Benefits Governance Partner – Columbia, SC (Hybrid)
We are seeking a highly skilled Benefits Governance Partner to provide strategic and administrative support to four benefits committees, including both plan sponsor and plan fiduciary committees overseeing Health & Welfare, 401(k), and Pension plans. This role is crucial in ensuring robust benefits governance, efficient committee operations, and the timely implementation of committee-directed initiatives.
The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of employee benefits, strong organizational and communication skills, and experience working within fiduciary frameworks. In addition to managing committee operations, this individual will prepare and present benefits-related information to committees and serve as a key liaison between committee members, internal stakeholders, and external vendors to accomplish committee direction.
What You’ll Do:
- Support Health & Welfare, Retirement (401(k) and Pension), and Compensation Committees through effective governance, meeting administration, and fiduciary best practices.
- Plan and manage committee calendars, agendas, materials, approvals, and annual timelines to ensure efficient and compliant operations.
- Prepare and present clear, decision‑ready benefits and retirement plan materials for senior leaders and committee members.
- Maintain accurate governance documentation, including charters, records, minutes, and follow‑up tracking.
- Serve as a liaison between the benefits committees, plan administrators, and external vendors, consultants, actuaries, and legal counsel.
- Monitor regulatory, benefits, and retirement plan developments and provide advice to committees accordingly.
- Support benefits audits, projects, and fiduciary documentation standards.
- Act as HIPAA Privacy Officer and ensure compliance with applicable laws and plan documents.
- Identify opportunities to enhance governance processes and committee effectiveness.
- Collaborate cross‑functionally with Benefits, Compensation, Legal, Finance, and HR stakeholders.
What You’ll Need:
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 7–9 years of experience in HR, benefits, compensation, or governance‑focused roles.
- Strong knowledge of benefits administration, retirement plans, and fiduciary environments.
- Experience supporting executive‑level or board‑level committees.
- Excellent organizational, documentation, and attention‑to‑detail skills.
- Strong executive communication and presentation capabilities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining confidentiality and compliance.
- Experience with benefit vendor management.
AgFirst Farm Credit Bank provides financing, as well as technology and other value-added services, to association partners so they can lend to rural residents and agricultural operations of all sizes. We take pride in investing in our employees, our partners and our community.
Find out more on AgFirst.com, and follow us on LinkedIn!
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
- 7-9 years of experience in HR, benefits, compensation, or governance-focused roles.
- Strong knowledge of benefits administration, retirement plans (401(k) and Pension), and fiduciary environments.
- Experience supporting executive-level or board-level committees.
- Experience as or knowledge sufficient to act as HIPAA Privacy Officer and ensure HIPAA compliance.
- Experience with benefits vendor management and working with actuaries, consultants, and legal counsel.
- Excellent organizational, documentation, and attention-to-detail skills.
- Strong executive communication and presentation capabilities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining confidentiality and compliance.
What We Do
As part of the nationwide Farm Credit system, AgFirst Farm Credit Bank has been lending financial and business support to agriculture and rural America for more than a century. As a $40.4 billion company, we are prepared to meet tomorrow with a progressive mindset and a passionate workforce by continually adapting to changes in the technology and business landscape. AgFirst provides wholesale funding, cutting-edge technology and a range of support services to local agricultural and rural lenders in 15 states and Puerto Rico. These lenders provide loans to rural home and land buyers and to agricultural operations of all sizes. Our cooperative business model ensures we share our partners’ values, goals and vision for the future. Our employees come from a wide range of backgrounds to advance our mission of serving agriculture and rural America – to Impact More every day. We place a premium on our employees’ unique skills and perspectives and invest in them by offering excellent benefits, competitive pay, flexible work schedules, leadership development opportunities, a corporate incentive plan and more.
