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

California State University, Northridge•Los Angeles, CA

25d•$120,000 - $130,000•Hybrid

About The Position

California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is hiring an Associate Director to provide leadership and strategic oversight for university benefits, leave administration, workers’ compensation, disability management, reasonable accommodation, retirement, wellness, and related employee support programs. The role directs program administration, staff supervision, compliance initiatives, benefits technology, and operational processes. As a Human Resources leader, the Associate Director advises campus leadership, administrators, faculty, and staff on complex benefits, leave, accommodation, and risk-management matters, and develops programs, communications, and educational initiatives that support employee well-being, compliance, operational excellence, and university priorities. The position oversees core and voluntary health-care benefits, including communications, enrollment, eligibility, data auditing, new-hire education, and open enrollment. It also administers life and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA and Direct Pay continuation coverage, the CSU Fee Waiver and Reduction Program, and other voluntary benefits. The role partners with HRIS on benefits technology and has oversight of Human Resources Security Gatekeeper responsibilities. The Associate Director counsels and educates employees about CalPERS retirement, service credit, disability retirement, FERP, and supplemental retirement and savings programs. The role directs staff and faculty leave administration and ensures compliance with applicable laws, policies, bargaining agreements, and deadlines. It serves as the campus point of contact for the Employee Assistance Program and wellness initiatives, and oversees the Workers’ Compensation program, claims, occupational health services, return-to-work efforts, and related training. As the campus subject matter expert for the interactive process and reasonable accommodations, the Associate Director advises employees and administrators, evaluates restrictions and accommodation requests, and collaborates on complex matters with Human Resources leadership and General Counsel. The position also administers and audits unemployment claims, coordinates with a third-party administrator, and represents the University at appeal hearings. The successful candidate will promote an ethical, collaborative, accountable, inclusive, and service-oriented team environment; support employee development and student success; and perform other duties as 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 qualifications and experience; the anticipated hiring range is $120,000–$130,000 per year. The University offers excellent fringe benefits.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a job-related field, or equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university.
Five years of progressively responsible professional or administrative experience, or equivalent.
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.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills to advise university leadership, collaborate with stakeholders, and deliver employee education and wellness initiatives.
Demonstrated 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.
Must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States; CSUN is not currently sponsoring staff or management positions for H-1B employment visas.
Must satisfactorily complete a background check, including a criminal records check.
Must comply with applicable limited-reporter requirements under CSU Executive Order 1083 and file Conflict of Interest forms as required for the designated position.
Must disclose specified final sexual-harassment administrative or judicial decisions if reaching the minimum-qualification determination stage and, at final stages, sign a release authorizing employer disclosures concerning substantiated allegations of misconduct.
CSU-related work must be performed within California; the CSU does not hire employees to perform such work outside the state.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and oversight for benefits, leave administration, workers’ compensation, disability management, reasonable accommodation, retirement, wellness, and related employee support programs.
Direct program administration, staff supervision, compliance initiatives, benefits technology, and operational processes.
Advise campus leadership, administrators, faculty, and staff on complex benefits, leave, accommodation, and risk-management matters.
Administer and communicate core and voluntary health-care plans, including enrollment, eligibility, employee inquiries, new-hire education, open enrollment, and benefits communications.
Coordinate benefits staff and audit and monitor systems to reduce discrepancies, support compliance, and maintain benefits data across platforms.
Oversee life insurance, long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA and Direct Pay continuation coverage, and other voluntary benefit offerings.
Administer the CSU Fee Waiver and Reduction Program, guide eligibility and policy interpretation, resolve complex issues, and ensure compliance.
Partner with HRIS on benefits technology implementation, maintenance, automation, information retrieval, operational support, and reporting; oversee HR Security Gatekeeper responsibilities.
Counsel and educate faculty and staff on CalPERS retirement, service and disability retirement, service credit, FERP, and other retirement and savings plans; coordinate retirement and financial-planning workshops.
Direct staff leave and faculty medical-leave administration, oversee the Leave of Absence Specialist, and ensure compliance with laws, policies, contractual requirements, and deadlines.
Serve as campus point of contact for the Employee Assistance Program and wellness initiatives; administer, communicate, promote, and assess services and programming.
Oversee the Workers’ Compensation Specialist and University workers’ compensation program in coordination with the third-party administrator, defense attorneys, Chancellor’s Office, and Risk Management.
Provide oversight of workers’ compensation claims from intake through resolution, advise management on claims and workplace injuries, monitor occupational health services, and support return-to-work and accommodation efforts.
Develop and present workshops and training on workers’ compensation, injury reporting, disability management, and employee support programs.
Serve as campus subject matter expert and liaison for the interactive process and reasonable accommodation program; ensure compliance with ADA, FEHA, and CSU policies.
Evaluate work restrictions and accommodation requests, identify effective accommodations, and collaborate with campus stakeholders and HR leadership on complex matters.
Administer and audit unemployment claims, coordinate with the third-party administrator, oversee claims through resolution, and represent the University at appeal hearings.
Promote an ethical, collegial, collaborative, accountable, inclusive, and service-oriented work environment; support employee development and student success.
Perform other duties as assigned.