Retirement Plans Manager

Location: Bethesda, MD- onsite

Responsibilities: Oversee the day-to-day administration and operations of employer-sponsored defined contribution retirement plans, particularly 401(k) programs. Manage weekly, biweekly, and ad hoc payroll funding, including employee deferrals and employer matching calculations. Perform complex plan calculations, financial reconciliations, data audits, and annual employer contribution calculations. Partner with Finance and Accounting to forecast retirement plan expenses and contributions. Serve as a primary point of contact for complex participant inquiries and operational issues. Oversee retirement plan compliance activities, including annual audits, government filings, required disclosures, nondiscrimination testing, and regulatory reporting. Ensure retirement programs comply with applicable regulations, including ERISA, SECURE Act, Department of Labor, IRS, and other relevant requirements. Monitor regulatory changes and industry developments, maintaining and updating internal procedures and documentation. Follow established processes, procedures, and governance workflows while identifying opportunities for improvements when appropriate. Manage relationships with external recordkeepers, third-party administrators, financial advisors, and other service providers. Evaluate vendor performance, service offerings, and opportunities for program improvements. Participate in vendor selection processes, contract evaluations, and Requests for Proposals (RFPs).Collaborate with Payroll, Finance, Accounting, and HRIS teams on system configurations, payroll interfaces, and data accuracy. Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and annual retirement plan reports, ensuring a high level of quantitative accuracy. Develop and deliver retirement plan presentations and educational communications to employees, including monthly presentations for new hires. Create and deliver presentations to executive leadership, effectively communicating plan performance, compliance matters, and other retirement program updates. Lead, develop, and support team members while maintaining consistent processes, accountability, and operational standards. Support retirement plan administration for a diverse, distributed workforce, including employees working in field-based and craft-oriented environments.

Qualifications: 8+ years of experience in defined contribution retirement plan administration, with direct, hands-on experience managing employer-sponsored 401(k) plans. Pension experience alone will not meet this requirement.3+ years of experience leading, developing, and managing teams. Demonstrated experience creating and delivering presentations to executive leadership. Strong technical knowledge of 401(k) administration, retirement plan operations, and regulatory compliance. Experience with payroll funding, employee contributions, employer matching, financial reporting, and reconciliations. Strong understanding of ERISA, SECURE Act, Department of Labor, and IRS regulations. Exceptional attention to detail, analytical skills, and a strong compliance mindset. Advanced Excel skills with the ability to analyze complex data and ensure accuracy. Experience working within structured, process-driven environments and the ability to follow established procedures and internal controls. Ability to learn and understand existing processes before recommending or implementing changes. Experience supporting organizations with field-based, craft, seasonal, or geographically distributed workforces is highly beneficial. Experience managing external vendors and retirement plan service providers. Experience with HRIS and payroll platforms such as Workday or SAP is preferred. Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Business Analytics, or a related field preferred. Professional certifications such as CEBS, QKA, CPSP, PSCA, SHRM-CP/SCP, or PHR/SPHR are a plus. Spanish language proficiency is a plus. Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills, with the ability to manage confidential employee and financial information. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented and process-driven leader who takes ownership of retirement plan operations, understands the importance of compliance, and can balance hands-on administration with team leadership and executive-level communication.