Sonya Seyda
Lexington,KY
Summary
Experienced Benefits & Total Rewards leader with over 20 years in designing and managing enterprise benefit programs for multi-state organizations. Expertise in carrier transitions, HRIS implementations, regulatory compliance, and vendor optimization. Known for enhancing operational efficiency and improving employee engagement through strategic communication and data-driven insights.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Benefits Manager
iCIMS, Inc.
Holmdel, NJ
01.2023 - Current
- Lead benefits strategy and administration for a global SaaS organization supporting 1,000+ employees across U.S. and international markets.
- Partner with Finance, Legal, Payroll, and executive leadership to align benefits strategy with business objectives and cost controls.
- Oversee medical, dental, vision, life, disability, wellness, COBRA, and voluntary benefit programs.
- Directed enterprise-wide Workday implementation including benefits configuration, eligibility rules, integrations, testing, and vendor file feeds.
- Manage ACA compliance and IRS reporting (1094-C/1095-C), audit coordination, and regulatory response management.
- Ensure adherence to ERISA, HIPAA, FMLA, COBRA, and multi-state leave laws.
- Lead vendor governance to maintain service-level compliance and data integrity.
- Negotiated vendor agreements, managing multi-million-dollar benefits spend to optimize value and compliance.
- Analyzed enrollment trends, utilization data, and cost projections to shape renewal strategy and funding decisions.
- Streamline billing processes and carrier reconciliation.
- Designed and launched quarterly Benefits Spotlight campaigns to increase engagement.
- Developed executive dashboards and reports to enhance senior leadership visibility into benefits performance.
- Built structured, multi-platform open enrollment communication strategies.
Benefits Manager
Forcht Group of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
01.2017 - 12.2022
- Directed benefits operations for a diversified enterprise supporting 2,000+ employees across multiple business lines.
- Administered health, retirement, and leave programs for team, enhancing employee support.
- Implemented UKG Benefits Prime and EDI integrations, improving vendor communication processes.
- Administered FMLA and COVID-related leave programs (FFCRA) ensuring compliance and tax optimization.
- Conducted market benchmarking and plan design evaluations.
- Performed internal audits to ensure carrier data accuracy and enrollment integrity.
- Developed employee education platforms and digital self-service manuals to facilitate benefits understanding.
Medicare Advantage Representative
CareSource
Louisville, KY
01.2014 - 01.2017
- Guided clients on Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and Qualified Health Plans to ensure informed decisions.
- Delivered compliant enrollment education to enhance understanding across regional markets.
- Achieved Top Sales Agent recognition in 2015.
Senior Account Manager
ConvenePro, LLC
Lexington, KY
01.2009 - 01.2014
- Managed multi-million-dollar pharmaceutical marketing budgets to maximize ROI and meet strategic objectives.
- Directed cross-functional teams to execute national programs, enhancing collaboration and alignment across departments.
- Ensured compliance with PhRMA standards while overseeing strategic messaging and production processes.
- Earlier roles include Senior Conference Coordinator, Distance Learning Coordinator, and Assistant Manager demonstrating progressive operational leadership.
Education
Bluegrass Community & Technical College
Western Kentucky University
Skills
- Total rewards strategy
- Vendor negotiations
- HRIS implementation
- Regulatory compliance
- Benefits oversight
- Global Benefits Coordination
- Employee engagement strategy
- Disability program governance
- Workforce analytics
- Team leadership
- HRIS Configuration
- Workday
- UKG
- Benefits Prime
- Advanced Excel
- Data Auditing
- EDI File Feeds
- Microsoft 365
- Executive Dashboard Reporting
Websites
Core Leadership Expertise
- Total Rewards Strategy & Plan Design
- Carrier Transitions & Vendor Negotiations
- HRIS Implementation (Workday, UKG)
- Regulatory Compliance (ACA, ERISA, FMLA, COBRA, IRS Reporting)
- Benefits Financial Oversight & Cost Management
- Global Benefits Coordination
- Employee Communications & Engagement Strategy
- Leave & Disability Program Governance
- Executive Reporting & Workforce Analytics
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership
Timeline
Senior Benefits Manager
iCIMS, Inc.
01.2023 - Current
Benefits Manager
Forcht Group of Kentucky
01.2017 - 12.2022
Medicare Advantage Representative
CareSource
01.2014 - 01.2017
Senior Account Manager
ConvenePro, LLC
01.2009 - 01.2014
Bluegrass Community & Technical College
Western Kentucky University