Benefits Manager Jobs in Illinois
Benefits Manager jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, with active hiring concentrated in corporate headquarters, large health systems, and financial services firms, and openings at every level from benefits coordinator through senior total rewards director. Chicago anchors the market, with additional volume in Naperville and Schaumburg, where major employers including Aon, Walgreens Boots Alliance, and United Airlines maintain substantial HR operations. The most sought-after specialties in Illinois right now are health and welfare plan administration, 401(k) and retirement program management, and leave compliance under Illinois and federal law. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job Title: Benefit & Vendor Relations Manager
Location: Hybrid – Springfield, IL
Position Summary
The Benefit & Vendor Relations Manager oversees the administration, vendor management, financial controls, compliance, and delivery of employee benefit programs. This role serves as a primary contact for benefit vendors and consultants while ensuring plans are administered accurately and in accordance with plan documents, regulatory requirements, and company objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee administration of health, welfare, retirement, and related employee benefit programs.
- Manage benefit vendors and consultants, including service levels, renewals, implementations, escalated issues, and performance improvement.
- Lead annual open enrollment, benefit communications, employee education, and new-hire orientation.
- Oversee benefit invoices, payments, accruals, reconciliations, and related financial controls.
- Coordinate benefit audits, regulatory filings, required notices, and compliance activities.
- Manage complex eligibility, enrollment, claims, appeals, and employee benefit issues.
- Lead benefit plan changes, vendor transitions, system testing, payroll deduction validation, and data-feed coordination.
- Maintain benefit reporting, compliance calendars, procedures, and audit-ready documentation.
- Support qualified and non-qualified retirement plan administration, as applicable.
- Identify opportunities to improve vendor performance, employee experience, internal controls, and operational efficiency.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of experience in employee benefits, vendor management, or a related HR function.
- Strong knowledge of benefit plans, administration practices, financial controls, and applicable regulations.
- Experience managing vendors, audits, compliance activities, open enrollment, employee escalations, and benefit implementations.
- Strong analytical, project management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and benefit administration systems; Workday experience preferred.
Preferred Qualifications
- CEBS, PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification.
Salary Range: $89,800 – $125,500
- Salary is commensurate with experience, location, skills, and other relevant factors.
Horace Mann was founded in 1945 by two Springfield, Illinois, teachers who saw a need for quality, affordable auto insurance for teachers. Since then, we've broadened our mission to helping all educators protect what they have today and prepare for a successful tomorrow. And with our broadened mission has come corporate growth: We serve more than 4,100 school districts nationwide, we're publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: HMN) and we have more than $12 billion in assets.
We're motivated by the fact that educators take care of our children's future, and we believe they deserve someone to look after theirs. We help educators identify their financial goals and develop plans to achieve them. This includes insurance to protect what they have today and financial products to help them prepare for their future. Our tailored offerings include special rates and benefits for educators.
EOE/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status
For applicants that are California residents, please review our California Consumer Privacy Notice
All applicants should review our Horace Mann Privacy Policy
Job Title: Benefit & Vendor Relations Manager
Location: Hybrid – Springfield, IL
Position Summary
The Benefit & Vendor Relations Manager oversees the administration, vendor management, financial controls, compliance, and delivery of employee benefit programs. This role serves as a primary contact for benefit vendors and consultants while ensuring plans are administered accurately and in accordance with plan documents, regulatory requirements, and company objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee administration of health, welfare, retirement, and related employee benefit programs.
- Manage benefit vendors and consultants, including service levels, renewals, implementations, escalated issues, and performance improvement.
- Lead annual open enrollment, benefit communications, employee education, and new-hire orientation.
- Oversee benefit invoices, payments, accruals, reconciliations, and related financial controls.
- Coordinate benefit audits, regulatory filings, required notices, and compliance activities.
- Manage complex eligibility, enrollment, claims, appeals, and employee benefit issues.
- Lead benefit plan changes, vendor transitions, system testing, payroll deduction validation, and data-feed coordination.
- Maintain benefit reporting, compliance calendars, procedures, and audit-ready documentation.
