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. The position ensures employees receive accurate pay information, timely benefits and leave support, and consistent service aligned with district policies and applicable requirements. Under the Director – Compensation, Benefits & Leaves, the Assistant Director translates departmental priorities into operating procedures, service standards, and measurable team goals; supervises and develops assigned staff; resolves complex employee matters; strengthens internal controls; and uses data to recommend improvements. The role 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. The position oversees compensation transactions and reviews, job evaluation and classification, salary schedules and proposals, benefits eligibility and enrollment, vendor coordination, leave administration, workers’ compensation claims, and ADA accommodations. It establishes data-quality controls, analyzes program costs and service trends, prepares reports and audit materials, supports compliance, and provides training and guidance to staff and district leaders. The role requires a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of progressively responsible, relevant experience. The position is exempt, works 226 days per year, and may involve occasional prolonged or irregular hours, including evening or weekend work, as well as travel within the district and occasional statewide travel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
At least three years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, including substantial experience in compensation, benefits, leave administration, finance, or a closely related area.
Advanced knowledge of compensation administration, salary structures, job evaluation, position classification, market analysis, internal equity, and Fair Labor Standards Act requirements.
Advanced knowledge of employee benefits administration, including eligibility, enrollment, retirement programs, payroll deductions, reconciliation, and vendor coordination.
Thorough knowledge of leave administration, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, workers’ compensation, military leave, and applicable Texas requirements.
Knowledge of COBRA, HIPAA, the Affordable Care Act, and other requirements applicable to district benefit programs.
Knowledge of Teacher Retirement System of Texas requirements and TRS-ActiveCare.
Ability to interpret and apply laws, district policies, benefit plan documents, contracts, and complex employee records.
Ability to review salary calculations, reconcile employee and vendor data, identify discrepancies, and establish effective internal controls.
Ability to analyze program costs, service trends, and workforce data and prepare clear reports and recommendations.
Ability to supervise, coach, evaluate, and develop staff and establish accountability for service quality.
Strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to coordinate annual cycles and competing deadlines.
Ability to explain compensation, benefits, and leave processes clearly to employees, administrators, district leadership, and the Board of Trustees.
Ability to resolve sensitive employee concerns, exercise sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality.
Proficiency with human resource information systems, payroll and benefits platforms, spreadsheets, databases, and reporting and presentation tools.
Ability to build effective working relationships across departments and with vendors and external partners.
Ability to analyze complex data and employee records; interpret policies, regulations, and plan requirements; manage competing priorities and frequent interruptions; communicate effectively orally and in writing; and maintain emotional control under stress.

Nice To Haves

At least three years of successful leadership, supervisory, or program management experience.
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, set priorities, assign work, monitor service quality, and ensure deadlines are met.
Supervise, coach, develop, and evaluate the Lead Specialist and assigned Compensation and Benefits & Leaves Specialists.
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, consulting with the Director, Employee Relations, and legal counsel when needed.
Develop and maintain procedures, desk guides, templates, annual calendars, and cross-training plans.
Oversee salary placement, experience credit, salary adjustments, stipends, and other compensation transactions; verify calculations and supporting documentation.
Coordinate job evaluation, position classification, market comparisons, and internal equity reviews; prepare recommendations for the Director.
Support development and implementation of salary schedules, pay ranges, and compensation proposals in collaboration with Finance and Payroll.
Maintain the district compensation manual and coordinate annual review of job descriptions.
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.
Oversee benefits eligibility, enrollment, qualifying life events, coverage changes, and terminations.
Coordinate annual open enrollment and benefit plan implementation, including communications, system readiness, staff training, and vendor coordination.
Monitor carrier files, payroll deductions, invoices, and reconciliations; coordinate resolution of coverage and payment discrepancies.
Monitor required benefit notices, records, and reporting within the department’s scope and maintain completion documentation.
Manage operational relationships with benefit vendors and third-party administrators; track service concerns, data exchanges, deliverables, and resolutions.
Coordinate employee education and wellness initiatives related to benefits.
Oversee administration of employee leave, including family and medical, temporary disability, military, assault, and other policy-based leave.
Monitor leave case timelines, eligibility reviews, notices, documentation, and employee communications; ensure decisions are consistent and documented.
Coordinate workers’ compensation claims and related employee support with supervisors, Payroll, Employee Relations, and the claims administrator.
Coordinate the ADA interactive process; 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 relevant staff.
Review complex leave and accommodation matters with the Director and legal counsel as needed, 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 for errors.
Collaborate with Technology and system support staff to improve workflows, reporting, access controls, and data accuracy.
Analyze program costs, leave and claims trends, processing times, recurring errors, and employee service concerns; recommend improvements.
Prepare executive summaries, presentations, Board materials, audit responses, and other reports.
Coordinate preparation for internal and external audits and regulatory reviews; maintain records and track corrective actions.
Support public information requests, unemployment proceedings, and other formal matters within the department’s scope in coordination with 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 submissions and timely referrals.
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 across district departments and with external partners to resolve employee concerns.
Promote respectful service, accountability, and continuous improvement; respond clearly to employee questions and follow through on commitments.
Gather employee and administrator feedback to identify service gaps and strengthen trust in program processes.
Protect confidential and secure 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.