Benefits Lead

Here at Appian, our values of Intensity and Excellence define who we are. We set high standards and live up to them, ensuring that everything we do is done with care and quality. We approach every challenge with ambition and commitment, holding ourselves and each other accountable to achieve the best results. When you join Appian, you’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to accomplishing hard things, together. We are seeking a proactive and execution-oriented Global Benefits Lead to help scale and optimize our global benefits programs. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Benefits, this role will serve as a key operational partner supporting day-to-day U.S. benefits administration while contributing to benefits delivery across EMEA and APJ. This position is ideal for a highly organized, solutions-driven professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, operates with a high degree of ownership, and can independently manage multiple priorities across a global workforce. The ideal candidate combines strong operational excellence with analytical thinking, vendor management experience, and a passion for delivering an exceptional employee experience. This role is based at our HQ in McLean, VA. Appian was built on a culture of in-person collaboration, which we believe is a key driver of our mission to be the best. Employees hired for this position are expected to be in the office 5 days a week to foster that culture and ensure we continue to thrive through shared ideas and teamwork. We believe being in the office provides more opportunities to come together and celebrate working with the exceptional people across Appian. Key Responsibilities: U.S. Benefits Administration Support the administration of U.S. health and welfare programs, including medical, dental, vision, HSA/FSA, life and AD&D, disability, leave programs, and voluntary benefits. Assist with daily administration of the U.S. 401(k) program, including employee inquiries, compliance coordination, and partnership with plan administrators and financial advisors. Partner with internal stakeholders and leave administration vendor to support employee leave programs, including FMLA, STD, LTD, parental leave, and state-specific leave programs. Ensure timely and accurate processing of enrollments, life events, audits, and payroll-related benefits activities. Global Benefits Support (EMEA & APJ) Support the administration and delivery of benefits programs across EMEA and APJ regions in partnership with local brokers, vendors, and HR teams. Assist with global renewals, implementation activities, employee communications, and benefits data management. Help ensure smooth execution of regional benefit programs while supporting compliance with local statutory requirements and market practices. Maintain accurate global benefits documentation, enrollment workflows, and reporting. Compliance & Vendor Management Support compliance efforts related to ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, nondiscrimination testing, and other U.S. regulatory requirements. Partner with regional stakeholders to support compliance and governance activities across international programs. Assist with vendor management activities, including implementations, renewals, invoice auditing, issue resolution, and ongoing performance monitoring. Process Improvement & Strategic Initiatives Identify opportunities to improve benefits operations, streamline processes, and enhance the employee experience globally. Analyze claims data, utilization trends, and vendor reporting to identify insights and support recommendations. Support key annual initiatives including Open Enrollment, systems testing/configuration, employee education, and benefits communications. Leverage technology and AI-enabled tools to improve operational efficiency, reporting, and communication workflows. Qualifications & Skills 5+ years of experience in benefits administration with demonstrated ownership of complex benefits programs. Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field. Strong working knowledge of U.S. health and welfare benefits and retirement plans; international benefits exposure across North America, EMEA and/or APJ preferred. Experience partnering with external vendors, brokers, and cross-functional internal stakeholders. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience working in spreadsheets, reporting, and data audits. Experience with benefits administration systems; Workday experience strongly preferred. Comfort leveraging AI and automation tools to improve workflows and productivity. Ability to manage multiple priorities independently in a fast-paced, evolving environment. The base salary range represents a good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant work experience, qualifications, internal peer equity, and market and business conditions that exist when extending an offer. A discretionary bonus may be awarded in recognition of individual and company performance. In addition, Appian provides generous benefits offerings that include a 401(k) plan with company match, flexible time off, paid parental leave, medical, dental, and vision plans, life insurance, disability insurance, wellness programs, flexible spending accounts, health savings account contributions, an employee referral bonus program, and learning and development resources. Certain positions may be eligible for equity awards. Pay and benefits are subject to change at any time, consistent with the terms of any applicable compensation, commission, bonus, or benefit plans. Base Salary Range $100,000—$200,000 USD Tools and Resources Training and Development: During onboarding, we focus on equipping new hires with the skills and knowledge for success through department-specific training. Continuous learning is a central focus at Appian, with dedicated mentorship and the First-Friend program being widely utilized resources for new hires. Growth Opportunities: Appian provides a diverse array of growth and development opportunities, including our leadership program tailored for new and aspiring managers, a comprehensive library of specialized department training through Appian University, skills based training, and tuition reimbursement for those aiming to advance their education. This commitment ensures that employees have access to a holistic range of development opportunities. Community: We’ll immerse you into our community rooted in respect starting on day one. Appian fosters inclusivity through our 8 employee-led affinity groups. These groups help employees build stronger internal and external networks by planning social, educational, and outreach activities to connect with Appianites and larger initiatives throughout the company. Benefits Appian offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, wellbeing, and financial future. Benefits may include health coverage, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with free mental health support, life and disability insurance, an Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), a retirement/pension plan, wellness dollars, tuition reimbursement, family-forming benefits and more. Benefits vary by country—please ask your Talent Acquisition contact for details specific to the location you are applying to. About Appian Appian provides AI automation for mission-critical work. We automate complex processes in large enterprises and governments. Our platform is known for its unique reliability and scale. We’ve been automating processes for more than 25 years and understand enterprise operations like no one else. For more information, visit appian.com. [Nasdaq: APPN] Follow Appian: LinkedIn, Youtube, Instagram, Facebook Appian is an equal opportunity employer that strives to attract and retain the best talent. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Appian provides reasonable accommodations to applicants in accordance with all applicable laws. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at ReasonableAccommodations@appian.com. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address. Appian's Applicant & Candidate Privacy Notice