Executive Director of Compensation, Benefits and Wellness, Human Resources

External Applicants:

Please ensure all required documents are ready to upload before beginning your application, including your resume, cover letter, and any additional materials specified in the job description.

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Job Description Summary

Job Description

Essential Functions:

Compensation

• In partnership with VP/CHRO, plans and leads the annual Executive Compensation process.
• Accountable for the implementation of a market pay structure.
• Collaborates with the budget office and assists leaders in addressing compensation challenges.
• Responsible for clear, accurate, and updated compensation policies/procedures.

Benefits

• Lead the annual benefits evaluation process in partnership with the Fringe Benefits Advisory Committee, Human Resources, and Benefits Consultant, including but not limited to leading discussions on benefit plan recommendations, developing presentations, and presenting information to the Committee and other Executive Leadership.
• Evaluate and make recommendations on the effectiveness, cost, trends, and competitiveness for the University's benefit programs while balancing the needs of our campus community and the overall fringe budget.
• Lead the University's retirement plan program in partnership with the Retirement Plan Committee, Human Resources, and the Retirement Plan Consultant, including but not limited to leading discussions on retirement plan recommendations, developing presentations, and presenting information to the Committee and other Executive Leadership.
• Evaluate and make recommendations on the effectiveness, cost, trends, and competitiveness for the University's 403(b) Retirement Plan and 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Responsible for the overall Fringe Budget.

Wellbeing

• Working with other units on campus, identify wellness partnership and leadership opportunities.
• Lead the evaluation, identification, development, communication, and implementation of wellbeing opportunities and initiatives that benefit faculty, staff, and retirees. These opportunities may be within the Benefits framework or reside elsewhere on campus.

Compensation, Benefits, Absence, and Wellbeing

• Ensure compliance with all governmental regulations and University policies related to compensation, benefits, retirement plan, and leave programs by researching, monitoring, and tracking new and existing laws and regulations. Recommend, communicate, and implement required changes.
• Implement, lead, and maintain an out-of-state compliance program for the University regarding compensation, benefits, and leave program requirements.
• Responsible for evaluating and maintaining relationships with third-party administrators, consultants, and other institutional relationships for compensation and benefits.
• Accountable for the execution of new and existing compensation, health and welfare, retirement plan, and any other benefits-related contracts, agreements, policies, amendments, revisions, and required forms/filings. This includes but is not limited to reviewing the terms, conditions, fees, guarantees, and other contractual arrangements for accuracy, developing summaries for Executive Leadership, and obtaining required approvals and signatures.
• Resolve and communicate final compensation and benefits determination(s) on disputes, challenges, inquiries, and/or exception requests from internal colleagues and/or third-party administrators.
• Oversee the development, evaluation, revision, and communication of new and/or current policies, programs, and procedures for compensation and benefits.
• Research and maintain best practices in compliance and administration of compensation, benefits, and wellbeing programs.
• Within our Workday ERP environment and in working with Directors of Compensation and Benefits, identify priority projects and provide information and partnership to the HRIS team to move forward needed initiatives/updates/changes.
• Partner with HR colleagues and other campus constituents to develop and disseminate communication materials to promote compensation, benefits, and wellbeing programs at Wake Forest University, including but not limited to presenting information to various campus committees, partners, and Executive Leadership.
• Provide leadership and coaching to the Compensation and Benefits/Absence team members through effective coaching and performance management.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with Institutional Talent Partners, providing information at standing meetings and responding to ad hoc requests.
• Provide strategic leadership as part of the Human Resources leadership team.
• Remain current on compensation, benefits, and wellness trends through research and connection to peers at other universities and professional organizations such as CUPA HR.

Other Functions:

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline, plus eight years of combined experience in compensation, benefits, and wellness, with at least five years in a supervisory role.
• Knowledge of organizational structure, workflow, and operating procedures.
• Skill in developing, managing, and implementing new strategies, procedures, and large-scale projects.
• Ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define and analyze problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and develop creative solutions.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with various constituencies in a community of different constituent groups.
• Ability to foster a cooperative environment.
• Ability to supervise, lead, and train staff.
• Proficiency in annual financial/budget processes.
• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws, regulations, and private sector employment policies and procedures.
• Current knowledge of benefit programs and how they interface with regulations, related retirement and benefits acts at both state and federal levels, recent court decisions, legal trends, and Social Security.
• Skill in developing and implementing salary administration plans and programs.
• Ability to analyze problems and develop creative solutions to complex human resource issues.
• Proficiency in using the Microsoft Office Suite and/or Google Workspace
• Ability to format data to support analysis and recommendations.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze, summarize and effectively present data to individuals/groups, including executive levels.
• Experience with HRIS (Oracle, Workday, Banner, or a related system), to include exporting and using data to answer questions, present data, and create presentations.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Relevant Master's degree.
• CCP/CBP/CEBS/GBA/SPHR/PHR/CTRP or other related certification.
• Higher education experience.
• Experience in executive compensation.
• Workday experience.

Physical Requirements:

• Sedentary work. Talking, hearing, and repetitive motions. Close visual acuity. Subject to inside environmental conditions. Not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Accountabilities:

• Budgetary responsibilities, including fringe benefits budget.
• Responsible for Compensation and Benefits programs and directly manages the Director of Benefits and Director of Compensation.
  

Additional Job Description

Time Type Requirement

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor.

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and military or veteran status.

Accommodations for Applicants

If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact AskHR@wfu.eduor (336) 758-4700.