Director Benefits & Compensation

University of New Haven • West Haven, CT

58d

About The Position

The University of New Haven, founded on the Yale campus in 1920, is a private, coeducational university that has been recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report for academic excellence. Located between New York City and Boston in the shoreline city of West Haven, the University is a diverse and vibrant community of nearly 9,000 students from across the globe. Within its five colleges, students immerse themselves in a transformative, career-focused education across the liberal arts and sciences, fine arts, business, engineering, public safety and public service. More than 100 academic programs are offered, all grounded in a long-standing commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary, project-based learning. The Director of Benefits & Compensation provides strategic and operational over site in the design, implementation, and administration of the Universitys comprehensive total rewards programs. This position oversees aspects of compensation and benefits administration, ensuring programs are competitive, compliant, and aligned with institutional goals to attract, reward, and retain exceptional talent. Essential to this role is the development and maintenance of equitable staff compensation structures, managing benefits programs such as health, welfare, and retirement plans, and ensuring the effective use of data to guide decisions. The Director partners closely with leadership, HR colleagues, and external vendors to ensure total rewards strategies are fiscally responsible, market-competitive, and supportive of employee wellness, engagement and organizational priorities and performance. Additionally, this role ensures regulatory compliance, drives continuous process improvement, and provides oversight of systems and analytics related to compensation and benefits. The Director of Compensation & Benefits plays a critical role in fostering a culture of transparency, equity, and recognition across the University.

Requirements

• BS/BA in Business, HR Management or Finance and 7 or more years of experience in HR required.
• Benefit background with solid understanding of benefit plan design, administration, compliance, reporting, and communication. Ability to review trends and make appropriate recommendations for changes in health & welfare plan design and administration required.
• Previous experience managing compensation programs required; higher education environment preferred.
• Strong verbal, written, analytical, and organizational skills required.
• Expert HRIS knowledge required, Banner experience preferred.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail with the ability to reason through data and make good judgments in applying information.
• Strong communication, negotiation, presentation, and vendor management skills
• Familiarity with state and federal government legislation and regulations related to benefits.

Nice To Haves

• Graduate degree preferred.
• Professional certification such as a Certified Benefits Professional (CBP), Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), or Total Rewards Professional (TRP) is strongly preferred.
• Previous experience managing compensation programs required; higher education environment preferred.
• Expert HRIS knowledge required, Banner experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, plan, and manage the competitive benefits strategy, policies, and procedures which support the Universitys goal of attracting, rewarding, and retaining top talent while applying cost controls.
• Assess trends and changes in the benefit realm to ensure the University provides affordable and progressive options for its employees. Recommend plan design changes and present rationale to senior leaders, as appropriate.
• Serve as university liaison with benefit vendors, brokers, and third-party administrators and monitor service level agreements.
• Oversee annual renewal and enrollment. Evaluate alternative plan designs, funding arrangements, and wellness initiatives to improve outcomes and control costs.
• Oversee administration of retirement program ensuring compliance with applicable regulations. Partner with broker, plan fiduciaries, investment advisors, and recordkeepers on plan performance, audits, and participant education.
• Supports RFP processes for benefit providers and evaluate new vendor solutions to enhance program value.
• Provide guidance and support to employees regarding benefit options and claims.
• Develop and implement staff compensation strategies aligned with university goals, including managing salary structures, annual compensation review cycles, and all associated increases (union and non-union).
• Conduct job analyses, market research, and salary benchmarking to ensure competitive pay, when necessary. Monitor compensation trends and recommend adjustments to structures when required.
• Guide hiring managers on compensation decisions, and policy interpretation.
• Ensure internal equity and market competitiveness across academic and administrative units.
• Collaborate with budget and finance offices to align compensation strategies with fiscal planning.
• Ensure compliance and adherence with applicable legal and regulatory provisions, including IRS, DOL, ERISA, FLSA, ACA, HIPAA, and COBRA.
• Coordinate required 5500 and nondiscrimination testing. Comply with and maintain records necessary to support compliance activities for all benefit and retirement/403b activities including internal and external audits as required.
• Prepare and submit required reports and disclosures.
• Conduct audits and evaluations of compensation and benefits programs.
• Manage institutional data systems, Banner, related to HR functions.
• Supervise HR staff responsible for benefit & HRIS administration.
• Collaborate with HR colleagues on Total Rewards, Compensation, and Employee Relations strategies to ensure cohesive HR service delivery.
• Serve on university committees and task forces as needed including participating in union negotiations, when required, with expert benefit related summary information including the costing of proposals.
• Oversee the creation and delivery of clear, engaging employee communications regarding benefit programs and changes, inclusive of web and wellness strategies.
• Oversee benefit orientations, programs, wellness initiatives, and outreach activities to enhance employee understanding and participation.

Benefits

• Health & Welfare Programs: Employees and their eligible family members, including spouses and dependent are eligible for Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Programs.
• Wellness & Fitness: On-campus Recreation and Fitness Center for employees and families; Employee Assistant Program
• Commitment to Educational Excellence: Tuition assistance for employees and eligible dependents; Tuition exchange opportunities
• Employee Discounts on products, services and educational opportunities
• Work/Life Benefits: Generous paid time off programs; progressive paid holiday schedule (including holiday break between Christmas and New Years); 4 weeks of parental paid leave; flexible work schedules including summer hours where applicable

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Industry: Educational Services
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees