Public Policy Associate Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

The Benefits Manager is responsible for the strategic oversight and analysis of employer-sponsored defined contribution retirement plans, self-insured health and dental plans, and other welfare benefit programs. This role ensures regulatory compliance, partners with internal and external legal counsel, and serves as a liaison with vendors, consultants, and key stakeholders. The Benefits Manager also serves as the operational lead for benefits administration, team member communications, and HCM implementation efforts, while driving process improvement, system optimization, and cross-functional coordination. In addition, this role provides direct supervisory oversight of Benefits Analysts, delivers data-driven insights, prepares executive-level summaries and recommendations, and supports the Director of Benefits and HR leadership in evaluating strategies and advancing benefits initiatives. The successful candidate will have experience leading vendor and system implementations, along with a strong ability to design, interpret, and report on data and analytics to support decision-making.

Required Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Finance, Health Administration, Wellness, Public Policy, Science, or a related field.
• 7-10 years of experience leading and/or consulting in retirement, healthcare, or wellness benefits administration within compliance focused roles, including collaboration with legal teams, supervision of a benefits team, and experience working in a healthcare or similarly complex environment. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Finance, Health Administration, Wellness, Public Policy, Science, or a related field.
• Recent certification and/or formal education or training in retirement, healthcare, benefits, or a related field.
• More than 10 years of experience leading and/or consulting in retirement, healthcare, or wellness benefits administration within
  compliance-focused roles, including collaboration with legal teams, supervision of a benefits team, and experience working in a healthcare or similarly complex environment.  Preference will be given to candidates with knowledge of benefits, compensation, total rewards, payroll, and/or human resources. Additional consideration will be given to candidates with experience designing and implementing custom benefits systems and solutions. 

Skills

• Strong knowledge of team member benefits programs, including retirement, health, welfare, and wellness, with hands-on experience working with external vendors and administrators.
• Proven experience leading or supporting vendor and system implementations, including HCM platforms and benefits administration systems, with an understanding of configuration, testing, and operational impact.
• Demonstrated ability to design, interpret, and report on benefits data and analytics to support strategic decision-making and executive-level reporting.
• Proven ability to coordinate and collaborate with professional service providers involved in benefit plan administration, including third-party administrators, actuaries, custodians, consultants, and legal counsel.
• Skilled in preparing executive summaries, presentations, talking points, and other communication materials to support benefits strategy, governance, and reporting.
• Ability to clearly communicate benefit plan status, initiatives, and operational activities—both verbally and in writing—to leadership, stakeholders, and internal teams.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage complex issues, prioritize competing demands, and drive resolution.
• Self-starter capable of working independently while managing multiple priorities, deadlines, and cross-functional initiatives. 
• Strong judgment and discretion in handling sensitive, confidential, and regulated information.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, with advanced Excel skills and experience leveraging HCM and benefits administration platforms.

Some benefits of working at Augusta Health include

• Healthcare Benefits
• Generous paid time off
• Retirement savings helping you to plan for your future
• Free onsite parking
• 24/7 armed security to ensure your safety
• Tuition reimbursement
• Onsite child care
• Augusta Health Fitness Reimbursement Program
• Onsite credit union
• Employee discounts including the cafeteria, gift shop, pharmacy, and movie tickets

Company Information
Augusta Health is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit, community health system located in Fishersville Virginia in Virginia’s scenic Shenandoah Valley. Augusta Health offers a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient which includes Augusta Medical Center a 255 bed inpatient facility and Augusta Medical Group which is comprised of 40 practice locations and four urgent care locations.

Equal Opportunity
Augusta Health recruits, hires and promotes qualified candidates for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran or military discharge status, and family medical or genetic information.