The Benefits and Wellness Manager is responsible for the day-to-day administration, delivery, and continuous improvement of the City of Richmond’s employee benefits and wellness programs. This role ensures efficient program execution, compliance, vendor coordination, and a high-quality employee experience. Reporting to the Division Chief of Benefits and Wellness, the Manager serves as an operational leader and subject matter expert, translating strategic direction into effective programs, processes, and services that support employees across the organization. Duties include but are not limited to Program Administration & Operations. Administer and oversee daily operations of employee benefits programs including health, wellness, and related offerings. Manage benefits lifecycle processes including enrollment, qualifying events, and offboarding coordination. Lead operational execution of annual open enrollment, including logistics, employee support, and communications coordination. Ensure accurate and timely processing of benefits transactions, billing, and documentation. Vendor & Contract Management. Serve as primary point of contact for benefits vendors, brokers, and third-party administrators. Monitor vendor performance against service level agreements and escalate issues as needed. Support procurement activities including RFP coordination, renewals, and contract administration in partnership with Procurement. Compliance & Risk Management. Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws (e.g., FMLA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA)Maintain accurate records and oversee periodic audits of benefits data and processes. Respond to internal and external requests related to benefits programs (e.g., audits, reporting, FOIA support as applicable)Employee Experience & Issue Resolution. Serve as escalation point for complex benefits-related inquiries and issues. Partner with HR Business Partners, Payroll, and Retirement to ensure a seamless employee experienceSupport development and delivery of employee education, tools, and resources to improve benefits utilization and understanding. Process Improvement & Reporting. Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and service delivery. Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs)Track and report on key metrics (e.g., participation, utilization, service levels) to inform decision-making. Systems & Technology Support. Support implementation and optimization of benefits-related systems in partnership with HRIS and IT - Ensure data integrity across systems and processes Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses Minimum Qualifications. Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Public Health, or a related field. Five (5) years of progressive experience in benefits administration, human resources, or employee wellness programs. Preferred Qualifications. Seven (7) years of relevant experience. Prior supervisory or team lead experience. Experience in public sector or large, complex organizations. Experience with HRIS/benefits administration systems (e.g., Oracle or similar platforms) Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Jessica McKenzie, Human Resources Manager by email at Jessica. McKenzie@RVA. GOV. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. The City of Richmond Values Veterans. We are an official V 3 Certified Company. The City of Richmond is a proud partner with the US Army Partnership for Your Success Pa. YS Program.