Senior Director, Benefits and Compensation

Job Description:

SUMMARY

Berklee is the worlds leading institution for the study of music dance and theater offering transformative educational programs ranging from performance production and composition to business education music therapy music and culture grounded in the Africa diaspora and other disciplines. Its innovative curriculum blends contemporary and classical training with emerging technology and creative entrepreneurship providing students with unparalleled resources to excel in their creative pursuits. Since its founding in Boston Berklee has evolved into a global community now home to over 8000 students from more than 100 countries and connected by a network of 84000 alumni.

Comprising Berklee College of Music Boston Conservatory at Berklee Berklee NYC Berklee Valencia Berklee Abu Dhabi and the Division of Pre-College Online and Professional Programs the institutions dedication to empowering the worlds most inspired artists and creative entrepreneurs through arts education is reflected in the work of Berklees students faculty and alumni who have earned more than 3000 award nominations received more than 300 Grammys and 100 Latin Grammys and won numerous Oscars Emmys and Tonys.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President of Human Resources and serving as a member of the Human Resources leadership team the Senior Director of Benefits and Compensation is a key advisor to leadership faculty and staff throughout Berklee on health welfare retirement benefits and compensation. This position is responsible for the design assessment analysis evaluation and financial management of all benefits programs and in close collaboration with the Senior Vice President of Human Resources provides analysis reporting benchmarking and consultation on compensation matters.

Strategic Analysis and Reporting

• Provide senior management with data-driven analysis and recommendations for retirement offerings including defined benefit pension and 403(b) plans.

• Research and synthesize industry best practices and trends in retirement plan design to benchmark Berklees current offerings.

• Work closely with benefit brokers retirement actuaries ERISA experts and other external constituents to ensure proper reporting and compliance.

• Audit and ensure the effectiveness of existing benefits plans policies and procedures.

• Provide regular claims reporting ensuring leadership is apprised of claims activity as it relates to budgeting.

• Track and report on national trends industry trends.

• Research and analyze competitive health welfare retirement and wellness practices to ensure that our programs are current competitive and flexible.

• Perform regular job analysis and benchmark positions to the market. Produce annual benchmark pay recommendations.

• Lead the planning coordination facilitation administration and reporting of the annual executive salary review program.

• Serve as a partner to executives by providing guidance education and coaching on compensation processes guidelines job descriptions position evaluation and regulatory issues and compliance.

• Develop and maintain standardized and updated position specifications.

Plan Administration and Oversight

• Oversee $46 million benefits budget and the delivery of all associated programs within budget.

• Responsible for the administration of all health welfare retirement and time-off and wellness programs to ensure alignment with best practices.

• In partnership with Retirement plan partners design plan and co-lead quarterly Retirement Committee meetings.

• Provide consultation and interpretation on benefit and leave related union contract matters; Provide guidance throughout union contact negotiations.

• Manage operational relationships with third-party service providers including brokers TPAs and record keepers.

• Maintain data integrity between Workday HRIS payroll systems and external vendors.

• Ensure the effectiveness of all benefits and compensation policies guidelines and procedures while recommending plan revisions and new plans that are consistent with compensation trends and organizational objectives.

Compensation

• Research and analyze competitive compensation practices to ensure that our programs and practices are current competitive and flexible.

• Oversee regular job analysis and benchmark positions to the market. Produce annual benchmark pay recommendations.

• Lead the planning coordination facilitation administration and reporting of the annual executive salary review program.

• Serve as a partner to executives by providing guidance education and coaching on compensation processes guidelines job descriptions position evaluation and regulatory issues and compliance.

• Develop and maintain standardized and updated executive position specifications.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Serve as the primary lead for regulatory compliance including ERISA HIPAA COBRA ACA and FLSA.

• Execute mandatory government filings non-discrimination testing and 5500 reporting.

• Monitor emerging federal state and local laws to ensure all notifications disclosures and posters remain current.

Communication Engagement and Supervision

• Partner with the HR team to develop and execute communication strategies that make complex benefits easy for faculty and staff to understand.

• Design and deliver presentations on benefits and compensation related topics for various stakeholders.

• Update and maintain digital benefits content including website materials and educational resources.

• Provide individualized counseling on benefits matters to faculty staff and beneficiaries

• Serves as a member of the Boston Consortium of Schools; representing Berklee on benefits matters.

• Provide guidance direction and oversight to a team of three benefits and compensation professionals ensuring opportunities for continued learning and skill development.

MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree required advanced degree preferred.

• CEBS CFP ARM-E CCP SPHR or equivalent subject-appropriate professional credentials preferred.

• 8 years Human Resources leadership experience in employee benefits administration with demonstrated knowledge and experience in design and administration of health welfare retirement and wellness plans.

• Demonstrated experience in designing coordinating and executing compensation programs.

• Knowledge of HIPAA PHI/PII COBRA PFMLA ERISA and ACA compliance and associated federal and state regulations.

• Experience with fully insured and self-insured health and welfare plans.

• Defined benefit plan and 403B experience and knowledge is required.

• Experience administering employee benefits and compensation in a union environment is desirable.

• Demonstrated superior knowledge of subject-appropriate federal and state laws regulations and administrative best-practices.

• Demonstrated superior data analysis and quantitative skills; superior written and oral communication skills; and the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and consistent strong quality of work.

• Superior data analysis and project management skills.

• Demonstrated strong organizational skills and the ability to meet deadlines prioritize and work on multiple projects simultaneously with great efficiency and attention to detail.

• Ability to interact with all levels of the organization including most senior executives.

• Ability to think strategically with a progressive approach to understanding best practices in order to meet and exceed the needs of our diverse faculty and staff population.

• Excellent interpersonal skills; ease in presenting complicated information in an easy to understand manner; high level of attention to detail and accuracy.

• Ability to handle sensitive personal information with the highest degree of confidentiality.

• High level of integrity strong collaborative spirit willingness to tackle complex matters with a strong sense of calm and professionalism.

• Ability to demonstrate empathy and compassion in challenging situations.

• Expert computer skills. Strong Proficiency at using Microsoft Office specifically Microsoft Excel for data analysis. Workday HRIS experience required.

• Ability to create presentations to inform persuade or update leadership on benefits renewals or total rewards strategies.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Monday - Friday 9:00-5:00 core schedule with the ability to manage a wide variety of project based work while meeting the day to day operational specifics of the role. Must be flexible during peak and busy seasons including Benefits Open Enrollment audits HR and institutional signature events etc. Hybrid schedule with a regular weekly in-office presence.

Actively strives to foster and maintain a workplace climate that is supportive of all employees regardless of their identity respectful of difference and genuinely open to multiple perspectives.

Hiring Range: $175000 to $195000; salary dependent on relevant experience and education.

Please visit the Total Rewards page to learn more about the benefits of working at Berklee.

This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise other than an at will employment relationship.

Diversity Equity Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee:

We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit qualifications experience ability and job performance. Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty staff students and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race color religion ancestry age national origin place of birth gender sexual orientation gender identity or expression disability genetic information or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces or any other category protected by federal state or local law.

As part of this commitment Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process to perform essential job functions and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment please contact the Human Resources Team at or call .

*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*

Employee Type:

Staff