Benefits Manager

Location: New York City, NY

Schedule: Hybrid — 3 days in office / 2 days remote

Hours: 40 hours per week

Compensation: $40–$45/hour

Duration: Ongoing

Position Overview: Our client is seeking an experienced Benefits & Leave of Absence Manager to oversee employee benefits and leave programs across both the United States and Canada. This role will be responsible for managing day-to-day benefits administration while serving as a subject matter expert on leave of absence programs and applicable regulations in both countries. The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience administering U.S. and Canadian leave programs, including understanding the differences in statutory requirements, documentation, eligibility, and employee communications across both countries.

Key Responsibilities: Manage the administration of employee benefits programs, including health, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and other company-sponsored benefits. Oversee the full leave of absence lifecycle for employees in both the U.S. and Canada, from initial leave requests through return-to-work. Administer and coordinate various leave programs, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, state and local leaves, short- and long-term disability, parental leave, medical leave, and applicable Canadian statutory leaves. Ensure compliance with federal, state, provincial, and local requirements related to benefits and leaves of absence. Partner with employees, managers, HR Business Partners, payroll, benefits vendors, and other internal stakeholders to resolve benefits and leave-related questions. Maintain accurate employee leave and benefits records and ensure timely processing of changes. Coordinate with third-party benefits and leave administrators, insurance carriers, and other vendors. Provide guidance to employees and managers regarding eligibility, leave requirements, documentation, benefit continuation, and return-to-work processes. Support benefits enrollment, qualifying life events, employee changes, and annual open enrollment activities. Partner with payroll to ensure appropriate benefits deductions, leave payments, and related adjustments are processed accurately. Monitor legislative and regulatory changes affecting U.S. and Canadian benefits and leave programs and recommend updates as needed. Develop and maintain benefits and leave documentation, policies, procedures, and employee communications. Handle sensitive and confidential employee information with a high degree of discretion.

Qualifications: 5+ years of experience in benefits and/or leave administration, preferably within a corporate HR environment.

Required: Hands-on leave of absence experience in BOTH the United States and Canada. Strong knowledge of U.S. leave requirements, including FMLA, ADA, state/local leave programs, and disability leaves. Strong understanding of Canadian statutory leave requirements and benefits practices across applicable provinces. Experience working with benefits vendors, insurance carriers, payroll teams, and HRIS systems. Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to manage confidential information and complex employee situations with professionalism and discretion. Comfortable working independently while collaborating closely with HR and cross-functional teams. Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate is a hands-on benefits and leave professional who can independently manage day-to-day employee inquiries and leave cases while navigating the complexities of both U.S. and Canadian regulations. They should be comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment and partnering with employees and internal stakeholders at all levels.