- Support qualified and non-qualified retirement plan administration, as applicable.
- Identify opportunities to improve vendor performance, employee experience, internal controls, and operational efficiency.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of experience in employee benefits, vendor management, or a related HR function.
- Strong knowledge of benefit plans, administration practices, financial controls, and applicable regulations.
- Experience managing vendors, audits, compliance activities, open enrollment, employee escalations, and benefit implementations.
- Strong analytical, project management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and benefit administration systems; Workday experience preferred.
Preferred Qualifications
- CEBS, PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification.
Salary Range: $89,800 – $125,500
- Salary is commensurate with experience, location, skills, and other relevant factors.
Horace Mann was founded in 1945 by two Springfield, Illinois, teachers who saw a need for quality, affordable auto insurance for teachers. Since then, we've broadened our mission to helping all educators protect what they have today and prepare for a successful tomorrow. And with our broadened mission has come corporate growth: We serve more than 4,100 school districts nationwide, we're publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: HMN) and we have more than $12 billion in assets.
We're motivated by the fact that educators take care of our children's future, and we believe they deserve someone to look after theirs. We help educators identify their financial goals and develop plans to achieve them. This includes insurance to protect what they have today and financial products to help them prepare for their future. Our tailored offerings include special rates and benefits for educators.
EOE/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status
For applicants that are California residents, please review our California Consumer Privacy Notice
All applicants should review our Horace Mann Privacy Policy
See All 19 Benefits Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Benefits Manager JobsBenefits Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Benefits Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Accounting & Auditing
- Insurance
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Investment & Asset Management
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in benefits manager jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field required
- Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) or SHRM-CP/SCP certification strongly preferred
- Three or more years administering group health, dental, vision, and retirement plans
- Working knowledge of ERISA, ACA, FMLA, and Illinois Insurance Code compliance requirements
- Experience managing open enrollment cycles and benefits vendor or broker relationships
- Proficiency with HRIS platforms such as Workday, SAP, or Oracle for benefits administration
Benefits Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a benefits manager in Illinois?
Most benefits managers in Illinois enter through a human resources or benefits coordinator role and build up to management over several years. Illinois does not require a state-issued license to work as a benefits manager, but employers expect at least a bachelor's degree in HR or business and a professional credential such as the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation through the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans or a SHRM certification. Familiarity with Illinois-specific leave laws and the Illinois Insurance Code strengthens a candidate's profile.
How much do benefits managers make in Illinois?
Benefits managers in Illinois earn a median of about $151,730 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $78,420 for the lowest 10% to over $235,730 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire benefits managers in Illinois?
Employers hiring benefits managers in Illinois right now include Marsh McLennan Agency, CBIZ, and Duravant, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters, large health systems, and regional insurance carriers means steady demand for experienced benefits professionals across multiple industries.
Which Illinois cities have the most benefits manager jobs?
Chicago, McHenry, and Springfield are the cities with the most benefits manager openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the bulk of volume through its dense cluster of corporate headquarters, major hospital networks, and financial services firms, while Naperville and Schaumburg attract openings because large employers in the northwest suburbs maintain significant HR and total rewards functions there.
Are there remote benefits manager jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than many HR roles, because benefits administration is largely desk-based and system-driven. About 55% of benefits manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how well the work translates to distributed teams. Roles focused on plan analysis, vendor management, and open enrollment project coordination tend to offer the most remote flexibility, while positions requiring employee-facing benefits counseling are more often on-site.
How can I get hired as a benefits manager in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is starting as a benefits administrator or HR coordinator and moving into management once you have direct plan administration experience. Large Illinois employers such as Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Health Care, and major Chicago-area financial firms routinely post entry-level HR roles that include benefits exposure from day one. Earning the CEBS designation or completing SHRM coursework signals commitment and gives candidates without direct management experience a clear credential advantage. Moving laterally from payroll administration or HR generalist roles is also a common entry point.
Where can I find and apply to benefits manager jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to benefits manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated in real time. Find roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to each employer through the listing.
See All 19 Benefits Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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