Manager - Policies & Benefits

Key Responsibilities

Policy Design & Governance

• Develop, review, and enhance HR policies, guidelines, and frameworks in line with business needs and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure policies are aligned with market benchmarks and organizational philosophy.
• Drive policy harmonization and standardization across business units and geographies where applicable.
• Manage policy exceptions, interpretations, and governance processes.

Strategy & Administration

• Design and administer employee benefits programs, including retirement benefits, leave programs, recognition programs, and flexible benefits.
• Conduct periodic benchmarking studies to evaluate competitiveness of benefits offerings.
• Recommend enhancements based on employee feedback, industry trends, and business requirements.
• Monitor utilization and effectiveness of benefit programs and recommend optimization opportunities.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Manage relationships with external service providers.
• Lead RFPs, vendor evaluations, contract renewals, and service reviews.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, Payroll, Procurement, and HR teams to ensure seamless benefits administration.
• Drive governance with vendors through regular reviews and performance monitoring.

Employee Experience & Communication

• Develop and execute communication strategies for policy and benefits-related initiatives.
• Ensure employees have clear understanding of available benefits and policy provisions.
• Address complex employee queries and escalations related to policies and benefits.
• Support employee education and awareness initiatives to improve program utilization.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with applicable labor laws, tax regulations, and statutory requirements.
• Identify policy and benefits-related risks and implement mitigation plans.
• Maintain appropriate documentation, controls, and audit readiness for all programs.
• Support internal and external audits related to employee benefits and HR policies.

Analytics & Reporting

• Track and analyze benefits costs, utilization trends, employee participation, and program effectiveness.
• Prepare dashboards and reports for HR and business leadership.
• Use data-driven insights to support decision-making and future program design.
• Manage budgets associated with employee benefits and recognition programs.

Program Management

• Lead implementation of new benefits programs and policy enhancements.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, and organizational changes from a policy and benefits perspective.
• Manage special projects related to employee wellbeing, rewards, and workplace experience.

Preferred Experience & Competencies

• 8-12 years of HR experience, with significant exposure to compensation & benefits, policy management, or total rewards.
• Strong understanding of employee benefits, HR policies, and compliance requirements.
• Experience managing vendor relationships and leading benefits-related projects.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with exposure to budgeting and cost management.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive cross-functional collaboration.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and problem-solving skills.

Key Skills

• Employee Benefits Management
• HR Policy Design & Governance
• Vendor Management
• Rewards & Recognition Programs
• Benefits Benchmarking
• Compliance & Risk Management
• HR Analytics
• Budget Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Project Management
• Employee Experience