Director, Benefits & Retirement

Job Type:

Full time
 
Exempt/Non Exempt:
 
Salary

Job Description:

Location Details:

This position can work remotely from a home office for day-to-day operations. Will travel to Dearborn, MI or Tampa, FL as needed.

Position Schedule:

Monday- Friday 8am-5pm

Position Summary:

The Director, Benefits & Retirement is responsible for leading the execution, administration, and ongoing effectiveness of the organization’s health, welfare, and retirement programs supporting approximately 10,000 employees, including self-insured health plans, pension, 401(k), and applicable deferred compensation programs. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Total Rewards, this role provides subject matter expertise and input into Benefits and Retirement strategy and is accountable for translating approved strategic direction into actionable roadmaps, annual initiatives, programs, and operational plans.

This role requires deep technical expertise in benefits and retirement plan design, administration, funding, regulatory compliance, financial analysis, and vendor management. The Director partners across the organization to ensure programs are competitive, financially sustainable, effectively administered, compliant, and supportive of organizational objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Benefits & Retirement Leadership

- Lead the execution of the established benefits and retirement strategy and roadmap, translating strategic priorities into annual initiatives, implementation plans, and measurable outcomes.
- Provide subject matter expertise, analysis, and recommendations to Total Rewards leadership regarding program design, emerging trends, employee needs, financial considerations, regulatory requirements, risks, and opportunities.
- Evaluate program effectiveness and competitiveness and recommend enhancements that support organizational objectives, employee experience, financial sustainability, and market competitiveness.

Benefits & Retirement Programs

- Lead the administration and ongoing management of the organization’s health, welfare, and retirement programs, including self-insured medical and prescription drug plans, dental, vision, life, disability, HSA, FSA, defined benefit pension, 401(k), and applicable deferred compensation programs, ensuring effective administration and compliance with plan and regulatory requirements.
- Lead annual benefits and retirement activities, including plan changes, annual enrollment, implementations, vendor transitions, employee communications, regulatory activities, and other key program initiatives.
- Oversee benefits-related policies and practices, including applicable paid time-off programs, ensuring effective administration and compliance with federal and state requirements.
- Provide business leadership and subject matter expertise for Workday Benefits and Retirement administration, partnering with HR Systems, Payroll, and vendors to support configuration decisions, process improvements, data integrity, reporting, integrations, testing, and ongoing system enhancements.

Financial, Regulatory & Program Management

- Analyze benefits and retirement program performance, including claims experience, utilization, participation, cost trends, funding requirements, and employee and employer contributions, and develop recommendations to support informed decision-making.
- Partner with Finance, consultants, actuaries, and other stakeholders on budgeting, forecasting, financial projections, plan funding, contribution modeling, and evaluation of program changes.
- Ensure benefits and retirement programs comply with applicable federal and state requirements, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, Internal Revenue Code requirements, and other applicable regulations; assess regulatory developments and lead implementation of required changes.
- Establish and monitor key program measures to identify financial, operational, compliance, and employee experience trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.

Vendor & Enterprise Partnership

- Provide leadership and oversight of benefits and retirement vendors, consultants, recordkeepers, administrators, and other external partners, including performance management, service levels, contractual commitments, renewals, implementations, and issue resolution.
- Partner across Total Rewards, HR, Finance, Legal, Payroll, HR Systems, Communications, and other functions to ensure effective implementation, administration, governance, and delivery of benefits and retirement programs.
- Serve as a senior benefits and retirement subject matter expert, communicating complex program, financial, and regulatory information and recommendations to leaders and key stakeholders.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

·       Provide leadership and direction to a team of up to six employees responsible for benefits, retirement, and benefits administration.

·       Establish team priorities and translate annual benefits and retirement objectives into individual and team deliverables.

·       Manage performance, provide coaching and feedback, support employee development, and build technical and leadership capability within the team.

·       Ensure appropriate allocation of work, accountability, cross-training, documentation, and continuity of critical benefits and retirement processes.

Qualifications:

Required

Education (include minimum education and any licensing/certifications):

·       Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Employee Benefits, or a related field required.

Experience:

·       10+ years of progressively responsible experience overseeing health and welfare and retirement programs, including experience within a large, complex organization. Experience must include:

·       Self-insured medical plans, including claims, utilization, plan costs, funding, and employer and employee contribution methodologies.

·       Retirement programs, including 401(k) and defined benefit pension plans.

·       Interpretation and application of ERISA and other federal and state requirements governing benefits and retirement programs.

·       Management of benefits and retirement vendors, consultants, recordkeepers, and other service providers.

·       Leadership of complex benefits and retirement initiatives, implementations, plan changes, and vendor transitions.

·       5+ years of progressive people leadership or management experience.

·       Experience utilizing Workday Benefits and related HR technology platforms to support benefits and retirement administration, business process design, vendor integrations, reporting, testing, and operational improvements.

Knowledge

·       Advanced knowledge of the following:

·       Health and welfare plan design, administration, funding, and financial management, including self-insured medical plans.

·       Retirement programs, including defined benefit pension, 401(k), and deferred compensation plans.

·       ERISA and applicable federal and state laws and regulations governing health, welfare, and retirement programs, including ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and Internal Revenue Code requirements.

·       Benefits and retirement financial analysis, including claims and utilization trends, funding, employer and employee contributions, budgeting, forecasting, and program measurement.

·       Benefits and retirement plan governance, administration, vendor management, and compliance requirements.

·       Benefits and retirement market practices and emerging trends impacting program design, cost, compliance, and employee experience.

·       Working knowledge of Workday Benefits functionality, business processes, integrations, reporting, and benefit and retirement administration practices.

