Director of Benefits, Wellbeing and Leave Administration

University of Redlands•Redlands, CA

17d

About The Position

The Director of Benefits, Wellbeing & Leave Administration is a key leadership role within the Human Resources (HR) team, responsible for driving strategic and operational aspects of employee benefits, wellbeing programs and leave administration that align with the University’s mission, strategic plan, and HR goals. Reporting to the AVP of Talent, Diversity and Culture & Chief Human Resources Officer, this position provides strategic consultation, guidance and innovation of the university’s comprehensive benefits programs serving faculty, administrators and staff in our academic communities. The Director brings a collaborative perspective, a commitment to excellence in employee experience and a forward-thinking approach to technology integration that supports the needs of all university employees. Responsible for effective benefit implementation and maintenance programs, management of all leaves of absence, workers’ compensation, and employee accommodations. This role leads a dynamic Benefits, Wellbeing and Leaves concierge approach team ensuring streamlined and employee-centered and timely assistance in managing health, retirement, and other benefit plan questions, as well as ensuring compliance with relevant regulations. The Director plays a key role in delivering effective communication strategies along with administration and compliance for health and wellness, benefits and leave of absence options, and information to employees to support their well-being by providing resources and training. The consultative strategic approach continues through all stages of the employee lifecycle and manages open enrollment, life events, deferred compensation program, tuition remission and exchange program as well as overseeing leave of absence and benefits reconciliation. The Director partners with senior leaders across campus to deliver inclusive and effective benefits, wellbeing and leave strategies and solutions, with a strong focus on providing information, benefits and resources. Acting as a strategic thought partner and trusted advisor, the Director cultivates strong relationships with stakeholders to forecast benefit and wellbeing needs, identify process improvements, and implement strategies to support a healthy environment and employee experience that is committed to fostering a workplace culture that prioritizes employee wellbeing, engagement, and support. This role provides a unique opportunity to enhance the university’s benefits and wellness strategies while shaping innovative programs that have a lasting impact on the faculty, administrators and staff community. The Director of Benefits, Wellbeing and Leave Administration is instrumental in supporting a workforce that reflects the university’s values of equity, inclusion, and excellence.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in human resources management, organizational management, public administration, business administration or related fields is required.
Four plus years in progressive human resources experience with an emphasis in benefits administration with expertise in employee benefits, wellbeing, and leave management.
Advanced knowledge of employment law and HR policies and practices.
Advanced proficiency in MS Office products including Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
A valid California Class C CA drivers’ license with a good driving record is required.
Note: Out-of- state licenses are valid until appointment. A valid California Class “C” driver’s license must be obtained within ten (10) days of appointment (in accordance with CA Vehicle Code 12505c).
Solid financial/business acumen with advanced knowledge of benefits, wellbeing and leave administration, and HR policies and practices.
Excellent communication skills and ability to interpret benefits plan options and policy features to a broad audience with variable familiarity of Benefits.
The ability to operationalize business strategies through effective management of people, programs, and activities.
The ability to build and cultivate relationships and work collaboratively in a multi discipline and multi stakeholder environment.
Strong communication and problem-solving skills with a focus on productive outcomes, client service excellence in an inclusive environment.
In-depth abilities in collaboration, facilitation, and strategic thinking.
Excellent written and advanced verbal communication skills (including exceptional listening, mentoring, presentation, and collaboration abilities).
Possesses strong analytical skills to conduct analysis and develop recommendations, demonstrating organization and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrates skill in prioritizing competing work assignments, employing political acumen and integrating information to determine appropriate course of action and their implications.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and to recognize sensitive information and handle the information with confidentiality and tact.
Demonstrated ability to handle very difficult or volatile situations/individuals effectively.
Aptitude to learn innovative technology, methods, and procedures.
Demonstrated ability to lead HR operational functions, drive efficiency, and implement process improvements.
Proficiency in analyzing HR data to identify trends and recommend improvements.
Shared commitment to creating and fostering an inclusive culture and community. collaborative nature and thrive on building relationships to accomplish goals and objectives.
Ability to recommend appropriate courses of action within established guidelines; evaluate and recommend changes to policies, programs, and practices.
Ability to foster strong, positive relationships and align both internal and external resources to achieve university objectives.
Must be able to competently interact with a culturally and ethnically diverse population of students, faculty, and staff.

Nice To Haves

Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) Certified Professional (CP), Professional (PHR) or Senior Professional (SPHR) in Human Resources.
Bilingual in Spanish, oral and written.
Human Resources experience in an educational setting is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

