual benefits renewal strategies.
• Experience managing third-party brokers, consultants, insurance carriers, and external vendors.
• Experience leading, developing, and mentoring high-performing teams.
• SHRM-SCP or SPHR; CBP or CCP certification preferred