Benefits & Vendor Relations Manager

Job Title: Benefit & Vendor Relations Manager Location: Hybrid – Springfield, IL Position Summary The Benefit & Vendor Relations Manager oversees the administration, vendor management, financial controls, compliance, and delivery of employee benefit programs. This role serves as a primary contact for benefit vendors and consultants while ensuring plans are administered accurately and in accordance with plan documents, regulatory requirements, and company objectives. Key Responsibilities Oversee administration of health, welfare, retirement, and related employee benefit programs. Manage benefit vendors and consultants, including service levels, renewals, implementations, escalated issues, and performance improvement. Lead annual open enrollment, benefit communications, employee education, and new-hire orientation. Oversee benefit invoices, payments, accruals, reconciliations, and related financial controls. Coordinate benefit audits, regulatory filings, required notices, and compliance activities. Manage complex eligibility, enrollment, claims, appeals, and employee benefit issues. Lead benefit plan changes, vendor transitions, system testing, payroll deduction validation, and data-feed coordination. Maintain benefit reporting, compliance calendars, procedures, and audit-ready documentation. Support qualified and non-qualified retirement plan administration, as applicable. Identify opportunities to improve vendor performance, employee experience, internal controls, and operational efficiency. Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience. 5+ years of experience in employee benefits, vendor management, or a related HR function. Strong knowledge of benefit plans, administration practices, financial controls, and applicable regulations. Experience managing vendors, audits, compliance activities, open enrollment, employee escalations, and benefit implementations. Strong analytical, project management, communication, and problem-solving skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and benefit administration systems; Workday experience preferred. Preferred Qualifications CEBS, PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification. Salary Range: $89,800 – $125,500 Salary is commensurate with experience, location, skills, and other relevant factors. Horace Mann was founded in 1945 by two Springfield, Illinois, teachers who saw a need for quality, affordable auto insurance for teachers. Since then, we’ve broadened our mission to helping all educators protect what they have today and prepare for a successful tomorrow. And with our broadened mission has come corporate growth: We serve more than 4,100 school districts nationwide, we’re publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: HMN) and we have more than $12 billion in assets. We’re motivated by the fact that educators take care of our children’s future, and we believe they deserve someone to look after theirs. We help educators identify their financial goals and develop plans to achieve them. This includes insurance to protect what they have today and financial products to help them prepare for their future. Our tailored offerings include special rates and benefits for educators. EOE/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status For applicants that are California residents, please review our California Consumer Privacy Notice All applicants should review our Horace Mann Privacy Policy