Benefits Manager I

Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

Why Join JPL?

At JPL, we tackle some of humanity's most ambitious challenges. Our success depends on attracting, supporting, and retaining extraordinary talent.

We're looking for a strategically focused and employee centric Benefits, Leaves & Accommodations Manager to lead a high-performing team responsible for benefits, retirement, wellness, leave administration, and workplace accommodations. This role is critical to ensuring our employees receive exceptional support throughout every stage of their career and life journey.

If you're an innovative leader with deep expertise in benefits, leave management, and accommodations - and a passion for building programs that enable our workforce - we invite you to join JPL.

Key Elements of Position

Reporting to the Head of Compensation and Benefits, you will lead the team responsible for the design, administration, compliance, communication, and continuous improvement of JPL’s health and welfare, retirement, wellness, leave and accommodations programs.   

This highly visible leadership role serves as a strategic advisor to senior leaders and partners closely with Human Resources, Caltech, Legal, Payroll, Finance, and external vendors to ensure programs remain competitive, compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with workforce strategies. 

The successful candidate will balance strategic planning with operational excellence while leading a team that delivers exceptional service to employees and leaders.

Your Responsibilities

• Develop and execute JPL's benefits, leave, accommodation, and wellness strategies in alignment with benefits and rewards workforce objectives.

• Advise senior leadership on emerging trends, legislative changes, workforce needs, and market practices.

• Analyze internal and external data to evaluate program effectiveness, identify opportunities, and recommend enhancements.

• In partnership with Caltech, lead the design, administration, and governance of health and welfare, retirement, pension, wellness, and leaves and accommodations programs.

• Evaluate plan performance, utilization trends, employee feedback, and financial outcomes to drive continuous improvement.

• Manage relationships with benefit providers, consultants, brokers, and third-party administrators.

• Oversee employee communications and education efforts that increase understanding of JPL's rewards offerings.

• Lead JPL's leave of absence and workplace accommodations programs, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws.

• Ensure consistent application of policies related to FMLA, CFRA, ADA, FEHA, pregnancy accommodations, workers' compensation coordination, and related regulations.

• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting employee benefits, retirement plans, leaves, and accommodations.

• Ensure compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, IRS, DOL, ADA, FMLA, CFRA, and other applicable regulations.

• Lead audits, reporting requirements, plan filings, and governance activities.

• Serve as a key representative to Benefits and Retirement Plan Oversight Committees.

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of benefits, leave, and accommodations professionals.

Your Background + Capabilities

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or related field.

• 10+ years of progressive experience managing benefits, retirement, wellness, leave administration, and/or accommodations programs.

• 2+ years of people leadership experience, including managing and developing professional teams.

• Deep knowledge of health and welfare benefits, retirement plans, and leave administration.

• Significant experience managing complex leave and accommodation programs, including ADA, FEHA, FMLA, CFRA, disability, and return-to-work processes.

• Experience working in a large organization including managing sizable data interfaces and Center of Excellence roles and responsibilities.

• Strong knowledge of ERISA, IRS, DOL, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, and other applicable regulations.

• Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.

• Excellent executive presence, communication, and influencing skills.

• CEBS certification preferred.

• Experience working with Workday Benefits preferred.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

EEO is the Law.

EEO is the Law Supplement

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.