Director of Total Rewards

Reporting to the Vice President of Human Resources, the position is a senior leadership role within the Office of Human Resources leading a newly created Total Rewards center of excellence.  The incumbent will be responsible for developing and leading the University’s comprehensive strategy for Total Rewards using compelling and equitable compensation and benefits programs aimed at attracting and retaining highly qualified and diverse individuals.

This individual will provide specialized, qualitative, and analytical consultative support in the planning, defining, integrating, and validating the benefit and compensation plans, programs, and projects, including strategy, philosophy, and policy development consistent with federal and state laws and regulations. The incumbent will also drive partnerships, collaboration and customer service into the integrated services provided to the University’s leaders, managers, faculty and staff. 

Essential Duties:

Benefits Administration

• Responsible for the design, development, review, and modification of specific programs, plan provisions, tools, projects, and procedures; Manage the administration of employee benefits programs that include and are not limited to: retirement, medical, dental, life insurance, disability programs, spending accounts, voluntary benefits, vacation, sick and personal time, tuition benefits, all leaves, workers compensation and unemployment programs.
• Responsible for managing benefits project initiatives; coordinating annual benefit planning, plan summary documents, enrollment, and communications activities; service provider management; and responding to and completing multiple, varied, and technically diverse assignments.
• Resolve issues requiring deep functional expertise of Unemployment Insurance, Worker's Compensation, COBRA, FMLA, PFML and American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Recommend and implement methods to update, simplify, and enhance processes, procedures, and technologies using Workday.
• Develop cost analysis of implementing specific retirement and benefits plans in comparison to the competitive landscape and maintains census data for insurance coverage for all covered employees by type of coverage, dependents covered, etc.
• Oversee open enrollment program (i.e., rate renewals, plan changes, and communication) and transition to new plan year to ensure effective implementation of annual benefits cycle; compiles benefit selection and associated cost information; interfaces with vendors to obtain and exchange information and provide clarification of system benefit administration issues, and ensures readiness of payroll systems, and interfaces to auxiliary systems to ensure the timely and accurate exchange of eligibility and enrollment data.
• Lead the wellness program and activities and serves as a resource for wellness promotion activities.

Compensation Administration

• Develop and implement a consistent compensation framework including administration of salary ranges, management of merit and promotion process, as well as the development of a defined competency model.
• Manage the job evaluation, merit and performance management programs and processes.
• Implement and manage benchmarking processes to include conducting compensation benchmarking, identifying surveys to support competitive analysis of compensation programs, and providing consultative support.
• Design and implement different structures that support a best-in-class compensation strategy including grading system, job evaluation system, job descriptions, career ladders, succession plans, aligned with University culture, values, and performance philosophy.
• Conduct comprehensive analysis and market studies to evaluate the competitiveness of University compensation programs. Work will include, developing benchmarking methodology, participating in industry compensation surveys, evaluating results, recommending program changes, modeling cost impact, and presenting final recommendations to leadership.

Data Analysis & Systems Management

• Compile and analyzes benefit and compensation data for operational reporting, forecasting, and planning. Conduct analyses and modeling, access utilization trends, identify risks, develop projections, determine opportunities, and prepare summaries of findings.
• Develop reporting and dashboard analytics to support Total Rewards decisions and operational needs.
• Analyze detailed benefit-cost data to understand cost and utilization trends and provide timely insight into cost drivers as well as opportunities.
• Participate in projects related to system upgrades, enhancements, evaluations, and data integration.
• Document and maintain setup details for benefits system configurations.
• Participate in audit processes to ensure data accuracy and plan administration compliance. Identify information and system audit opportunities. Identify trends and escalate potential issues.

Leadership and Communication

• Manage, mentor and develop a staff of compensation and benefit professionals.  Promote a culture of engagement, customer service and collaboration.
• Manage the effective communication of compensation, benefits, and wellness programs to achieve employee awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the programs offered.
• Use targeted education and marketing plans to communicate and educate employees and increase participation in the plans, particularly the 403(b) retirement plan.
• Research and identify best practices and assist in designing, developing, reviewing, modifying, and costing specific benefits and compensation programs, projects, tools, plan provisions, and procedures.
• Develop, explain, and disseminate related communication and educational materials. Engage colleagues in group presentations/seminars on programs, policies, changes, or issues. Participate in measuring program effectiveness and service delivery efficiency.
• Review, update, and communicate existing benefits and compensation policies to determine continued fit with the organization and provide recommendations for updates to most effectively administer them.
• Serve as primary point-of-contact with benefits vendors and administration outsourcers regarding individual employee claims/cases; generate and coordinate the processing of human resources transactions and requests related to benefits administration; provide feedback and recommendations regarding the impact of benefit changes.
• Develop and follow established policies and practices to resolve questions and issues on employee claims. Responsible for annual notifications to benefit participants; quarterly notice to benefit eligible employees regarding Health Savings Account allocation election; end of year reimbursement notice; annual wellness reimbursement notice.
• Conduct pay equity audits and audit all benefits and employee communications for unintended bias.
• Unwavering commitment to customer service and building and maintaining partnerships and collaborations with internal and external colleagues and constituencies, including faculty, staff, students, and senior leadership.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required in Human Resources Management, Business Management, Organizational Development, or a related field, required. Master's degree preferred.
• 8+ years of related progressively responsible experience in managing a Total Rewards program, including management and leadership of benefits and compensation programs services, required.
• 5+ years of managing, developing and mentoring staff required.
• Committed to a culture of diversity, equity, respect and inclusion; demonstrated ability to build working relationships with people having a wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences different from ones' own.
• Exceptional customer service and collaboration skills required.
• Experience in a higher education or non-profit organization required.
• Experience using Workday preferred.
• CEBS, CCP designations preferred.

Closing Statement

Brandeis University is committed to providing its students, faculty and staff with an environment conducive to learning and working and where all people are treated with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, caste, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, including transgender identity, religion, disability, age, genetics, active military or veteran status and any other characteristics protected under applicable federal or Massachusetts law.