Benefits & ESOP Manager

*Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary include your job specific skills, education, training, job location, number of years of experience related to this role and comparison to other employees already in this role.

*The ideal candidate lives and works within commuting distance to Fargo, ND or Plymouth, MN. Applicants who live near Sioux Falls, SD or La Crosse, WI will also be considered. Opportunities for hybrid and/or remote work near these locations may be available for well-qualified candidates. 

DSG is seeking a Benefits & ESOP Manager to join our Human Resources team. As a Benefits & ESOP Manager, you will lead the strategy, planning, administration and communication of our competitive, comprehensive, cost-effective and employee-centric benefits program. This position oversees our health, life, disability, wellness, 401(k), and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) programs; coordinates plan administration and regulatory compliance; manages vendor and advisor relationships; and helps employee owners understand and maximize the value of their benefits and ownership. The ideal candidate brings hands-on ESOP administration experience and a clear understanding of how retirement, benefits, and employee ownership work together to support our people.

At DSG, we are dedicated to building futures one job at a time. Starting with yours. As an ESOP, we are a community of peers, first and foremost. And we focus on cultivating an environment of respect, teamwork and growth. Where your career path is rich with possibilities. Where every success is shared. And where every challenge is overcome together. For more than a century, we’ve delivered more than supplies, we’ve offered true partnership and valuable solutions. By continuing to empower the future of our vendors and customers, we will empower a future of ongoing success for all of us.

A Typical Day in the Life of a Benefits & ESOP Manager at DSG:

• Manage and administer all employee owner benefit programs:
  • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and other retirement:
    • Run the annual ESOP cycle in collaboration with internal and external partners, from census and contribution data through allocations, statements and final reports
    • Review reports, resolve discrepancies and maintain accurate records
    • Research and consider plan amendments, weighing the impact on participants and making clear recommendations to leadership 
    • Track and analyze various metrics to make informed decisions
    • Facilitate audits in collaboration with our third-party auditor
    • Oversee ERISA compliance through testing, cutback reports, filings and required disclosures
    • Administer the 401(k) plan 
  • Other benefits:
    • Select carriers and plans to maintain competitive, comprehensive, cost-effective and employee-centric benefits offerings
    • Manage multiple vendor contracts 
    • Ensure compliance with COBRA and HIPAA; file 1094/1095, Form 5500s and other required disclosures
    • Manage annual Open Enrollment and life event changes
• Develop, manage and monitor the benefits budget 
• Provide proactive, timely and clear communications, from benefit provisions and changes to wellness challenges and available resources
• Serve as the primary resource for employee owner and leader questions about plan provisions and benefits
• Create resources to engage and help employee owners understand, value and maximize their total rewards
• Educate and partner with leadership and HR on total rewards as it relates to talent acquisition, training and employee relations
• Supervise and lead a successful benefits team, including hiring, performance and development
• Recommend and research trends, developments and best practices in benefits provisions and administration
• All other duties as assigned 

A Successful Benefits & ESOP Manager typically has: 

• Four-year business or human resources degree or the equivalent related work experience
• 5+ years of experience with employee benefits and retirement plan administration
• 1+ year of ESOP administration experience
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and PowerPoint) 
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication 
• Ability to effectively plan, organize and use independent judgment
• Attention to detail and organizational skills
• Excellent customer service skills, including competence, accuracy, responsiveness and engagement

At DSG, We Offer Benefits Built for You: