Benefits Manager
Linfield University · McMinnville Campus - McMinnville, OR 97128
Office of Human Resources
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports To: Director of Human Resources
FTE: 1.0
Department: Human Resources
Effective Date: October 2026
Join Our Team
Linfield University is seeking an experienced and knowledgeable Benefits Manager to serve as the university’s subject matter expert and primary owner of employee benefit programs. This is an excellent opportunity for a benefits professional who enjoys combining employee service, data analysis, compliance, vendor management, and strategic program improvement in a collaborative university environment.
Job Summary
The Benefits Manager serves as the university’s subject matter expert and primary owner of employee benefit programs. This position independently manages the administration, compliance, analysis, and continuous improvement of employee benefits and retirement programs. The Benefits Manager partners with employees, Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, brokers, carriers, retirement vendors, and third-party administrators to ensure accurate administration, strong employee service, regulatory compliance, data integrity, and effective benefit strategy.
Essential Job Duties
- Provides functional ownership and subject matter expertise for the university’s employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, flexible spending and health spending accounts, and the 403(b) retirement plan.
- Leads annual benefit renewal and open enrollment processes, including plan evaluation, system configuration and testing, employee communications, enrollment support, carrier coordination, and post-enrollment reconciliation.
- Partners with insurance brokers and benefit vendors to evaluate plan performance, utilization, cost trends, market competitiveness, vendor performance, and opportunities for plan design improvements.
- Analyzes benefit utilization, enrollment, cost, benchmarking, and financial data and develops recommendations regarding benefit strategy, plan design, employee contributions, and cost management.
- Owns benefit data integrity and reconciliation processes across HRIS, payroll, carriers, retirement vendors, and other benefit systems, identifying discrepancies and ensuring accurate employee deductions and employer contributions.
- Conducts regular benefit audits and reconciliations, researches discrepancies, determines root causes, and coordinates timely corrections with internal teams and external vendors.
- Maintains benefit administration processes and records in accordance with applicable requirements, including ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, FMLA, PLO, OFLA, and other applicable federal and Oregon requirements.
- Provides retirement plan administration support and serves as a key resource for the university’s 403(b) plan, including eligibility, enrollment, contribution administration, vendor coordination, reconciliation, employee education, and compliance support.
- Participates in retirement plan committee meetings and supports required plan governance, audits, reporting, documentation, and follow-up activities.
- Serves as the primary HR liaison with benefit carriers, brokers, retirement vendors, and third-party administrators, monitors service levels, resolves escalated issues, and holds partners accountable for timely and accurate service.
- Provides employees with clear information and assistance regarding benefit eligibility, enrollment, qualifying life events, plan provisions, claims questions, and available resources.
- Supports employees with leave-related information and directs employees to the university’s third-party leave administrator for leave intake, documentation, eligibility, certification, and administration. Coordinates benefit-related information with the third-party administrator and internal stakeholders as needed.
- Partners with Payroll and Finance to ensure accurate benefit deductions, employer contributions, invoicing, funding, and financial reconciliation.
- Develops and maintains employee benefit communications, educational materials, procedures, and resources that are accurate, understandable, and accessible.
- Plans and coordinates benefit education events, benefit fairs, wellness initiatives, and other employee benefit programming as appropriate.
- Maintains current knowledge of employee benefit legislation, regulatory guidance, industry trends, and best practices and recommends process or plan changes when appropriate.
- Develops, documents, and improves benefit procedures, internal controls, workflows, and service standards to support consistent and efficient administration.
- Provides guidance and benefit expertise to Human Resources colleagues and university leaders and collaborates on cross-functional initiatives involving benefit programs, systems, and employee experience.
- Provides professional, responsive, and confidential service to faculty, staff, managers, supervisors, and university leadership.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field and a minimum of five years of progressively responsible employee benefits experience. An equivalent combination of education and directly related benefits experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
- Demonstrated expertise administering complex employee benefit programs, including health and welfare benefits and retirement plans.
- Demonstrated knowledge of ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, FMLA, PLO, and other applicable federal and state benefit requirements.
- Demonstrated experience with benefit reconciliation, data auditing, annual enrollment, vendor management, and employee benefit communications.
- Experience working with HRIS, payroll, benefit administration, or carrier systems and the ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies across systems.
- Experience working directly with brokers, carriers, retirement plan vendors, and third-party administrators.
- Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to interpret benefit, financial, utilization, and benchmarking data and translate findings into practical recommendations.
- Demonstrated ability to independently research complex benefit issues, exercise sound judgment, evaluate alternatives, and recommend solutions.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex benefit information clearly to employees and leaders.
- Excellent organizational, research, problem-solving, and project management skills, with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
Preferred Qualifications
- Professional certification such as CEBS, PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP.
- Experience administering a 403(b) retirement plan.
- Experience in higher education or another complex, multi-population organization.
- Experience with Oracle.
- Experience with benefit system implementation, configuration, testing, or data conversion.
Physical Requirements
Work is primarily performed in an office environment and involves regular use of a computer and other standard office equipment. The position requires the ability to communicate effectively, remain stationary for periods of time, move throughout campus as needed, and occasionally lift or carry materials weighing up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Apply Today
If you are an experienced benefits professional who values accuracy, employee service, collaboration, and continuous improvement, we encourage you to apply and bring your expertise to Linfield University’s Human Resources team.
Linfield University participates in E-Verify to verify the identity and work eligibility of all new employees.
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