Associate Director of Total Rewards and Human Resources Operations
Clark University

Job Info

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Category:: Staff and Administrators
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Department:: HR-Human Res.& Affirm.Action 5410
Locations:: Worcester, MA
Posted:: Jul 2, 2024
Closes:: Open Until Filled
Type:: Full-time - Exempt
Position ID:: 178397

About Clark University:

Founded in 1887, Clark was one of the first all-graduate institutions in the United States. Today the University is a highly-ranked, student-centered institution educating approximately 2,350 undergraduate and 1,150 graduate students to be imaginative and contributing citizens of the world and to advance the frontiers of knowledge and understanding through rigorous scholarship and creative effort. This commitment to scholarship and inquiry reflects the University's commitment to "challenge convention and change our world" and to address issues of critical importance to society. It is also reflected by Clark's many national and international distinctions, including recognition for its diversity and inclusion efforts, innovation, community engagement and impact, as a top green campus, and for having a distinguished geography and international development program. Clark has also been included in the groundbreaking Colleges that Change Lives guide since it was first published in 1996.

Clark is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, a dynamic, diverse city "on the rise." The second largest city in New England, Worcester is home to 11 institutions of higher learning and is increasingly recognized for its growing healthcare and biotechnology communities, its thriving cultural scene, and as a vibrant food hub.

Job Description:

Are you passionate about creating exceptional employee experiences and driving HR excellence? Clark University invites you to join our dynamic team as the Associate Director of Total Rewards and HR Operations. This is a hands-on role with the opportunity to shape Clark's total rewards strategy, encompassing compensation, benefits, wellness programs, and beyond . A key priority is operationalizing Clark's compensation and classification structures, managing compliance, and embedding our programs within payroll and HR workflows to support a positive, compliant, and data-driven workplace.

Key Responsibilities

Total Rewards, Compensation, and Benefits

• Oversee all core benefits programs, including health, dental, life, and disability insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off programs, ensuring they are competitive, comprehensive, and fully compliant.
• Drive the university's compensation strategy to ensure fair, competitive, and performance-driven pay practices, including the operationalization of our compensation and classification structures across HR processes.
• Conduct regular benchmarking and salary surveys, providing strategic advice to leadership to ensure compensation remains aligned with market standards.
• Oversee leave programs such as FMLA, short-term and long-term disability, and other absence management programs, ensuring regulatory compliance and accurate data management.
• Lead and administer benefits open enrollment processes and other annual benefits activities, including employee education and engagement to ensure informed participation.
• Lead wellness initiatives, identifying new opportunities to enhance employee health and well-being and ensuring wellness programs are accessible and valued across the university.

Change Management and Compliance

• Lead change management initiatives for the implementation of compensation and benefits frameworks, training stakeholders and refining workflows to enhance efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, such as ACA, FMLA, HIPAA, ERISA, and Section 125, conducting regular audits, managing documentation, and preparing reports as needed.
• Manage reconciliations of benefits and payroll data to ensure accuracy, including oversight of contributions, deductions, and vendor payments.

Data Management, Reporting, and Plan Documentation

• Leverage Banner HR and other systems to maintain data accuracy and streamline benefits, compensation, and leave administration.
• Prepare and analyze compliance reports, benefits utilization data, and program effectiveness metrics to support informed decision-making and strategic planning.
• Ensure documentation for all benefits and compensation plans is accurate, compliant, and readily accessible, supporting both audit readiness and operational transparency.

HR Operations and Employee Relations

• Act as an HR partner to assigned departments, providing support in employee relations, performance management, and conflict resolution.
• Administer HR policies and procedures consistently, offering guidance and support to ensure understanding and compliance across departments.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee records in HRIS, supporting data integrity and facilitating informed HR operations.

Requirements:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree; Master's degree preferred.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in HR, with a strong focus on benefits administration, compensation, wellness programs, and change management.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and operational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects effectively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships at all levels of the organization.

Preferred:

• HR certification, such as PHR/SPHR, SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP.
• Specialized certifications in compensation or benefits, such as Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), Certified Benefits Professional (CBP), or Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS).
• Proficiency with Banner HR and Interview Exchange / Hirezon is a plus.

Additional Information:

As of June 1, 2023 Clark University no longer requires employees or students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, Clark urges all community members to follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination, which recommend that everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines including booster doses. This is important for your own personal health as well as the health of our community.

At Clark University, we are dedicated to building a workplace that celebrates diversity and fosters inclusion. We believe that diversity of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds leads to a more innovative and productive work environment. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is reflected in our hiring practices, employee development programs, and campus culture. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to join our team and contribute their unique ideas to help us achieve our goals.

Clark University offers a generous benefit package for full and, if applicable, part-time employees that include; paid time off, generous retirement plan, group health and dental insurance, life insurance, and tuition, along with use of many campus amenities. For a complete list of benefits for eligible employees visit here.

To review the Clark University Police Department Annual Security and Fire Safety Report visit here.

Application Instructions:

This search for Associate Director of Total Rewards and Human Resources Operations is being exclusively managed by the executive search firm M-Search.

All applicants can apply at the below link:

Apply Link

Fernando Vega (VP Executive Search) is leading this search, along with Tina Engineer-McRae (Founder and President) and Gianna Prosperi (Manager, Executive Search).

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Salary will be commensurate with skills and experience.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer.

A successful background check is required upon acceptance.

URL: www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4079970090

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