Project Manager - Benefits and LOA

JOB-10047786

Anticipated Start Date

October 19, 2026

Location

Whippany, NJ

Type of Employment

Contract

Employer Info

As a global leader in agriculture enterprise, our client is recognized for their multiple brands and renowned reputation. Their research and development teams combine knowledge and ingenuity to create the most innovative ideas. With their cutting-edge products, they have a common goal: improved quality of life for all.

Job Summary

If you're interested in a Project Manager - Benefits and LOA job, then this is the best role for you! The Project Manager – Benefits and LOA will lead cross-functional projects supporting U.S. employee benefits, retirement, health and welfare, disability, leave of absence, annual enrollment, vendor management, compliance, and process improvement initiatives. The role is responsible for project planning, stakeholder coordination, risk management, testing, communications, implementation, and closeout to ensure successful delivery and effective benefits administration.

Job Description

• Lead benefits and leave of absence projects from initiation through implementation and closeout.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, milestones, risk and issue logs, action trackers, and status reports.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities with Benefits, LOA, HR Operations, Payroll, Legal, Finance, Procurement, IT, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Support projects involving health and welfare plans, disability programs, retirement plans, spending accounts, and benefits administration.
• Ensure project plans consider benefit plan rules, standard operating procedures, regulatory requirements, and internal controls.
• Monitor project risks, issues, dependencies, decisions, and change impacts, and develop mitigation plans.
• Facilitate project meetings, working sessions, vendor discussions, and stakeholder reviews.
• Prepare leadership updates, dashboards, project communications, and implementation readiness materials.
• Coordinate annual enrollment activities, including plan changes, communications, vendor readiness, rate testing, website testing, and post-enrollment stabilization.
• Manage system enhancement testing, interface testing, payroll-impact testing, defect tracking, and user acceptance testing.
• Document and improve benefits and LOA processes, procedures, controls, and governance practices.
• Support acquisitions, divestitures, plan mergers, vendor transitions, compliance initiatives, and benefits transformation projects.
• Improve employee and retiree service experiences through effective project delivery, communication, and vendor performance.
• Manage project closeout, lessons learned, final reporting, documentation, and operational handoffs.

Skills Required

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive project management experience.
• Strong experience leading cross-functional projects from planning through implementation.
• Working knowledge of employee benefits administration, retirement plans, disability, leave of absence, annual enrollment, payroll, or HR operations.
• Strong project planning, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Experience managing project risks, issues, dependencies, deliverables, and implementation readiness.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and presentation skills.
• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, prioritization, and follow-through.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines in a matrixed environment.
• Customer-focused approach to improving employee services and operational efficiency.
• Ability to analyze operational data, testing results, project metrics, and issue logs.
• Experience in benefits administration, total rewards, leave of absence operations, HR transformation, payroll, or vendor management preferred.
• Familiarity with SAP, Workday, ServiceNow, benefits administration platforms, vendor portals, case management tools, MS Project, Smartsheet, SharePoint, Excel, Access, or PowerPoint preferred.
• Experience supporting annual enrollment, vendor implementations, benefits plan changes, acquisitions, divestitures, compliance initiatives, or system testing preferred.
• Ability to coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure project quality, compliance, and timely delivery.
• Travel may be required twice per year, with additional travel depending on business needs.

Education/Training/Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Project Management, Operations, or a related field required.
• Additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of the required degree on a year-for-year basis.
• PMP, CAPM, Agile, Scrum Master, Lean Six Sigma, PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, CEBS, or related certifications preferred.

Additional Requirements

• Must be able to pass drug screenings and criminal background checks.
• Start Time: 08:30 AM
• Remote position; based in the Eastern or Central time zone.

Pay Rate/Salary

• Estimated Salary: $87.11 to $95.11 per hour. Compensation will be offered within this posted range based on experience, skills, and market factors.