Assistant VP, Benefits and Total Rewards

Description

Reporting directly to the Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (VP/CHRO), the Assistant Vice President, Total Rewards is a senior leader responsible for leading comprehensive strategy for the University's Total Rewards programs and initiatives in support of Pace University's objectives and in alignment with the goal of attracting and retaining top talent.


The Assistant Vice President has direct oversight and responsibility over the areas of Compensation, Health & Retirement Benefits Administration, and Compliance. This role leads a team and partners with Legal, Finance, HR, and external vendors to manage fiduciary obligations, regulatory filings, audits, and benefits strategy. The Assistant Vice President for Total Rewards will serve as a member of the CHRO's leadership team partnering with the Associate Vice President of Talent Management and Employee Relations and other senior leaders in the division to develop strategy and meet the goals, targets, and mission of the HR Division.


This role will design compelling and equitable total rewards programs and negotiate and manage affordable quality health benefits policies and practices, insurance programs, retirement plans, and drive annual benefits. The Assistant VP, Total Rewards combines deep technical expertise with strong management and influencing skills to drive compliance, optimize benefits design, and oversee the University's compensation, benefits, compliance and retirement offerings. This role ensures all benefit plans comply with federal and state regulations and serves as the organization's subject matter expert on benefits compliance, maintaining competitive, compliant, and well communicated benefits.

Position Duties

• Partners with Leadership, Finance and HR to proactively identify opportunities, drive initiatives and use an innovative approach to ensure the University's total rewards and practices are competitive, cost effective and in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with VP/CHRO, Finance Department and other appropriate stakeholders on incentives, annual performance targets and benefits budget.
• Serve as a strategic partner to senior leadership to evaluate and build innovative and equitable total rewards programs and maximize effectiveness of the total rewards strategies and ensure alignment with the University's business and talent.
• Provide oversight into the management of the benefits vendor relationships, benefits contracts, and bid negotiations. Oversee the planning, development, implementation, communication, and evaluation of all benefits programs, including health, retirement, life, and disability programs.
• Lead a team of direct reports, fostering development and ensuring effective day-to-day administration of total rewards programs with respect to compliance and self-correction programs.
• Oversee the planning, development, implementation, communication and evaluation of all compensation programs, including salary structure, merit planning and delivery, executive compensation, and market alignment.
• Partner with the Director, Compensation and HR Operations, to present compensation data in response to requests from leadership and other stakeholders and partner with the HR team regarding compensation matters during negotiations for unionized employees.
• Manages benefits vendor relationships, benefits contracts, and negotiations. Oversee the planning, development, implementation, communication, and evaluation of all benefits programs, including health, retirement, life, and disability programs.
• Ensure regulatory compliance of programs including retirement health, welfare, wellness, salaries, vendor contracts, incentives, and other rewards programs.
• Lead and manage the benefits compliance function, ensuring adherence to federal and state regulations including but not limited to ERISA, IRS, DOL, ACA, FMLA, HIPAA.
• Oversee fiduciary responsibilities related to the university's retirement, health & welfare, and deferred compensation plans.
• Oversee regulatory filings and reporting (e.g., Forms 5500, 1094-C/1095-C, etc.), compliance audits, nondiscrimination testing including ADP/ACP, 415, DCAP, and responses to government inquiries.
• Proactively monitor legislative updates, ensuring institutional adherence to federal and state laws.
• Provide expert interpretation of benefit plans, contracts and vendor agreements, and employment agreements to advise internal stakeholders.
• Monitor budgeting, forecasting, and variance reporting for benefits programs.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance compliance processes and employee experience.
• Be technically proficient with respect to the compliance of all benefit plans, deferred compensation, defined contribution, health and welfare (H&W) plans, and post-retirement plan.
• Advise and direct colleagues on resolution of benefit plan issues, policy interpretations as well as individual participant inquiries.
• Performs other such duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Other Duties

• Serve as chair of Benefits Advisory Committee.
• Serve as a member of the Staff Affairs Subcommittee, Investment and Pension Committee that reports to the Pace University Board of Trustees.
• Represent HR at the Finance and Audit Committee as required.

Supervision Exercised

Director, Compensation and HR Operations,Senior Benefits Specialists and Senior Benefits & Compliance Specialist.

Work Hours

Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m..; additional hours as necessary. Hybrid position. Travel to all campuses - NYC, Pleasantville, and White Plains as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree and relevant certifications (e.g., CEBS, CEEB, CPC, SHRM-SCP/SPHR), or other related HR certification preferred.
• Proven expertise in employee benefits regulations, fiduciary responsibilities, and regulatory filings.
• A minimum of 7 -10 years of progressive experience in employee benefits, regulatory compliance, compensation administration and plan management required.
• Experience designing and maintaining total rewards programs.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and supervise diverse teams and influencing cross-functional partners.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical information for various audiences including committees and executive leadership.
• Demonstrated financial acumen managing large benefits budgets and reporting.
• Strong writing and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven ability to draft reports, policies, and other written materials.
• Experience with reviewing and amending benefit plans.
• Experience working directly with senior leadership, Board of Trustees, Board committees is a plus.
• Experience with managing compliance of ERISA plans including required communication, nondiscrimination testing, and audits.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and lead by example.
• Proficient in MS Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Experience using UKG or Banner preferred.
• Experience working in Higher Education preferred.