Director of Benefits Job at Brandeis University (Waltham)

Director of Benefits

Brandeis University

Location:
United States , Waltham

Category:
Human Resources

Contract Type:
Not provided

Salary:

149200.00 - 167700.00 USD / Year

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Job Description:

Brandeis University is seeking a strategic, innovative, and service-driven Director of Benefits to lead the design, delivery, and continuous evolution of benefits for our faculty and staff. This is a high-impact leadership role for a benefits executive who thrives at the intersection of strategy, analytics, compliance, technology, and employee experience—and who builds high-performing teams that deliver exceptional service. Reporting to the Vice President of Human Resources, the Director of Benefits shapes the University’s Total Rewards strategy, ensuring benefits are compelling, equitable, fiscally responsible, compliant, and aligned with our academic mission. This role is ideal for a leader who can drive change at scale—modernizing programs, improving access and experience, and using data to inform smarter, faster decisions.

Job Responsibility:

Lead major benefits redesigns, open enrollment strategy, and multi-year benefits roadmaps
Design, evaluate, and evolve comprehensive programs (health, dental, vision, life, STD/LTD, retirement, FSA/HSA, tuition benefits, wellness, PTO, and leaves)
Conduct cost modeling, utilization analysis, ROI and risk assessments to guide strategy
Benchmark against peers and industry standards to ensure competitiveness and equity
Identify innovative, cost-effective solutions while maintaining full regulatory compliance
Oversee benefits budgeting, forecasting, and cost-containment strategies
Monitor emerging market, regulatory, and technology trends to keep programs future-ready
Lead end-to-end open enrollment planning and execution (systems, communications, education, implementation)
Oversee benefits operations, plan documentation, enrollment, compliance, and systems integration
Manage vendor relationships, contracts, SLAs, RFPs, and renegotiations
Ensure accurate payroll and eligibility integration in Workday
strengthen reporting and analytics
Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, PFML, ADA, SECURE Act, and related requirements
Oversee leave and absence programs as part of the total rewards portfolio
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing benefits team with a service-first culture
Deliver clear, accessible, multi-channel benefits communications (print, digital, web, live)
Partner with senior leaders, HR colleagues, and campus stakeholders to ensure alignment and transparency
Serve as the senior subject matter expert for complex or escalated benefits cases
Integrate wellness and well-being strategies into the benefits ecosystem to drive engagement and retention

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree required
Master’s or professional certification (e.g., CEBS) preferred
8–10 years of progressive benefits leadership experience
5+ years leading teams
Demonstrated success designing employee-centered, data-driven benefits strategies with measurable impact
Deep regulatory expertise (ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, PFML, ADA, SECURE Act)
Strong vendor management and RFP experience
Advanced experience with Workday and benefits technology ecosystems

Nice to have:

Experience in higher education or complex, unionized environments preferred

Additional Information:

Job Posted:
March 10, 2026

Employment Type:

Fulltime

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