Associate Director, Benefits & Total Rewards

If you are a current Barnard College employee, please use the internal career site to apply for this position.Job:Associate Director, Benefits & Total RewardsReporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Associate Director for Benefits and Total Rewards is responsible for the design, administration, and continuous improvement of the College’s comprehensive benefits, wellbeing, compensation, and total rewards programs. This role provides both strategic leadership and hands-on execution, ensuring that programs are competitive, compliant, financially sustainable, and responsive to the diverse needs of faculty and staff. The Associate Director is a highly detail-oriented, service-driven professional who works collaboratively across Human Resources, Finance, Labor Relations, and partner offices including the Office of General Counsel. The role requires a strong work ethic, sound judgment, and a supportive approach, particularly as it relates to compensation, classification, and salary administration within a complex higher education environment.Job Description:Benefits Strategy and Plan Administration Oversee the design, administration, and ongoing evaluation of the College’s employee benefits programs, including retirement, medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, tuition benefits, flexible spending accounts, workers’ compensation, COBRA, unemployment, and related programsPartner with Human Resources leadership and Finance to ensure benefits programs are cost effective, competitive, and aligned with institutional prioritiesManage all aspects of Open Enrollment, ensuring accurate plan setup, employee education, and a smooth transition from one plan year to the nextResearch, analyze, and recommend benefit plan enhancements based on market trends, utilization data, regulatory changes, and employee needsModify and enhance benefit programs using higher education best practices and emerging benefit modelsManage vendor relationships, including brokers, carriers, and consultants, and negotiate plan coverage, services, and costsCompliance and Governance Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including ERISA, HIPAA, FMLA, COBRA, ACA, and related requirementsMonitor legislative and regulatory developments impacting benefits and compensation and advise senior leadership on risks, impacts, and recommended actionsOversee preparation and filing of required reports and documentation with regulatory agencies, including the IRS and Department of LaborPrepare, update, and execute benefit plan documents, summary plan descriptions, and related materials in consultation with legal counselEnsure timely, accurate, and well documented implementation of compliance driven plan changesLeave, Disability, and Accommodation AdministrationManage all employee leaves of absence, including FMLA, Paid Family Leave, workers’ compensation, short term disability, and long term disabilityOversee third party leave admini...