Senior Manager, Benefits

Job summary

The Senior Manager will lead the strategy, governance, and administration of Canadian retirement and health and welfare benefit programs. They will partner with cross-functional teams to ensure programs are compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with the company's total rewards strategy.

Job details

DESCRIPTION & REQUIREMENTS Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate. The Opportunity Smurfit Westrock seeks a Senior Manager, Canada Retirement & Health & Welfare Benefits to lead strategy, governance, administration, and compliance for Canadian retirement and employee benefit programs. This role serves as the primary Canadian benefits subject matter expert and partners with HR, Finance, Payroll, Legal, and external vendors to ensure programs are competitive, compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with our Total Rewards strategy. Key Responsibilities • Lead the design, administration, and governance of Canadian pension, retirement savings, and health and welfare benefit programs. • Develop benefit strategies that support business objectives, employee well-being, and financial sustainability. • Manage consultants, actuaries, insurers, trustees, and third-party administrators, including performance, renewals, and negotiations. • Oversee regulatory compliance, governance, audits, financial reporting, and required pension and benefits filings. • Monitor program performance, utilization, market trends, and legislative changes and recommend improvements. • Lead benefit budgeting, forecasting, cost management, annual enrollment, and employee communications. • Support acquisitions, integrations, organizational changes, and benefits harmonization initiatives. • Provide executive reporting, recommendations, and Canadian benefits expertise to senior leadership. Required Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business, Finance, or a related field. • 8+ years of progressive experience managing Canadian retirement and/or health and welfare benefit programs. • Strong knowledge of Canadian pension legislation and employee benefits administration. • Experience managing vendors, consultants, and complex benefit programs. • Strong analytical, financial, project management, communication, and influencing skills. • Fluent in French and English (U.S.) Preferred Qualifications • CEBS, GBA, RPA, CHRL, CHRP, CPP, or related designation. • Experience in a large, multi-site manufacturing or industrial environment. • Experience with mergers, acquisitions, integrations, and benefits harmonization. What Success Looks Like • Effective governance and compliance of Canadian retirement and benefit plans. • Strong vendor performance and service delivery. • Successful execution of strategic benefit initiatives and annual enrollment. • Improved employee experience and thoughtful management of program costs. Candidates are required to undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional job offer, but before starting employment. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law. GENERAL INFORMATION Job ID ATR68289 Posting Job Title Senior Manager, Benefits Locations QC Candiac Employment Type Full Time Date Posted 13-Oct-2026 Relocation Support No

What you’ll do

The Senior Manager will lead the strategy, governance, and administration of Canadian retirement and health and welfare benefit programs. They will partner with cross-functional teams to ensure programs are compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with the company's total rewards strategy.

Requirements

Candidates must have a bachelor's degree and at least 8 years of progressive experience managing Canadian retirement and benefit programs. Strong knowledge of Canadian pension legislation and the ability to manage complex vendor relationships are essential.

Listed skills

• Regulatory Compliance · Preferred
• Financial Reporting · Preferred
• Project management · Preferred
• Budgeting · Preferred
• Forecasting · Preferred
• Data analysis · Preferred
• Change Management · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Benefits administration
• Pension legislation
• Strategic planning
• Vendor management
• Regulatory compliance
• Financial reporting
• Project management
• Budgeting
• Forecasting
• Total rewards strategy
• Employee communications
• Data analysis
• Influencing skills
• Change management
• Auditing
• Employee Communications
• Financial Project Management
• Robotic Process Automation
• Influencing Skills
• Sustainable Packaging
• Organizational Change Management
• Business Objectives
• Bilingual (French/English)
• Mergers And Acquisitions
• Annual Enrollments
• Benefits Administration
• Cost Management
• Corporate Finance
• Management
• Certified Employee Benefit Specialist
• Communication
• Regulatory Compliance
• Finance
• Financial Statements
• Packaging And Labeling
• Governance
• Leadership
• Scalability
• Legislation
• Market Trend
• Negotiation
• Vendor Management

Job areas

• Human Resources
• Management & Leadership
• Finance & Accounting
• Manufacturing
• Human Resources Benefits Analyst
• Compensation / Benefits Manager
• Human Resource Managers
• Compensation and Benefits Managers

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