• Strategic Benefits Design: Lead the continuous evolution and modernization of the entire benefits portfolio to maintain market competitiveness, align with corporate objectives, and proactively meet the evolving needs of a diverse workforce, including specialized union requirements. • Integration Strategy: Design and architect the complex integration strategy for harmonizing benefits plans, policies, and systems following business acquisitions, ensuring seamless alignment and operational readiness for the HR Service Center. • Financial Modeling & Analytics: Drive data-driven decision-making by analyzing complex benefits data, cost trends, and plan utilization. Oversee financial modeling and forecasting to ensure fiscal responsibility and maximum ROI on benefit spend. • Governance & Process Excellence: Establish and maintain the governance framework for all benefits plans. Champion process re-design and innovation to optimize the end-to-end employee and administrative experience. • Vendor Strategy & Negotiation: Provide strategic direction and high-level oversight to all third-party benefits administrators (TPAs), brokers, and carriers. Lead major vendor contract negotiations, renewals, and performance management reviews to ensure maximum value and best-in-class service delivery. • Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner strategically with executive stakeholders and cross-functional teams, including HRIS (Workday), Payroll, Finance, and Legal, to build the necessary technology and operational infrastructure required for seamless program execution. • Union Contract Interpretation: Interpret union contract provisions and Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) to design compliant benefits offerings and define the proper execution path for the HR Service Center, in partnership with Labor Relations. • Compliance & Risk Mitigation: Maintain expert-level knowledge of all federal and state regulations (ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, etc.). Proactively anticipate and establish mitigation strategies for compliance risks across the benefits landscape. • Team & Stakeholder Leadership: Oversee and mentor the internal Benefits Strategy staff, providing coaching and development. Lead the communication strategy for all benefits, ensuring materials are effective, compliant, and drive maximum employee engagement. Act as the final escalation point for the most complex benefits issues requiring strategic decision-making.