Vice President, Benefit Plans

About Our Company

We’re a diversified financial services leader with more than $1.5 trillion in assets under management, administration and advisement as of year-end 2024. Our team of 22,000 people across 19 countries, serves more than 3.5 million individual, small business and institutional clients. We are a longstanding leader in financial planning and advice, a global asset manager and an insurer. Our unwavering focus on our clients and strong financial foundation connects each of our unique businesses – Ameriprise Financial, Columbia Threadneedle Investments and RiverSource Insurance and Annuities. Here, we foster meaningful careers, invest in the future, and make a difference for clients, institutions and communities around the world.

Job Description

Responsible for the strategic design, development, compliance, and optimization of employee benefit programs, including retirement, retirement savings, health and welfare, wellness, life and disability, and other employee benefit programs.
Leads the execution of program strategy, governance, vendor management, communications, and operational effectiveness to ensure plans are competitive, compliant, financially sound, and aligned with the organization's talent and business objectives. Reports to the Vice President, Global Benefits.
We are a client-centric, relationship-based business. Working together, in-person, is foundational to how we achieve results. By fostering a culture of face-to-face collaboration, idea sharing, productivity and personal connection, we deliver for our stakeholders — clients, advisors, employees and shareholders. Our employees work in the office at least four (4) days per week, with flexibility to work from home one (1) day per week. Some roles may require additional in-office time or different in-office expectations, and specific
requirements will be discussed during the hiring process.
Applicants must have a valid work authorization that does not now, or in the future, require visa sponsorship for employment in the United States (e.g., H-1B, F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, TN).

Key Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the design, implementation, and ongoing management of employee benefit programs. Monitor emerging industry trends, legislative developments, and workforce needs; recommend and implement plan enhancements that strengthen the employee value proposition and support business objectives.

Lead benchmarking, competitive analysis, plan effectiveness, and initiatives to evaluate benefit offerings and identify innovative solutions that enhance employee engagement, support well-being, and effectively manage benefit costs. Programs may include medical, dental, health and welfare, retirement savings, defined benefit, defined contribution, and wellness programs.

Provide leadership, coaching, and development for benefit team members to ensure high performance, operational excellence, and continuous professional growth. Build talent capabilities, manage performance, and foster a collaborative, results-oriented team environment.

Oversee and partner with fiduciary committees and legal to ensure effective governance, compliance, and administration of all benefit plans delivered through internal resources and third-party service providers.

Ensure compliance with all applicable legal, regulatory, tax, reporting, fiduciary, and governance requirements. Partner closely with Legal, Tax, Finance, Internal Audit, and external consultants to assess risks, interpret regulatory changes, and maintain strong internal control environments.

Own strategic vendor relationships, including selection, governance, performance management, and service delivery oversight. Monitor vendor performance against established standards and drive continuous improvement initiatives to maximize value and mitigate operational risk.

Lead employee communications and engagement strategies related to benefit programs. Ensure employees and plan participants understand available benefits, recognize the value of programs offered, and have access to timely, accurate information and educational resources.

Provide thought leadership and subject matter expertise for enterprise initiatives, organizational changes, and business transformation efforts that impact employee benefit programs. Support due diligence and integration activities related to mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic transactions as needed.

Leadership Expectations

Think strategically, creatively, and drive innovation with a focus on continuous improvement.

Demonstrate accountability and maintain a strong focus on employee experience, operational excellence, and creating enterprise value.

Build and develop talent while promoting an inclusive, high-performance culture. Effectively lead through change and organizational complexity.

Cultivate strong relationships and collaborate effectively across business units, staff groups, external partners, and leadership teams.

Influence decisions and effectively communicate complex benefit, financial, regulatory, and governance matters with senior leaders and key stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or equivalent required; Master's degree or equivalent preferred.

10+ years of progressive experience in employee benefits, including leadership responsibility for complex benefit programs and teams.

Deep knowledge of benefit plan design, administration, governance, and compliance, including retirement, health and welfare, and wellness programs.

Strong understanding of regulatory, tax, fiduciary, and legislative requirements affecting employee benefit programs.

Demonstrated success leading and developing benefit professionals across varying levels of experience.

Experience managing vendor partnerships, service providers, consultants, and benefit administration operations.

Experience with advanced benefits financing techniques, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities, including experience evaluating program costs, effectiveness, trends, and business impacts.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence senior leaders and communicate complex benefit matters to diverse audiences.

Ability to build strong partnerships across Human Resources, Legal, Tax, Finance, Technology, and external organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

Benefits experience within financial services or another highly regulated industry.

Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation or equivalent professional certification.

Experience supporting fiduciary committees and governance structures associated with retirement and health benefit programs.

Demonstrated success leading significant benefit transformations, vendor transitions, or large-scale program implementations.

Experience with using a captive as a benefits financing vehicle.

Base Pay Salary

The estimated base salary for this role is $160,600 - $240,900 / year. We have a pay-for- performance compensation philosophy. Your initial total compensation may vary based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographical work location. In addition, most of our roles are eligible for variable pay in the form of bonus, commissions, and/or long-term incentives depending on the role. We also have a competitive and comprehensive benefits program that supports all aspects of your health and well-being, including but not limited to vacation time, sick time, 401(k), and health, dental and life insurances.Full timeExemptHuman CapitalHR Human Resources

Ameriprise Financial is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, military status, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship, disability status, marital status, family status or any other basis prohibited by law.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment process for individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, speak to your recruiter to discuss how we can support you.