Job ID: 8379
Location:
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular

Staff Posting Details

Appointment: Regular, full-time staff position

Position Summary:

At the University of Puget Sound, we believe employee benefits are more than just policies. They are a reflection of how we support our faculty and staff to thrive. We're seeking a Benefits Manager who brings strategic insight, operational expertise, and human-centered thinking to help us design and deliver meaningful, inclusive, and compliant benefits experience.

The Benefits Manager is responsible for the oversight of day-to-day administration and continuous improvement of benefits programs for university faculty and staff. The Benefits Manager promotes the value of benefits as a tool to recruit and retain talented faculty and staff, and serves as a campus thought-leader on benefits program design and execution to support the university in achieving its strategic people objectives. The Benefits Manager promotes an integrated approach to benefits in all functional areas of HR including recruitment, onboarding, payroll, departures, learning and development, strategic planning, and employee relations.

As the Benefits Manager, you will:

• Lead the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of faculty and staff benefits programs, including oversight of medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and education benefits
• Ensure that benefit plans are administered in compliance with applicable federal and state laws (e.g., HIPAA, ACA, ERISA, FMLA, PFML, ADA)
• Maintain, review, and periodically update plan documents, summary plan descriptions, vendor contracts, educational and promotional materials, and other required materials
• Serve as the primary day-to-day liaison and manage the university's relationship with third-party benefit vendors, consultants, and legal advisors
• Collaborate across HR, Payroll, Finance, and campus departments to ensure benefits are integrated with payroll, onboarding, leave, and employee experience
• Provide expert-level guidance on benefits policies, compliance, and vendor relationships
• Support employees through clear communication, education, and personalized service
• Use data and systems to analyze benefit trends and recommend improvements
• Manage audits and reporting, including development of queries needed for both regular activities and ad hoc projects
• Monitor benefit plan costs and provide data for periodic review and forecasting to support the annual benefits budget
• Supervise and mentor the Benefits Specialist and contribute to HR team learning and development
• Serve as backup to the payroll manager for processing payroll by maintaining current awareness of payroll processing systems, procedures and processes
• Manage leave programs and worker's compensation programs and processes in accordance with applicable laws and institutional policies; partner with Environmental Health and Safety staff to ensure annual requirements are completed

We're looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• A strong understanding of U.S. benefits laws and compliance (e.g., ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, FMLA, PFML, ADA)
• Experience designing or administering a variety of benefit plans (health, retirement, leave, accommodations, etc.)
• Skill and experience researching, interpreting, and analyzing data to support and influence benefits decisions
• Experience improving systems and/or workflows
• Ability to spot issues/risks and independently identify, propose, and implement solutions
• Excellent communication skills with a focus on accessibility, clarity, and empathy
• A collaborative mindset and ability to navigate cross-functional work
• Experience supervising, coaching, or mentoring others

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and 5 to 7 years of progressively responsible experience in benefits administration. An equivalent combination of experience and education will be considered.
• Demonstrated success using HRIS, benefits platforms, and payroll systems
• Familiarity with federal and state employment law
• Demonstrated experience supervising or mentoring staff
• Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community

Preferred Qualifications:

• CEBS, CBP, SHRM-CP, PHR, or related certification
• Experience with self-insured programs and third-party benefits administration
• Experience using project management software (Asana, Smartsheet, Monday, or similar)
• Prior experience in higher education or similarly complex settings

Why Join Puget Sound:

• Be part of a mission-driven community that values collaboration, sustainability, belonging and the transformative power of higher education.
• Collaborate in a small, mission-driven HR team where your contributions are valued and your voice helps drive continuous improvement.
• Make a meaningful impact on a campus where your expertise contributes to our mission by supporting faculty and staff in their personal and professional lives.
• Grow your career with access to professional development support, tuition remission, and opportunities to lead change.
• Enjoy a generous total compensation package, including health benefits, access to education benefits for you and your eligible family members, retirement contributions, and paid leave, including 13 University-paid holidays.

Compensation and Benefits:
The anticipated range for this position is $77,968.80 to $85,000 annualized. Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate's education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations.

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package for eligible staff employees, including:

Medical, dental, and vision

Life insurance and long-term disability

Employee Assistance Program

Retirement plan options and 403(b) contributions

Paid vacation, sick leave, floating holiday, campus holidays and bonus holidays

Education benefits, such as full tuition for eligible employees and their families

Access to university facilities and entertainment (fitness center, pool, library, concerts, lectures and more!)

Please note:

• Positions that work less than .75 FTE (1,560 hours per year) do not qualify for long-term disability or education benefits.
• Positions that work less than .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will accrue paid sick leave but are not eligible for additional benefits.
• Temporary positions that work at least .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will be eligible for benefits.

This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

For more information on Puget Sound's exempt staff benefits package, visit: Summary of 2025 Benefits for Staff Members in Exempt Positions.pdf

For the Campus Holiday and Bonus Day Schedule, visit: https://www.pugetsound.edu/human-resources

Application Deadline:

Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified. Interested individuals are encouraged to submit application materials no later than August 15, 2025 to ensure consideration.

Required Documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of all required background checks.

University Diversity Statement

We acknowledge the richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community; the intrinsic worth of all who work and study here; that education is enhanced by investigation of and reflection upon multiple perspectives.

We aspire to create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community; to increase the diversity of all parts of our University community through commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts; to foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.

We act to achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity; to ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here; to prepare effectively citizen-leaders for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: https://pugetsound.edu/about-puget-sound-0/mission-core-values/institutional-equity-diversity

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.


How to Apply
For complete job description and application instructions, visit: www.pugetsound.edu/employment

About Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a selective national liberal arts college in Tacoma, Washington, drawing 2,600 students from 48 states and 20 countries. Puget Sound graduates include Rhodes and Fulbright scholars, notables in the arts and culture, entrepreneurs and elected officials, and leaders in business and finance locally and throughout the world. A low student-faculty ratio provides Puget Sound students with personal attention from faculty who have a strong commitment to teaching and offer 1,200 courses each year in more than 40 traditional and interdisciplinary fields, including graduate programs in occupational and physical therapy and in education. Puget Sound is the only nationally ranked independent undergraduate liberal arts college in Western Washington, and one of just five independent colleges in the Pacific Northwest granted a charter by Phi Beta Kappa, the nations most prestigious academic honorary society. Visit "About Puget Sound" (http://www.pugetsound.edu/about) to learn more about the college.

As a strategic goal and through our core values, University of Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. EOE/AA