Description
The Director of Benefits & Compensation provides strategic and operational over site in the design, implementation, and administration of the University’s comprehensive total rewards programs. This position oversees aspects of compensation and benefits administration, ensuring programs are competitive, compliant, and aligned with institutional goals to attract, reward, and retain exceptional talent.
Essential to this role is the development and maintenance of equitable staff compensation structures, managing benefits programs such as health, welfare, and retirement plans, and ensuring the effective use of data to guide decisions. The Director partners closely with leadership, HR colleagues, and external vendors to ensure total rewards strategies are fiscally responsible, market-competitive, and supportive of employee wellness, engagement and organizational priorities and performance.
Additionally, this role ensures regulatory compliance, drives continuous process improvement, and provides oversight of systems and analytics related to compensation and benefits. The Director of Compensation & Benefits plays a critical role in fostering a culture of transparency, equity, and recognition across the University.
You will:
Benefits Administration:
Design, plan, and manage the competitive benefits strategy, policies, and procedures which support the University’s goal of attracting, rewarding, and retaining top talent while applying cost controls.
Assess trends and changes in the benefit realm to ensure the University provides affordable and progressive options for its employees. Recommend plan design changes and present rationale to senior leaders, as appropriate.
Serve as university liaison with benefit vendors, brokers, and third-party administrators and monitor service level agreements.
Oversee annual renewal and enrollment. Evaluate alternative plan designs, funding arrangements, and wellness initiatives to improve outcomes and control costs.
Oversee administration of retirement program ensuring compliance with applicable regulations. Partner with broker, plan fiduciaries, investment advisors, and recordkeepers on plan performance, audits, and participant education.
Supports RFP processes for benefit providers and evaluate new vendor solutions to enhance program value.
Provide guidance and support to employees regarding benefit options and claims.
Compensation:
Develop and implement staff compensation strategies aligned with university goals, including managing salary structures, annual compensation review cycles, and all associated increases (union and non-union).
Conduct job analyses, market research, and salary benchmarking to ensure competitive pay, when necessary. Monitor compensation trends and recommend adjustments to structures when required.
Guide hiring managers on compensation decisions, and policy interpretation.
Ensure internal equity and market competitiveness across academic and administrative units.
Collaborate with budget and finance offices to align compensation strategies with fiscal planning.
Compliance & Reporting:
Ensure compliance and adherence with applicable legal and regulatory provisions, including IRS, DOL, ERISA, FLSA, ACA, HIPAA, and COBRA.
Coordinate required 5500 and nondiscrimination testing. Comply with and maintain records necessary to support compliance activities for all benefit and retirement/403b activities including internal and external audits as required.
Prepare and submit required reports and disclosures.
Conduct audits and evaluations of compensation and benefits programs.
Manage institutional data systems, Banner, related to HR functions.
Leadership, Communication, & Collaboration:
Supervise HR staff responsible for benefit & HRIS administration.
Collaborate with HR colleagues on Total Rewards, Compensation, and Employee Relations strategies to ensure cohesive HR service delivery.
Serve on university committees and task forces as needed including participating in union negotiations, when required, with expert benefit related summary information including the costing of proposals.
Oversee the creation and delivery of clear, engaging employee communications regarding benefit programs and changes, inclusive of web and wellness strategies.
Oversee benefit orientations, programs, wellness initiatives, and outreach activities to enhance employee understanding and participation.
Requirements
BS/BA in Business, HR Management or Finance and 7 or more years of experience in HR required. Graduate degree preferred.
Professional certification such as a Certified Benefits Professional (CBP), Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), or Total Rewards Professional (TRP) is strongly preferred.
Benefit background with solid understanding of benefit plan design, administration, compliance, reporting, and communication. Ability to review trends and make appropriate recommendations for changes in health & welfare plan design and administration required.
Previous experience managing compensation programs required; higher education environment preferred.
Strong verbal, written, analytical, and organizational skills required.
Expert HRIS knowledge required, Banner experience preferred.
Strong analytical skills and attention to detail with the ability to reason through data and make good judgments in applying information.
Strong communication, negotiation, presentation, and vendor management skills
Familiarity with state and federal government legislation and regulations related to benefits.
