Assistant Director of Benefits

Job Description: ENT and Allergy Associates is seeking a self-motivated, people-friendly full time Assistant Director of Benefits for our organization. Salary: $130,000 -$140,000 Full time in office, Tarrytown NY JOB SUMMARY: As the Assistant Director of Benefits, you will be responsible for supporting the strategic planning and execution of our organization's benefits programs. Reporting directly to the Vice President, Human Resources, you will oversee the design, administration, and communication of employee benefit plans, including health insurance, retirement plans, leave management, and wellness initiatives while ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. This role also requires a strong functional understanding of Workday Benefits and Absence, with the expectation that the individual will operate as a highly capable end user, leveraging the system effectively, supporting issue resolution, and partnering with HRIS and external vendors to ensure a seamless and efficient benefits administration environment. We are seeking a creative, highly motivated, and results-driven professional who possesses a comprehensive understanding of benefits. Your exceptional managerial, analytical, and communication skills will be crucial in managing and developing high-performing teams, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment, and promoting the professional growth and development of our employees. STRATEGIC RESPONSIBILITIES: Support the development and execution of a comprehensive employee benefits strategy that aligns with organizational goals. Demonstrate a strong functional understanding of Workday Benefits and Absence, ensuring the system is leveraged effectively to support business needs and employee experience. Partner closely with HRIS, Payroll, Finance, and external vendors to translate business requirements into system needs, supporting enhancements and process improvements. Manage the benefits team, providing guidance, support, and fostering a high-performance culture. Demonstrate a strong functional understanding of Workday Benefits and Absence, ensuring the system is leveraged effectively to support business needs and employee experience. Partner closely with HRIS, Payroll, Finance, and external vendors to translate business requirements into system needs, supporting enhancements and process improvements. Stay informed about industry trends, best practices, emerging technologies, and regulations related to benefits, and leverage this knowledge to drive innovation, maintain compliance, and enhance competitiveness within our benefits functions. Monitor and report on key metrics and performance indicators related to employee benefits, providing insights and recommendations for improvement. OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Manage all aspects of benefits administration including health insurance, retirement plans, leave management, wellness initiatives, plan design, enrollment, vendor management, and employee communication to ensure efficient, accurate and timely delivery of services. Operate as a highly proficient Workday user for Benefits and Absence, including life events, enrollments, and leave processes. Troubleshoot and resolve benefits and leave-related issues by identifying root causes, validating data, and partnering with HRIS or external vendors (e.g., Workday support, implementation partners) for resolution. Participate in system enhancements and Workday releases, providing business input, supporting testing (UAT), and validating outcomes. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including but not limited to ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, and COBRA. Provide guidance and support to employees regarding benefits options, resolving complex issues, and fostering a positive employee experience. Maintain strong relationships with benefit plan vendors, ensuring effective contract management and service level agreements. Conduct regular audits and reconciliations to ensure data integrity, compliance with internal controls, and identify/mitigate potential risks. Implement and maintain benefits policies, procedures, and systems to streamline processes, enhance data accuracy, and improve operational efficiency. Generate reports, metrics, and analysis (leveraging Workday reporting tools and dashboards) to inform decision-making and provide insights to senior leadership. QUALIFICATIONS: 10+ years of experience in benefits, with deep knowledge of health, retirement, and leave programs, including strong expertise in retirement plan design and administration across defined contribution plans (e.g., 401(k)) and defined benefit plans such as cash balance plans, with an understanding of plan funding, compliance, and vendor oversight. Strong communication skills, fostering employee understanding, engagement, and utilization of benefits resources, while effectively managing high-performing teams and promoting professional growth and development. Experience in healthcare organizations strongly preferred, particularly within multi-site, multi-state environments, with an understanding of complex workforce structures and varying regulatory and operational requirements. Demonstrated ability to effectively utilize Workday Benefits and/or Absence modules as a power user, including strong understanding of system workflows, life events, and enrollments. Ability to troubleshoot system and data issues, identify root causes, and effectively partner with technical teams for resolution (without direct configuration responsibility). Familiarity with benefits data flows, vendor integrations, and eligibility file structures (e.g., understanding inputs/outputs, not building them). Strong analytical and reporting skills, including experience leveraging Workday reporting tools and/or advanced Excel. Excellent understanding of federal, state, and local compliance requirements. Successful vendor management experience, ensuring effective contract management, service level agreements, and cost optimization. Proficient in using HRIS software (Workday) Benefits: We offer a competitive compensation package, including: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance Company‑paid long‑term disability Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Company‑paid life insurance and voluntary life insurance 401(k) Pet insurance Annual Cell Phone Alowance: $900 ENT and Allergy Associates is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. The ENT & Allergy Associates Network: ENT & Allergy Associates (ENTA) is the largest ENT, Allergy, and Audiology network in the country, with over 475 clinicians who practice in over 80 clinical locations throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Each ENTA clinical office is comprised of world-class physicians who are specialists and sub-specialists in their respective fields, providing the highest level of expertise and care. With a wide range of services including Adult and Pediatric ENT & Allergy, Voice and Swallowing, Advanced Sinus and Skull Base Surgery, Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, Treatment of Disorders of the Inner Ear and Dizziness, Asthma-related services, Diagnostic Audiology, Hearing Aid Dispensing, Sleep and CT Services, ENTA Is able to meet the needs of patients of all ages. ENTA is also affiliated with some of the most prestigious medical institutions in the world. Each year ENTA physicians are voted ‘Top Doctor’ by Castle Connolly, a true testament to the exceptional care and service they provide to their patients. HÜMI: Backed by over 25 years of experience, Hümi (formerly Quality Medical Management Services USA, LLC , or QMMS USA) specializes in healthcare management and consultancy across practice operations and management, revenue cycle and enhancement, compliance, HR management, and business applications. With a seasoned team and a commitment to excellence, Hümi delivers cutting-edge healthcare business management solutions. By implementing best practices at every step, Hümi ensures measurable success for its clients. At its core, Hümi represents the human side of healthcare, where operational excellence meets a people-first philosophy.