Director, Benefits

Summary of Job Description:

The Director, Benefits position is responsible for the long-term strategy for all company benefit programs, designing programs that are market competitive and align with the business strategy.  This position ensures the proper administration and communication of benefits covering health and welfare, retirement, disability, life insurance, and well-being programs.  The Director works with the company’s benefits vendor on determining changes to the program either to enhance benefits or achieve greater efficiency.  This position also makes recommendations on changes to the programs to ensure they remain competitive with peer organizations and attract and retain target demographics.  The Director is responsible for leading and overseeing the Benefits team, coaching and developing managers and professionals to elevate their performance to support the company’s growth goals.

You’ll get a chance to:

• Lead development of the long-term strategy for all company benefits to attract and retain a high-performance workforce.  
• Develop and implement the benefits communication strategy. 
• Serve as a key advisor and coach to the company’s HR senior leadership team on innovative benefits design.
• Set the strategic framework for associate benefits, ensuring benefit programs are market competitive and align with the business strategy as well as being cost effective to the company. 
• Benefit programs include health and welfare, retirement (40l(k), disability, life insurance, well-being, and education. 
• Oversee analysis on the effectiveness of vendors and cost structure, employee participation, and competitive positioning with peer companies and key industry trends. 
• Provide recommendations on proposed changes to benefits programs to HR senior leadership based on both internal and external analysis. 
• Ensure benefit programs are properly administered and legally compliant.  
• Determine most effective benefits system to automate the enrollment process and ongoing administration and ensures integration with the company’s Human Capital System.  
• Oversee the benefits enrollment process to ensure accuracy and timeliness. 
• Develop and conduct training sessions for both Support Center and Operations associates to communicate the benefit options available.
• Responsible for leading and managing the Benefits team, coaching and developing managers and professionals to support the company’s growth goals.  
• Responsible for recruiting and retaining Benefits staff in collaboration with HR senior leadership.
• Increase the engagement and participation of associates through effective communication and enrollment training. 
• Ensure the Benefits team is responsive to the associates’ needs and concerns through meeting the service level agreement (SLA) in responding back to the associates. 
• Lead wellness initiatives with a focus on enhancing associates’ mental health.  
• Select vendors to conduct monthly workshops and collaborates with Operations leadership on addressing wellness challenges.  
• Report to HR senior leadership on the results of research into wellness trends in the industry with recommendations for implementing new and innovative programs.

How we reward you:

• Hybrid Work schedule
• 401K with company match
• Yearly bonus opportunity*
• Full medical, dental, and vision insurance *
• On-site fitness center, biometric screen, and flu shot clinic
• Discounts at Panda restaurants, theme parks, and gym memberships
• Paid time off starting at 15 days with 7 federal holidays*
• Continuous education assistance and scholarships*
• Income protection including Disability, Life and AD&D insurance*
• Bereavement leave*

*Benefits available for eligible permanent full time associates

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Your background and experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree required; business and/or HR major preferred.  MBA or HR graduate degree preferred.
• Minimum ten years of experience in HR and benefits with increasing management responsibility, preferably in a retail/hospitality operations environment.
• Successful completion of initial and periodically required trainings.
• Obtaining a valid Food Handler's Card within 30 days of employment is a requirement of this position.

Panda Strong since 1983

Founded in Glendale, California, we are now the largest family-owned American Chinese Restaurant concept in America. With close to 2,000 locations globally, we continue our mission of delivering exceptional Asian dining experiences by building an organization where people are inspired to better their lives. Whether it’s impacting our team or the communities we work in, we’re proud to be an organization that embraces family values.

You’re wanted here

We value diversity in all forms and know the strength it brings. Workplace equality allows for creative ideas to blossom, diverse points of view to be heard, and improves overall happiness. We like the sound of that.

Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age and any other basis protected by the laws which apply where we operate. Panda provides accommodations for disabilities and religious observance purposes as required by law.

Pay Range M4: $161,000 - $226,000 / Annual

* Within the range, individual pay is determined using various factors, including work location and experience.