Benefits Manager Position Available In Jefferson, Tennessee

Benefits Manager

HIGHLANDER RESEARCH & EDUCATION CENTER

New Market, TN Job Details Full-time $74,210 a year 15 hours ago Benefits Paid holidays Disability insurance Dental insurance Vision insurance 403(b) Life insurance Qualifications Microsoft Powerpoint Microsoft Word Benefits administration Microsoft Excel Employee relations ADP Employment & labor law Mid-level Microsoft Office Project management Human resources Project management software HRIS 2 years Communication skills Full Job Description Overview Highlander Research and Education Center seeks a Benefits Manager (internally titled as Total Rewards Manager) to design, implement, administer, and continuously improve the organization’s comprehensive total rewards programs, with an emphasis on employee benefits, incentive strategies, engagement initiatives, and well-being programming. This role plays a critical part in ensuring employees feel supported, valued, and motivated by aligning reward practices with organizational values. In a typical week, you can expect to: Manage the day-to-day operations of employee benefits programs, including health, dental, vision, HRAs, COBRA, life and disability insurance, wellness initiatives, and other voluntary benefits, using automated systems. Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits inquiries—providing timely, clear communication and support regarding guidance on options, eligibility, coverage, and claims, with assistance from the People & Culture Coordinator. Develop, design, and oversee initiatives that foster employee engagement, inclusion, and a sense of connection across the organization. Stay current on local, state, and federal labor laws, providing guidance and resources to ensure a safe and legally compliant workplace. To be successful in this role, you need to have: Strong customer service, project management, communication, and interpersonal skills to thoughtfully support our employees and the People & Culture department. The ability to reliably safeguard confidential information. Experience scaling benefit administration to complex, multi-state/multi-site organizations. 2+ years of experience in human resources, employee relations, or benefits administration. Experience and comfortability utilizing an HRIS system (ADP preferred), project management software (like Asana), and Microsoft Office products (Excel, Word, & PowerPoint). Demonstrated understanding of collective bargaining agreements and labor laws. Compensation & Benefits In addition to offering the Total Rewards Manager an annual salary of $74,210, we encourage employees, their spouse/domestic partner, and their dependent(s) to take advantage of our 100% employer-paid healthcare plan offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, a vision and dental plan offered through Guardian, and a Health Reimbursement Account to help cover eligible out-of-pocket expenses. Our benefits package includes an employer-sponsored life insurance policy, disability insurance policy, and a traditional 403b retirement plan. Highlander also encourages its employees to take advantage of their 24 days of paid vacation, 11 paid holidays, and a robust sick time policy each year. About Highlander Highlander serves as a catalyst for grassroots organizing and movement building in Appalachia and the South. We work with people fighting for justice, equality, and sustainability, supporting their efforts to take collective action to shape their destiny. If you would like to be a part of this movement for change, we’d encourage you to apply today! Application Instructions Please upload your resume and cover letter as a single, combined document in either PDF or .DOCX format. This combined file should be submitted in the “Upload Resume” section of the application. A standard full-time commitment, generally Monday through Friday and occasional evenings and weekends, with work hours aligned to meet the needs of the position and organizational priorities.