Associate Director, Benefits Administration and Worker's Compensation, and EAP

California State University, Northridge•Northridge, CA

24d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director of Benefits Administration and Workers' Compensation provides leadership and strategic oversight for the University's benefits, leave administration, workers' compensation, disability management, reasonable accommodation, retirement, wellness, and related employee support programs. The incumbent directs program administration, staff supervision, compliance initiatives, benefits technology, and operational processes to ensure efficient and effective service delivery. As a key Human Resources leader, the Associate Director advises campus leadership, administrators, faculty, and staff on complex benefits, leave, accommodation, and risk management matters. The role develops and implements programs, communications, and educational initiatives that promote employee well-being, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and alignment with university goals. The position oversees core and voluntary health care plans, insurance and other voluntary benefits, the CSU Fee Waiver and Reduction Program, benefits technology and security, retirement counseling and education, leaves of absence, employee assistance and wellness programming, workers' compensation, reasonable accommodations and the interactive process, and unemployment insurance claims. The Associate Director supervises Benefits staff and specialist roles, coordinates with campus departments and external partners, ensures compliance with applicable laws and CSU policies, and represents the University at unemployment appeal hearings. As a leader, the incumbent supports student success and the university's mission, vision, values, and priorities. The role promotes an ethical, collegial, collaborative, accountable, and inclusive work environment; develops employees and teams; and advances service-oriented initiatives. Other duties may be assigned. The position is currently hybrid, with three days in the office and two days remote, subject to change based on student or operational needs. Salary is commensurate with knowledge, skills, and experience; the anticipated hiring range is $120,000–$130,000 per year. The University offers excellent fringe benefits.

Requirements

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in a job-related field.
Equivalent to five years of progressively responsible professional or administrative experience.
Comprehensive knowledge of employee benefits administration, retirement programs, workers' compensation, disability management, and applicable federal and California employment laws.
Ability to provide strategic leadership, supervise professional staff, and foster a collaborative, inclusive, and service-oriented work environment.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to interpret complex policies, evaluate program effectiveness, resolve sensitive employee matters, and ensure regulatory compliance.
Ability to administer leave programs, coordinate reasonable accommodations, and facilitate interactive processes in accordance with ADA, FEHA, CSU policies, and collective bargaining agreements.
Proficiency in benefits technology, HR information systems, data auditing, reporting, and process improvement to improve operational efficiency and data integrity.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills to advise university leadership, collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, and deliver employee education and wellness initiatives.
Ability to lead diverse teams and initiatives through ethical, inclusive, collegial, collaborative, service-oriented, communicative, courageous, resilient, and catalytic leadership.
Demonstrated commitment to employee development, recognition, and accountability.

Nice To Haves

Two of the five years of progressively responsible professional or administrative experience in a managerial role is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee benefits administration, leave programs, workers' compensation, disability management, reasonable accommodations, retirement, wellness, and related employee support programs.
Administer and communicate core and voluntary health care plans, including benefit materials, new-hire information, newsletters, website content, program updates, and annual open enrollment and wellness events.
Design and present benefits education during new-hire orientation for staff and faculty.
Direct staff responses to employee questions and transactions involving insurance coverage, enrollment, eligibility, open enrollment, and family-status changes; audit systems and benefits data to reduce discrepancies and support compliance.
Oversee life insurance, long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA and Direct Pay continuation coverage, and other voluntary benefit programs.
Administer and oversee the CSU Fee Waiver and Reduction Program, including eligibility, policy interpretation, enrollment, collective bargaining agreement provisions, compliance, and resolution of complex issues.
Partner with HRIS to implement, maintain, and improve benefits technology, automation, information retrieval, operational tools, and reporting; oversee Human Resources Security Gatekeeper roles and responsibilities.
Counsel and educate faculty and staff on CalPERS service and disability retirement, service credit, and the faculty early retirement program in coordination with Faculty Affairs.
Coordinate retirement and financial planning workshops and provide education on the Part-Time Seasonal Plan, Savings Plus Program, and CSU Supplemental Retirement plans.
Direct staff leaves and faculty medical leaves in coordination with Faculty Affairs, overseeing leave counseling and administration while ensuring compliance with laws, policies, contracts, and deadlines.
Oversee administration of leave programs including NDI, Catastrophic Leave, Parental Leave, leave credits, and Military Leave, and compliance with applicable family and pregnancy leave laws.
Serve as the campus point of contact for the Employee Assistance Program and wellness initiatives; administer, communicate, promote, and assess services and programming.
Coordinate campus-wide wellness activities, educational resources, and awareness campaigns, and work with internal and external partners to expand wellness opportunities and encourage use of support services.
Oversee the Workers' Compensation Specialist and the University's workers' compensation program in coordination with the third-party administrator, defense attorneys, the Chancellor's Office, and Risk Management.
Provide strategic oversight of workers' compensation claims from intake through resolution; advise management on claims, workplace injuries, transitional work assignments, and disability management.
Monitor occupational health services and collaborate with campus stakeholders on return-to-work efforts and workplace accommodations.
Develop and present workshops and training on workers' compensation, injury reporting, disability management, and employee support programs.
Serve as the campus subject matter expert and liaison for the interactive process and reasonable accommodation program; advise faculty, staff, and administrators and ensure compliance with ADA, FEHA, and CSU policies.
Partner with campus stakeholders to evaluate work restrictions and accommodation requests and identify effective accommodations that enable employees with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Collaborate with the Senior Director of HR People and Strategy, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, and General Counsel on complex and sensitive accommodation matters.
Administer and audit unemployment claims, coordinate with the third-party administrator, and represent the University at unemployment appeal hearings.
Promote student success and an ethical, inclusive, collegial, collaborative, accountable, and service-oriented team environment; support employee development, recognition, and operational goals.
Perform other duties as assigned.