Director, Benefits & Compensation

• Location: Plano, Texas
• Type: Dallas:Fin/Acct/HR:Direct Hire
• Job #9775

Director, Benefits & Compensation 9775

The Director of Benefits & Compensation provides leadership and operational and strategic oversight for the design of benefits and compensation.  The areas of responsibility are:

Benefits Strategy and Planning:

• Develop, implement, and administer the Company’s benefits strategy, aligning it with the overall business objectives.
• Conduct regular reviews of benefits programs to ensure they are competitive, cost-effective, and meet employee needs.
• Analyze market trends and benchmarks to make informed recommendations for benefits enhancements that are ROI positive.
• Manage HR due diligence process for a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions, including a thorough review of benefits and compensation to identify potential liabilities, synergies, and integration challenges.

Benefits Program Management & Administration:

• Oversee the administration of all employee benefit programs, including health, dental, vision, 401k, historical pension plans, and other benefits.
• Plan, organize and serve as the point of contact with vendor partners for the 401k Plan Investment Committee.
• Evaluate and optimize benefit offerings to ensure they meet employee needs and align with company goals.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations related to employee benefits.
• Manage the benefits enrollment process, including open enrollment periods, and address any issues that arise.
• Ensure vendors successfully implement annual plan design changes
• Partner internally with payroll, HR Administration and Benefit vendors for integration files and uploads to Paycom.

Benefits Vendor Management:

• Where needed, identify, select, negotiate contracts with benefits vendors and third-party administrators.
• Serve as the primary liaison and management of the strategic relationships with benefits plan vendors and administrators.
• Monitor vendor performance and resolve any issues related to service delivery. Provide oversight of new vendor and program implementations.
• Partner with service providers to ensure SLAs are met, a high level of performance is achieved, and monitor compliance with statements of work.

Benefits Budget and Cost Management:

• Develop and manage the benefits budget, ensuring cost control and efficient use of resources.
• Analyze benefits costs and make recommendations for cost-saving measures while maintaining competitive benefits offerings and long-term value of benefit programs.

Benefits Communication and Education:

• Develop and implement communication strategies to educate employees about benefits options and any changes to the programs. Oversee and/or develop employee communications related to benefit programs and overall value of benefit offerings.
• Serve as the primary spokesperson for Annual Open Enrollment in educating employees and managers about benefits options and changes. 
• Provide support and guidance to employees regarding benefits questions and issues often requiring a high touch and servant leadership approach to make the experience as easy as possible for employees.
• Communicate changes to employees regarding their compensation and benefits during M&A integrations.

Benefits Compliance and Reporting:

• Ensure all benefits programs comply with applicable laws and regulations (e.g., ERISA, COBRA, ACA).
• Prepare and maintain documentation and reports related to benefits administration and compliance.
• Stay updated on changes in employment laws and regulations related to compensation and benefits.
• Coordinate and respond to internal and external audit requests throughout the year.

Leave of Absence Management:

• Develop and manage all leave of absence policies and programs remaining fully compliant with all applicable federal, state, and local laws (FMLA, USERRA, ADA, etc.)

Compensation Administration:

• Serve as HR expert on wage and hour requirements to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour laws and practices.
• Oversee the management of wage and salary changes resulting from merit increases, promotions, or other job changes, ensuring alignment with guidelines.
• Work with leadership as needed for compensation and market reviews and provide salary ranges for hiring, recruiting, and promotions.
• Design and manage compensation structures and programs, career pathing, and position leveling guidelines that support company objectives, while maintaining internal equity and external market competitiveness, in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Manage the analysis and reporting of employee compensation data frequently for decision-making.
• Lead participation in and strategic use of internal and external salary surveys, ensuring that compensation program analysis, job evaluations, and job descriptions reflect current market trends and organizational needs.
• Oversee the maintenance and continuous improvement of job descriptions and grading structures across the organization, ensuring consistency and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Lead and provide management and field guidance to the annual merit process, ensuring it is executed efficiently and in alignment with overall compensation strategy.
• Serve as the primary owner of bonus plans and administration, ensuring these programs are effectively aligned with company performance metrics and strategic goals.

Benefits for Unionized Locations:

• For the five unionized locations, serve as the benefits expert in union negotiations in partnership with field leadership, legal, and union representatives on collective bargaining issues related to benefits.
• Be present during union negotiations for benefits discussions and proposals.
• Ensure benefits are in compliance with the requirements of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
• Work with unions as needed for health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other employee benefits.
• Process all replacement plan funding for pension plan exits and related programs.

Team Leadership:

• Lead the small yet mighty team of 2.5 employees with a half-time resource being shared with Payroll. 
• With a strong team in place, the director will lead and mentor to provide guidance and support to ensure high performance and professional development to grow skills and meet career aspirations.

Collaboration:

• Collaborate with other HR team members and frequently across departments to support organizational goals and initiatives.
• Strong teamwork is absolutely essential in this role where Payroll, HR Administration, Employee Relations and the Benefits & Compensation Team work together on a daily basis. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Human Resources, Finance or another related field is highly preferred.  Although not required, strongest consideration will be given to candidates with a bachelor’s degree.
• Required 10-year minimum in corporate benefits; minimum 5 years’ experience at a Manager Level.
• Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) and Certified Benefits Professional (CBP)  preferred
• Experienced in managing components related to mergers and acquisitions, including due diligence.
• Union experience strongly preferred
• Multi-unit, multi-location, and multi-state experience highly preferred
• Supporting a highly hourly workforce strongly preferred
• Strong HRIS experience required; Paycom experience is highly preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills with a servant leadership approach to supporting employees absolutely essential to be successful in this role.
• Ability to travel when required

#IND