Associate Director Human Resources

The OpportunityWe are working with a prominent college in Massachusetts who are are seeking an Associate Director of HR & Benefits to provide functional expertise, strategic oversight, and hands-on management of its comprehensive benefits programs. Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources, the ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in handing HR Operations & Benefits Administration oversight.What You’ll DoDirect the full lifecycle of all health and welfare plans, oversee the benefits budget, manage broker and carrier relationships, and lead the annual open enrollment evaluation and renewal process.Oversee the day-to-day administration of the 403(b) plan, including contribution remittances, annual audits, non-discrimination testing, and serving directly on the fiduciary committee.Manage the full compliance and operational lifecycle for staff and faculty leaves—including FMLA, Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML), and disability insurance—while independently guiding the interactive ADA accommodations process.Serve as the functional administrator for the benefits administration system (Wex). Lead data mapping, manage EDI electronic file feeds to carriers, troubleshoot integration errors, and run rigorous billing audits.Ensure absolute compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and IRS guidelines. Coordinate major regulatory filings (Form 5500s, 1094/1095-C) and develop advanced data dashboards and metrics for executive leadership.Design and deliver comprehensive employee wellness programs and educational workshops (\"Lunch and Learns\") tailored specifically to a diverse campus community.What You Need to Succeed5+ years of progressive HR experience in benefits administration. Prior experience within a higher education or non-profit environment is highly preferred.Deep operational knowledge of Massachusetts PFML, FMLA, ADA interactive processes, ACA compliance, and IRS 403(b) regulations.Hands-on experience configuring HRIS platforms (e.g., Ellucian/Banner, ADP, UKG) or enterprise benefits tools (Wex, PlanSource, Benefitfocus). Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, complex formulas, data auditing) are required to ensure sync integrity between internal data and third-party systems.Exceptional emotional intelligence and communication skills to translate complex benefit and financial concepts to a diverse workforce of faculty and staff.Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or a related field required. A Master’s degree or professional certifications (such as CEBS, SPHR, or SHRM-SCP) are highly preferred.Work Structure & LocationStatus: Full-time, exempt administrative leadership role.Location: In-person/On-campus position located in Massachusetts.