In partnership with the AVP Talent, Diversity and Culture & Chief Human Resources Officer, develop and implement a forward-looking benefits strategy that supports the academic mission, institutional goals, and the needs of the university population.
Oversee the university’s employee benefit programs and wellbeing strategy, ensuring comprehensive communication, administration, and compliance for health and wellness, retirement, and time-off policies.
Effectively delivers critical information tailored to different audiences and perspectives. Maintains open lines of communication, actively listening to questions, issues and concerns from the Human Resources Leadership Team and other stakeholders. Builds consensus by resolving conflicts in an open and positive manner.
Oversee all aspects of faculty and staff benefits programs, including healthcare, retirement, wellness, tuition, leave policies, and international assignments.
Lead the full-cycle, company-wide open enrollment process, including planning, employee education, vendor coordination, and execution.
Ensure delivery of optimal employee experience for benefits related processes and events (e.g. Open enrollment, life events, onboarding etc.) to ensure employee understanding of benefits plan offerings, policies, and key dates.
Partner with Human Resources Leadership Team in promoting wellness initiatives and innovative programs that anticipate employee needs and optimizing the employee experience.
Partner with the Payroll team to ensure operational excellence.
Ensure compliance with benefits-related regulations and university policies, stay informed on industry trends and legislative changes.
Manage benefits administration using the university’s Human Capital Management System (UKG Pro)to ensure accurate record-keeping and seamless employee support.
Maintain expert knowledge of group medical/dental plan policies and practices to optimize benefits offerings for employees.
Design and execute employee wellbeing initiatives that support physical, mental, and financial wellness. Implement and oversee programs such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), wellness challenges, financial planning resources, and health screenings.
Oversee the administration of 403(b) remittances, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and seamless coordination with Ensure compliance with ERISA, IRS regulations, and internal policies for 403(b) contributions. Support internal audits, by maintaining compliance documentation, and prepare reports for key stakeholders. Maintain detailed records of remittances, enrollments, and contribution adjustments. In partnership with Payroll ensure accurate deduction and timely transmission of employee contributions to the retirement plan provider.
Lead initiatives to educate employees on 403(b) options, contribution strategies, and retirement planning. Partner with Payroll to ensure seamless processing of contributions and compliance with financial regulations.
Build and maintain strong relationships with Offices of Business and Finance and other key stakeholders to understand their needs and ensure their expectations are met. Manages annual Form 5500 filings, audits and retirement plans.
Drive employee engagement in wellbeing initiatives through effective communication and training. Working with stakeholders across campus, identify wellness partnerships and leadership opportunities to enhance employee engagement and wellbeing.
Oversee the university's leave management programs to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws. Stay current on industry trends and best practices in leave management, applying insights to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Conduct regular audits of leave processes and vendor practices to minimize risk and ensure full compliance with federal and state-specific laws and regulations including but not limited to with FMLA, CFRA, ADA, ACA, PFL, SDI and Workers’ Compensation. Provide proactive guidance to internal stakeholders on risk mitigation strategies and leave-related compliance issues. Serve as the primary liaison between the university and the external leave vendor, ensuring employees receive comprehensive support throughout the leave process. Continuously refine leave policies to align with best practices, compliance requirements, and organizational goals. Facilitate effective communication between employees, people leaders, and internal stakeholders to ensure a positive employee experience throughout the leave process.
Provide data analytics and ad hoc reports detailing people measures and metrics, including employee benefits, leaves of absence, workplace injury, and related trends. Identifies risks and issues with benefits and compliance, escalating and triaging appropriately. Maintain compliance with federal and state laws and regulations that impact the employer- employee relationship in relation to employee benefits and leave administration. Manage benefits, vendor relationships and contracts to ensure service excellence and value.
Provide leadership and mentorship to team members to promote professional development and deepen their understanding of benefits and leave management best practice. Regularly report on leave trends, program performance, and process improvement opportunities to senior leadership. Drive results increase employee health and productivity, including metrics related to return- to-work rates, reduced durations and incidences, and improved satisfaction with internal plans and processes. Supervise and mentor benefits team members, fostering a high-performance, service-oriented culture. Provides leadership, supervision, and counsel to the Office of Human Resources staff to ensure efficient and effective operations and the use of best practices in their respective functions. Responsible for effectively allocating and monitoring HR resources within scope of department budget.
Lead complex, cross-functional projects by understanding stakeholder requirements and building consensus with creative and collaborative solutions. Provide day-to-day leadership and support, fostering a collaborative and results-driven team environment. Innovate, streamline, and standardize processes to improve the quality and consistency of benefits and leave administration service delivery. Act as the primary point of contact for escalations and complex coordination issues, resolving them promptly and effectively. Partner closely with HR core function areas including employee relations, recruitment, compensation, employee engagement, learning, and development to ensure seamless execution of HR initiatives and programs. Works with HR Leadership Team on process improvement teams to implement best HR practices and deliver continuous improvements in service. Collaborates with HR Leadership Team in formulating HR policies, ensuring compliance, and safeguarding sensitive personnel information. Partner with HR Leadership Team to develop strategies based on insights that improve employee and organizational outcomes. Utilizes HR data and analytics to identify trends, assess situations, and recommend actionable solutions. Foster an engaging and encouraging environment and work in collaboration across departments, divisions, and schools to provide consistency in HR practices, policies, and procedures. Ability to function well in a fast-paced environment, meet deadlines, and simultaneously manage multiple projects and priorities. Promotes accountability at all levels for cultivating a culture that encourages collaboration, innovation, and trust. Fosters diversity, equity, inclusion, cultural competency, and a positive work and academic environment. Collaborate with and serve on committees at the local and system-wide level. Ensure compliance with University HR policies, procedures, and requirements and applicable legal regulations. Maintain current knowledge of progressive federal and state employment laws, regulations along with best practices and key trends. Supervise students and/or HR support employees as needed. Other duties as assigned.