Associate Director HRIS, Benefit Operations & Compliance

Pine Street Inn•Boston, MA

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting directly to the Director of Benefits, Wellness & HRIS, the Associate Director, HRIS, Benefits Operations & Compliance is responsible for the strategic oversight and operational management of HR systems, employee data, benefits administration, compliance programs, workforce reporting, and audit readiness. This role serves as the organization's subject matter expert for HR technology, benefits operations, data governance, and regulatory reporting while ensuring the integrity, security, and accuracy of employee information across all HR platforms. The Associate Director partners closely with Human Resources, Finance, Payroll, IT, Legal, and external vendors to maintain efficient processes, strengthen internal controls, support compliance requirements, and deliver reliable workforce data and reporting that informs business decisions. The Associate Director will assist in evaluating and improving the agency’s HR systems, including benefits administration, compliance, reporting, employee file maintenance, and payroll-related processes in partnership with Finance. The Associate Director will support system administration, program implementation, and alignment with organizational goals. The Associate Director will also help ensure that correct, complete, and accurate employee records are maintained according to compliance standards.

Requirements

Excellent analytical interpersonal and written communication skills.
Must be able to adapt to competing or changing priorities.
Maintain commitment and passion to complete job responsibilities.
High degree of discretion and confidentiality with respect to sensitive personnel or employee personal matters.
Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, Information Systems, Finance, or a related field.
7+ years of progressive experience in HRIS administration, benefits operations, HR compliance, payroll systems, or workforce data management.
3+ years of leadership or management experience.
Advanced knowledge of HR systems, data management, and reporting practices.
Experience supporting audits, compliance reporting, and internal controls.
Strong understanding of benefits administration, eligibility management, carrier integrations, and vendor management.
Demonstrated expertise in data validation, reconciliation, and quality assurance methodologies.
Strong analytical, organizational, and critical thinking skills.
Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
Demonstrated experience coordinating work groups, supporting project management efforts, and contributing to successful cross-functional initiatives.
Experience streamlining HR data such that it contributes to data driven decision making and evolves from paper to electronic processing.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in an HR department supporting programs servicing homeless or individuals suffering from complex disabilities and facing significant barriers to housing.
Experience providing day-to-day guidance, coaching, or supervision to administrative or junior-level professional staff.
Experience in change management or supporting an organization in evolution to enhance performance and driving individual and organizational performance improvement.

Responsibilities

Lead the administration, configuration, maintenance, and optimization of the Human Resource Information System (HRIS) and related technologies.
Serve as the primary owner of employee data governance, system functionality, workflows, security roles, and integrations.
Oversee system upgrades, enhancements, testing, implementations, and release management activities.
Ensure the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of workforce data through established controls and validation processes.
Develop and maintain system documentation, business processes, and standard operating procedures.
Partner with IT and vendors to troubleshoot issues, improve functionality, and implement system enhancements.
Manage user security, access controls, and data privacy protocols.
Oversee the operational administration of all employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, retirement plans, and voluntary benefits.
Ensure accurate benefit enrollments, eligibility processing, life event administration, and vendor file transmissions.
Monitor and reconcile benefit educations, carrier invoices, and payroll interfaces.
Manage annual open enrollment planning, testing, implementation, and reporting processes.
Partner with benefits brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators to ensure effective program administration.
Identify and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and employee experience.
Lead HR compliance reporting and ensure adherence to applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
Maintain audit-ready processes, documentation, controls, and supporting records related to employee data, benefits, and HR operations.
Coordinate internal and external audits, including data gathering, reconciliation, testing, and corrective action planning.
Establish controls and monitoring processes to mitigate compliance and operational risks.
Support regulatory reporting requirements and compliance initiatives.
Ensure proper documentation and retention of HR and benefits records in accordance with company policy and legal requirements.
Monitor legislative and regulatory changes impacting HR systems, employee records, and benefits administration.
Develop and maintain recurring workforce, benefits, compliance, and operational reports.
Create dashboards and reporting solutions for Human Resources leadership and executive stakeholders.
Perform regular data audits, validations, and reconciliations across HRIS, payroll, benefits, and other integrated systems.
Analyze workforce trends, data discrepancies, and operational metrics to identify improvement opportunities.
Ensure consistency, accuracy, and governance of organizational reporting processes.
Support strategic planning through workforce reporting, headcount analyses, organizational metrics, and compliance reporting.
Establish and maintain enterprise-wide HR data standards and governance practices.
Develop procedures to ensure ongoing data accuracy, consistency, and completeness.
Conduct periodic audits of employee records, system transactions, benefits data, and organizational structures.
Implement monitoring tools and controls to proactively identify and resolve data integrity issues.
Maintain reporting definitions, business rules, and documentation standards.
Manage relationships with HR technology vendors, benefits providers, consultants, and third-party administrators.
Monitor vendor performance, service-level agreements, and system effectiveness.
Collaborate with Payroll, Finance, IT, Legal, and HR leadership to support enterprise initiatives and operational priorities.
Lead and participate in cross-functional projects involving HR systems, reporting, compliance, benefits, and process improvements.
Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and enhance operational efficiency.