Assistant Director - Compensation, Benefits, & Leaves

Spring Independent School District•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Assistant Director – Compensation, Benefits & Leaves leads the daily operations of the district’s compensation, employee benefits, leave, workers’ compensation, and accommodation programs. This position ensures employees receive accurate pay information, timely benefits and leave support, and consistent service aligned with district policies and applicable requirements. Under the leadership of the Director – Compensation, Benefits & Leaves, the Assistant Director translates departmental priorities into operating procedures, service standards, and measurable team goals. This position supervises and develops assigned staff, resolves complex employee matters, strengthens internal controls, and uses data to recommend improvements in program administration and employee service. The Assistant Director collaborates with Payroll, Finance, Technology, Employee Relations, campus and department leaders, legal counsel, and external partners and serves as the Director’s designee when assigned. All employees are expected to act with integrity, support organizational goals, communicate clearly and respectfully, champion the needs of students, and drive continuous improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, including substantial experience in compensation, benefits, leave administration, finance, or a closely related area
Minimum of three years of successful leadership, supervisory, or program management experience

Nice To Haves

Experience administering both compensation and benefits or leave programs
Experience in a public school district or other public sector organization
Experience working with human resource information systems and payroll systems
Professional certification in human resources, compensation, or benefits

Responsibilities

Lead daily departmental operations; establish work priorities, assign responsibilities, monitor service quality, and ensure deadlines are met.
Supervise, coach, develop, and evaluate the Lead Specialist and assigned Compensation and Benefits & Leaves Specialists; provide clear expectations, technical guidance, and timely feedback.
Translate the Director’s priorities into procedures, project plans, service standards, and measurable team goals; monitor progress and recommend adjustments.
Serve as the primary operational resource for complex or escalated employee matters; consult with the Director, Employee Relations, and legal counsel when needed.
Develop and maintain operating procedures, desk guides, templates, annual calendars, and cross-training plans that support consistent service and continuity of operations.
Oversee salary placement, experience credit, salary adjustments, stipends, and other compensation transactions; verify calculations and supporting documentation before processing.
Coordinate job evaluation, position classification, market comparisons, and internal equity reviews; prepare recommendations for the Director’s consideration.
Support development and implementation of salary schedules, pay ranges, and compensation proposals; collaborate with Finance and Payroll to assess costs and administer approved changes.
Maintain the district compensation manual and coordinate annual review of job descriptions for alignment with assigned responsibilities and classification requirements.
Oversee position coding, contract processing, and personnel actions within the department’s scope; reconcile information with staffing records and payroll systems.
Review nonroutine compensation requests and discrepancies; document recommendations and obtain required approvals before implementation.
Oversee benefits eligibility, enrollment, qualifying life events, coverage changes, and terminations; ensure elections and supporting records are processed accurately and on time.
Coordinate annual open enrollment and benefit plan implementation, including employee communications, system readiness, staff training, and vendor coordination.
Monitor carrier files, payroll deductions, invoices, and reconciliations; coordinate correction of coverage and payment discrepancies with Payroll, Finance, and benefit providers.
Monitor required benefit notices, records, and reporting within the department’s scope; maintain documentation of completion.
Manage operational relationships with benefit vendors and third-party administrators; track service concerns, data exchanges, deliverables, and resolution commitments.
Coordinate employee education and wellness initiatives that help staff understand available benefits and access support.
Oversee administration of employee leave, including family and medical leave, temporary disability leave, military leave, assault leave, and other leave available under district policy.
Monitor case timelines, eligibility reviews, notices, supporting documentation, and employee communications; ensure decisions are consistent and properly documented.
Coordinate workers’ compensation claims and related employee support with supervisors, Payroll, Employee Relations, and the district’s claims administrator.
Coordinate the ADA interactive process with employees, supervisors, and appropriate district partners; document accommodation requests, options considered, decisions, and follow-up.
Oversee return-to-work coordination and fitness-for-duty processes when applicable; communicate work restrictions and approved arrangements to staff who need the information.
Review complex leave and accommodation matters with the Director and legal counsel as needed; clarify responsibilities and coordinate next steps across departments.
Establish quality checks for salary calculations, experience credit, benefit elections, carrier and payroll files, leave records, and required reporting; direct corrective action when errors are identified.
Collaborate with Technology and system support staff to improve workflows, reporting, access controls, and data accuracy in compensation, benefits, and leave systems.
Analyze program costs, leave and claims trends, processing times, recurring errors, and employee service concerns; recommend improvements to the Director.
Prepare executive summaries, presentations, Board materials, audit responses, and other reports that explain findings and support district decisions.
Coordinate departmental preparation for internal and external audits and regulatory reviews; maintain supporting records and track completion of corrective actions.
Support public information requests, unemployment proceedings, and other formal matters within the department’s scope in coordination with the responsible district offices.
Provide staff training on compensation, benefits, leave, documentation, confidentiality, and service expectations; assess understanding and address gaps.
Develop guidance and training materials for campus and department leaders to improve the accuracy of submissions and timely referral of employee concerns.
Stay current on changes affecting assigned programs; advise the Director of operational implications and update procedures and staff guidance after appropriate review.
Build collaborative relationships with Payroll, Finance, staffing teams, Employee Relations, campus and department leaders, and external partners to resolve employee concerns.
Promote a culture of respectful service, accountability, and continuous improvement; address employee questions clearly and follow through on commitments.
Gather employee and administrator feedback to identify service gaps and strengthen trust in compensation, benefits, and leave processes.
Protect the confidentiality and security of medical, benefits, salary, and personnel information; maintain appropriate access and follow records retention requirements.
Ensure assigned operations follow applicable federal and state requirements, district policies, and approved procedures.
Serve as the Director’s designee within assigned authority and perform other duties as assigned.