Benefits Manager, EMEA in Leeds

Summary of Responsibilities

• Maintain working knowledge of benefits practices and statutory requirements across selected EMEA countries, including pension, insured benefits, leave, wellness and locally mandated benefits, and apply this knowledge to regional plan management and project delivery.
• Partner with regional Benefits leads, HR, Payroll, Legal, Finance, Procurement and external consultants/brokers to ensure benefits are delivered accurately, compliantly and with a strong employee experience.
• Contribute to global and regional benefits projects related to leaves, pensions, wellness, employee wellbeing, benefit harmonization, vendor optimization, policy governance and process improvement.
• Monitor regulatory developments affecting statutory and supplemental benefits in the UK and selected EMEA countries; coordinate compliance actions, policy updates, audit responses and documentation with internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepare and track benefit budgets, renewal assumptions, invoice reviews, accrual inputs and cost-saving initiatives for assigned countries, and provide clear reporting to Benefits leadership.
• Manage UK benefits administration with particular focus on Defined Contribution (DC) pension plan operations, including enrolment support, contribution and payroll file review, provider liaison, employee query resolution, governance actions and periodic data quality checks.
• Support administration and governance activities for legacy Defined Benefit (DB) pension arrangements, working with trustees, administrators, actuaries and internal stakeholders on member queries, data requests, reporting, audit activity and compliance-related actions.
• Own day-to-day management of the UK flexible benefits portal, including annual enrolment readiness, benefit configuration, eligibility rules, HRIS and payroll interface testing, vendor issue resolution, employee communications and post-enrolment reconciliation.
• Lead or support UK benefit plan renewals, market benchmarking, vendor management and cost tracking for health, risk, pension, wellbeing, time-off and other employee benefit programs.
• Act as the escalation point for Benefits queries from HR Service Delivery, employees and vendors, providing practical guidance, resolving complex issues and identifying opportunities to improve knowledge content and processes.
• Create, maintain and improve benefits process documentation, employee-facing materials, policy summaries, portal content and internal operating procedures to support accurate and consistent administration.
• Lead completion of benefits surveys, benchmarking submissions, internal/external audits and compliance reviews as required, ensuring timely and accurate data submission.
• Provide guidance, coaching and knowledge sharing to junior/new team members and cross-functional partners on UK and EMEA benefits processes.

Experience (Minimum Required)

• Minimum 6 years of benefits management experience, including hands-on UK benefits administration and vendor management experience.
• Practical experience with UK pension administration, including DC pension plans; exposure to DB pension administration, trustee/administrator interaction or legacy plan governance is strongly preferred.
• Experience managing or supporting a flexible benefits portal, including annual enrolment, eligibility configuration, payroll/HRIS interfaces, employee communications and vendor issue management.
• Working knowledge of UK benefits compliance and statutory benefit obligations; familiarity with benefits practices and regulatory requirements in additional EMEA countries is required.
• Experience supporting regional or global benefits projects across areas such as leaves, pensions, wellness, wellbeing, insured benefits, vendor consolidation, benefit harmonization or policy/process governance.
• Strong vendor, broker and consultant management skills, with the ability to manage renewals, escalations, service reviews, data requests and issue resolution across multiple countries.
• Excellent collaboration, communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to partner effectively with HR, Payroll, Finance, Legal, Procurement, external vendors and regional/global Benefits teams.
• Advanced Excel proficiency and strong analytical capability, including comfort with benefit cost tracking, reconciliations, data validation and management reporting.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, timelines and stakeholders in a matrixed global environment.

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