Skills

Foundational Leadership Skills

·       Strategic Execution: Translates established strategy into actionable plans and measurable outcomes while providing input into future direction.

·       People Leadership & Talent Development: Builds team capability through clear expectations, coaching, development, and accountability.

·       Enterprise Partnership & Influence: Builds effective partnerships and influences stakeholders through expertise, judgment, and data.

·       Decision-Making & Business Acumen: Evaluates complex business, financial, operational, and regulatory factors to make sound decisions and recommendations.

Role-Specific Skills

·       Benefits & Retirement Expertise: Applies deep technical expertise to complex health, welfare, and retirement program needs.

·       Financial & Analytical Acumen: Translates complex benefits, retirement, and financial data into meaningful insights and recommendations.

·       Regulatory & Risk Management: Interprets complex regulatory requirements and translates them into compliant programs, policies, and practices.

·       Program & Vendor Leadership: Leads complex initiatives and drives accountability for vendor performance, service, compliance, and outcomes.

Preferred

·       Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related discipline.

·       Experience supporting a large, geographically dispersed and/or multi-state employee population.

·       Experience with deferred compensation programs.

·       Professional certification or designation in benefits, retirement, or human resources, such as Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), Group Benefits Associate (GBA), Retirement Plans Associate (RPA), Certified Benefits Professional (CBP), SHRM-SCP, or SPHR.

Work Environment

This position is currently able to work remotely from a home office location for day-to-day operations unless occasional travel for meetings, collaborative activities, or team building activities is specified by leadership. This is subject to change based on amendments and/or modifications to the ACG Flex Work policy

Compensation & Benefits Overview:

ACG complies with all applicable state and local laws regarding required benefits (including PTO, paid sick leave, etc.).

Compensation

The annual salary range for this position is $155,000 - $188,000 with annual bonus potential, based on performance.

Benefits

At ACG, we offer a comprehensive and flexible benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and professional growth.

Health & Wellness

- Medical plans with multiple coverage options, including HSA eligibility.
- Prescription drug coverage.
- Dental and vision benefits.
- Employee Assistance Program (confidential support services).

Financial Protection & Insurance

- Company-paid basic life insurance.
- Optional supplemental life insurance and dependent coverage.
- Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
- Critical illness, accident, and pet insurance options.

Retirement & Savings

- 401(k) plan to support long-term financial goals. 3% automatic deferral upon eligibility; may contribute 1% to 50% of eligible earnings, either pre or post tax. Company match of 50% paid on employee contributions up to 6% of pay, payable to employees following the end of the year; immediate vesting. Additional company contribution of 4% of pay each pay day into your account; 100% vested after three (3) years of service.
- Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) options.

Time Off & Leave

- Paid Time Off (PTO): Accrual-based, increases with tenure, eligible at 90 days of employment. Full-time new employees will receive up to 12 PTO days annually; accrual based on start date and may include additional PTO based on role and/or state & local requirements. Part-time employee PTO hours are calculated based upon the standard weekly hours the employee is scheduled to work and will accrue at a minimum of 3 hours per month.

- Paid Holidays: Full-time employees are eligible for 10 company-paid holidays annually, in addition to 1 mental health day, 2 floating holidays and 1 volunteer day. Holidays vary by business unit schedules. Part-time employees are eligible for 8 company-paid holidays annually, in addition to 1 mental health day and 2 floating holidays. Holidays vary by business unit schedules.

- Paid leave programs, including parental, bereavement, jury duty, and military leave.

Career Growth & Education

- Tuition assistance
- Professional certification support with 100% reimbursement for eligible programs.
- Opportunities for career development and advancement.

Additional Perks

- Complimentary AAA membership with roadside assistance and travel discounts.
- Adoption assistance program.

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Job Posting Period:

This position is expected to remain posted through 11/20/2026; however, it may close at any time once a qualified candidate pool is identified.

Who We Are

Become a part of something bigger.

The Auto Club Group (ACG) provides membership, travel, insurance, and financial service offerings to approximately 14+ million members and customers across 14 states and 2 U.S. territories through AAA, Meemic, and Fremont brands. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation and is the second largest AAA club in North America.

By continuing to invest in more advanced technology, pursuing innovative products, and hiring a highly skilled workforce, AAA continues to build upon its heritage of providing quality service and helping our members enjoy life’s journey through insurance, travel, financial services, and roadside assistance.

And when you join our team, one of the first things you’ll notice is that same, whole-hearted, enthusiastic advocacy for each other.

We have positions available for every walk of life! AAA prides itself on creating an inclusive and welcoming environment of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints, realizing our differences make us stronger.

To learn more about AAA The Auto Club Group visit www.aaa.com

Important Note:

ACG’s Compensation philosophy is to provide a market-competitive structure of fair, equitable and performance-based pay to attract and retain excellent talent that will enable ACG to meet its short and long-term goals. ACG utilizes a geographic pay differential as part of the base salary compensation program. Pay ranges outlined in this posting are based on the various ranges within the geographic areas which ACG operates. Salary at time of offer is determined based on these and other factors as associated with the job and job level.

The above statements describe the principal and essential functions, but not all functions that may be inherent in the job.  This job requires the ability to perform duties contained in the job description for this position, including, but not limited to, the above requirements.  Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants, as needed, to enable them to fulfill these requirements.

The Auto Club Group, and all its affiliated companies, is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Regular and reliable attendance is essential for the function of this job.

AAA The Auto Club Group is committed to providing a safe workplace. Every applicant offered employment within The Auto Club Group will be required to consent to a background and drug screen based on the requirements of the position.