Associate Director of Benefits

Associate Director of Benefits

Responsibilities

• administering benefits
• managing accommodations
• counseling employees

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 4+ years of progressively responsible employee benefits experience required

• Including leave management

• ADA accommodations, and retirement programs

• Master’s preferred

• Technical tools mentioned

• Microsoft Excel

• Microsoft Word

• Microsoft PowerPoint

• Banner HRIS

• About the Department

• This position reports to the Director of Benefits and is responsible for providing advanced-level administration and oversight of the University’s employee benefits programs. The Associate Director is responsible for the day-to-day management of key benefits operations, including leaves of absence, ADA accommodations, retirement programs, and designated compliance-related benefits activities. The Associate Director functions as a senior subject-matter expert and primary operational lead, carrying a significant casework portfolio while also serving as a strategic and operational backup to the Director. This role supports the effective administration, compliance, and delivery of health and welfare benefits and provides guidance to employees on complex benefits matters.

• Position Duties

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Administer and manage day-to-day benefits operations, including group health/medical/dental coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, leaves of absence, unemployment, workers’ compensation, 403(b) retirement plan, flexible spending plans, and other voluntary benefits.

• Serve as the primary administrator for leaves of absence, including FMLA, NYPFL, disability, and other statutory and institutional leave programs.

• Manage the University’s ADA accommodation process, including interactive process coordination, documentation, and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

• Assist with administration of 403(b) plan, including: automatic enrollments, deferral changes, non-discrimination testing, audits, government filings.

• Collaborate closely with partners across Human Resources, the Office of General Counsel, and other University stakeholders to ensure coordinated and compliant handling of employee matters, particularly where leaves of absence, ADA accommodations, performance concerns, and complaints of bias, discrimination, or retaliation intersect.

• Present and provide benefits overview at new hire orientations.

• Provide retirement counseling to employees, including guidance on 403(b) and supplemental retirement plans, and coordinate with plan vendors as needed.

• Manage the HR-administered portion of the Tuition Exchange Program, specifically overseeing outbound (export) applications for University employees.

• Conduct complex benefits case management, resolving employee issues with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.