Senior Director, Benefits & People Systems

Project Renewal•New York, NY

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director of Benefits & People Systems is a senior leader within the People & Culture function, providing strategic direction and oversight for employee benefits, HR technology, and people data in alignment with the organization’s mission and values. This role ensures that benefits programs and people systems are equitable, compliant, financially responsible, and responsive to the needs of a diverse workforce serving communities across New York City. The Senior Director directly supervises the Senior HRIS Manager and the Benefits Coordinator, providing leadership, coaching, and operational direction. As a highly visible and trusted advisor, this role is critical during open enrollment, wellness initiatives, and periods of regulatory change, while building scalable, sustainable systems that support long-term organizational success.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
10+ years of progressive HR experience, including senior leadership in benefits and/or HR systems
Demonstrated experience managing enterprise HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday, UKG, Day Force, Oracle HCM, Paycom)
Strong knowledge of benefits program design, administration, and compliance
Demonstrated experience interpreting and implementing New York State and New York City labor laws, including drafting compliant, employee-facing policies
Commitment to equity, transparency, and employee wellbeing within a nonprofit or mission-driven context
Willingness to travel to agency worksites as needed

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree (MBA, MHRM, or related field)
Professional certifications such as CEBS, SHRM-SCP, or SPHR
Experience in nonprofit, public-sector, unionized, or highly regulated environments
Experience supporting multi-site or community-based organizations

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for the organization’s benefits programs, ensuring offerings are competitive, equitable, and aligned with nonprofit values, workforce needs, and fiscal stewardship.
Lead the design, implementation, and ongoing administration of health and welfare benefits, retirement plans, leave programs, wellness initiatives, and ancillary offerings.
Oversee the work of the Benefits Coordinator, ensuring high-quality administration, vendor coordination, and employee support.
Direct annual benefits renewals, cost modeling, and vendor strategy, balancing employee experience with responsible use of organizational resources.
Plan, lead, and personally facilitate open enrollment meetings, benefits education sessions, and wellness events across multiple worksites, ensuring accessibility, clarity, and culturally responsive communication.
Serve as a visible, approachable benefits leader and trusted resource for employees and managers.
Act as an escalation point for complex benefits issues and employee inquiries, with sensitivity to the needs of a nonprofit workforce.
Draft, update, and maintain HR and benefits-related policies in response to evolving NYS and NYC labor laws, in partnership with Legal, HR leadership, and external advisors.
Monitor regulatory developments and assess their impact on operations, people systems, and employee-facing practices.
Translate legal and regulatory requirements into clear, practical, and mission-aligned policies and procedures.
Ensure compliance with applicable NYS and NYC requirements, including but not limited to: New York Paid Family Leave (PFL), NYC Paid Safe & Sick Leave (ESSTA), NYS and NYC Salary Transparency and Pay Disclosure laws, NYS and NYC Accommodation, Lactation Accommodation and Nursing Parent protections, and Other mandated leave and worker protection requirements.
Partner with Payroll and People Systems teams to ensure policies are accurately reflected in system configurations and employee communications.
Provide strategic oversight of the organization’s HR technology ecosystem, including HRIS, payroll, benefits administration, timekeeping, and talent systems.
Directly supervise the Senior HRIS Manager, providing strategic guidance, prioritization, and support for system administration and optimization.
Lead HR systems implementations, upgrades, and integrations with a focus on sustainability, data integrity, and user experience.
Establish governance, documentation, and change management practices appropriate for a mission-driven, resource-conscious organization.
Partner with IT to ensure data security, confidentiality, and regulatory compliance.
Expand access to people data, reporting, and self-service tools for employees, managers, and HR staff.
Strengthen people analytics and reporting capabilities to support informed decision-making and continuous improvement.
Analyze benefits utilization, workforce trends, and operational metrics to inform leadership recommendations.
Ensure accurate, compliant reporting to support audits, grants, funder requirements, and internal stakeholders, as applicable.
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, including direct supervision of the Senior HRIS Manager and Benefits Coordinator.
Foster a collaborative, service-oriented team culture focused on excellence, accountability, and employee experience.
Partner closely with HR leadership, Finance, Legal, IT, Payroll, and external partners to advance organizational goals.
Collaborate with program, agency, and site leaders to coordinate open enrollment, benefits education, and wellness initiatives across multiple locations.
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on benefits strategy, HR technology, workforce data, and regulatory compliance.
Manage relationships with benefits brokers, consultants, and HR technology vendors to ensure strong service delivery, accountability, and value.