[Hiring] Senior Benefits Specialist @Android/Avancez

Role Description

The Senior Benefits Specialist will support the design, implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of the company's global benefits programs, including health & welfare plans and retirement plans. The ideal candidate brings a minimum of 10 years of progressive benefits experience in union and non-union environments, deep technical knowledge of health & welfare and retirement plan design, and proven people-management skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy & Plan Design
  • Support the design, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of health & welfare benefit programs (medical, dental, vision, life, disability, EAP, wellness, voluntary benefits) and retirement programs (401(k) or equivalent global retirement/pension plans).
  • Benchmark plan offerings against market data and industry trends to ensure competitiveness in a global talent market.
  • Develop and recommend benefits strategies that align with overall Total Rewards philosophy and support the company's growth and geographic expansion.
  • Partner with leadership on annual renewal strategy, plan changes, and cost-management initiatives.
• Administration & Operations
  • Oversee day-to-day administration of all benefits programs across all regions/entities, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and a high-quality employee experience.
  • Build relationships with brokers, carriers, third-party administrators (TPAs), and recordkeepers; negotiate contracts, service levels, and renewals.
  • Support the annual open enrollment process end-to-end, including system configuration, communications, vendor coordination, and issue resolution.
  • Ensure benefits programs are properly integrated with HRIS/payroll systems; partner with HRIS team on data feeds, testing, and audits.
• Compliance & Governance
  • Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations across jurisdictions, including but not limited to ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA (U.S.), and equivalent local statutory requirements in other countries.
  • Complete required filings (e.g., Form 5500, non-discrimination testing, SPDs/SMMs) and maintain plan documents in partnership with Legal and outside counsel.
  • Serve as plan administrator or delegate for retirement plans, ensuring fiduciary responsibilities are met in coordination with Finance and Legal.
  • Stay current on emerging legislation and regulatory changes affecting global benefits, proactively advising leadership on required action.
• Team Leadership
  • Mentor and develop local HR teams regarding benefits.
  • Establish team processes, service standards, and KPIs to ensure consistent, high-quality support to employees and HR business partners.
  • Build team capability to support the company's continued growth and increasing complexity of a global benefits portfolio.
• Employee Experience & Communication
  • Develop clear, engaging employee benefits communications and educational materials for employees globally.
  • Partner with HR People Operations and People Leaders to address escalated benefits questions and resolve complex employee issues.
  • Lead or support benefits-related change management as the company grows, including new market entries, M&A integration, and harmonization of plans.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in benefits administration, design, or consulting, ideally within a global or multi-national organization.
• Strong working knowledge of health & welfare plans (medical, dental, vision, disability, life, leave programs) and retirement/pension plans.
• Demonstrated experience managing or leading direct reports.
• Solid understanding of relevant U.S. and international regulatory frameworks (ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, and applicable local/regional equivalents).
• Experience managing broker, carrier, and vendor relationships, including contract negotiation.
• Proven ability to manage benefits programs at scale, ideally within an organization of 3,000+ employees and at least one collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
• Strong analytical skills with experience in benefits cost analysis, benchmarking, and reporting.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex benefits information for employees at all levels.
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).

Preferred

• Experience supporting benefits programs across multiple countries/regions.
• Experience with HRIS/benefits administration platforms (e.g., Dayforce, Workday, ADP, BenXpress, Benefitfocus, or similar).
• Experience supporting benefits integration during M&A activity or rapid organizational growth.
• Retirement plan fiduciary experience (e.g., 401(k) committee participation).

Core Competencies

• Strategic and analytical thinking.
• Vendor management and negotiation.
• Regulatory and compliance acumen.
• People leadership and team development.
• Cross-functional collaboration (HR, Finance, Legal, Payroll).
• Project management, especially for open enrollment and plan transitions.
• Strong written and verbal communication.

Working Conditions

• This is a remote position.
• Willingness to travel approximately 10-15% of the time is required to support Michigan based HQ, regional plants, vendor meetings, and team collaboration.

Benefits

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical.
• Delta Dental.
• VSP Vision.
• 401k Matching.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Paid Time Off.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Additional Competitive Benefits.

Values

• Respect.
• Integrity.
• Courage.
• Impact.