Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Benefits Lead

US IL Chicago E. Randolph Full time
Job Description Summary:

This role is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day administration and compliance of health, welfare, and retirement benefit programs while supporting the execution of broader benefits initiatives. Reporting to a Director or Senior Director in HR, the position partners closely with vendors, internal stakeholders, and external advisors to ensure operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and a positive employee experience. The role also contributes insights, metrics, and recommendations to inform leadership decision-making and continuous improvement of benefit programs.

Job Description

  • Administer and oversee day-to-day operations of health, welfare, and retirement benefit programs, ensuring accurate, timely, and consistent execution.

  • Manage relationships with benefits vendors and external administrators, including contract oversight, service performance, invoicing, and adherence to service-level agreements.

  • Execute benefits strategy and initiatives by managing projects, timelines, and cross-functional coordination in support of leadership priorities.

  • Oversee compliance activities across benefit programs, including audits, reconciliations, reporting, and filings to ensure adherence to ERISA, ACA, DOL, and other applicable regulations.

  • Maintain benefit governance, documentation, and operational procedures to support internal controls, disclosures, and audit readiness.

  • Serve as a subject matter resource for benefits administration, resolving escalated issues and partnering with vendors and internal stakeholders to ensure effective outcomes.

  • Identify and implement process improvements and automation opportunities to increase efficiency, reduce administrative risk, and enhance the employee experience.

  • Prepare operational metrics, analyses, and summaries to track performance, support governance, and inform leadership decision-making.

  • Partner with external legal, actuarial, and compliance advisors to interpret regulatory changes and translate requirements into actionable program guidance.

  • Monitor industry trends and regulatory developments to proactively identify risks, improvement opportunities, and emerging best practices.

  • Support ongoing optimization of benefit programs, balancing cost, compliance, operational integrity, and employee impact.

The posting range for this position is:

$113,007.88 - $152,825.99

Requirements / Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.

  • 7+ years of experience in benefits administration, HR operations, or a related HR specialty

  • Proven experience administering health, welfare, and/or retirement benefit programs, with strong attention to operational accuracy and compliance.

  • Working knowledge of benefits regulations and compliance requirements (e.g., ERISA, ACA, DOL) and experience supporting audits, reporting, or filings.

  • Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to identify risks, reconcile data, and recommend practical solutions.

  • Experience driving process improvements and operational efficiencies, including documentation, controls, or automation.

  • Ability to prepare clear metrics, summaries, and communications to inform leadership and support governance and decision‑making.

  • Effective communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across HR, finance, legal, and external partners.

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The posted salary range is the lowest to highest salary we, in good faith, believe we would pay for this role at the time of this postingWe may ultimately pay more or less than the hiring range and this hiring range may also be modified in the future. A candidate’s position within the hiring range may be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, relevant experience, skills, seniority, performance, shift, travel requirements, and business or organizational needs. This job is also eligible for annual bonus incentive pay. 

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, 11 holidays, medical/dental/vision insurance, generous 401(k) matching, lifestyle spending account and many other benefits to eligible employees. 

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, or any other form of compensation that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.