Associate Director

Associate Director of Benefits St. John's University

Salary: $ Annually

Job Type: Full-Time Administrator

Job Number:

Location: Queens Campus, NY

St. John's, established in 1870, has two New York City campuses;international locations in Rome, Italy;
Limerick, Ireland; and Paris, France; and study abroad locations around the world. The Princeton Review and other top rankings consistently recognize the University's outstanding academics, diverse student body, dynamic internship, and volunteer opportunities, focus on student life, and diverse study abroad offerings. St. John's University offers morethan 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in its six colleges and schools, with a growing number of programs offered online.

The University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and 12 other major academic and professional associations.

A dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion is at the heart ofour mission. As a Catholic and Vincentian university, St. John's is committed to institutionalizing practices of inclusive excellence to ensure that we welcome and celebrate the intrinsic worth of all members of our community. We will become an even stronger university as we enhance equity at every level of our institution.

Our graduates will excel in the competencies and values needed for leadership and service in a rapidly evolving world.

This position reports to the Director of Benefits and is responsible for providing advanced-level administration and oversight of the University's employee benefits programs. The Associate Director is responsible for the day-to-day management ofkey benefits operations, including leaves of absence, ADA accommodations, retirement programs, and designated compliance-related benefits activities. The Associate Director functions as a senior subject-matter expert and primary operational lead, carrying a significant casework portfolio while also servingas a strategic and operational backup to the Director.

This role supports the effective administration, compliance, and delivery ofhealth and welfare benefits and provides guidance to employees oncomplex benefits matters.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Administer and manage day-to-day benefits operations, including group health/medical/dental coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, leaves of absence, unemployment, workers' compensation,403(b) retirement plan, flexible spending plans, and other voluntary benefits.
• Serve as the primary administrator for leaves of absence,including FMLA, NYPFL, disability, and other statutory and institutional leave programs.
• Manage the University's ADA accommodation process, including interactive process coordination, documentation, and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Assist with administration of 403(b) plan, including: automatic enrollments, deferral changes, non-discrimination testing, audits,government filings.
• Collaborate closely with partners across Human Resources, the Office of General Counsel, and other University stakeholders toensure coordinated and compliant handling of employee matters,particularly where leaves of absence, ADA accommodations,performance concerns, and complaints of bias, discrimination, or retaliation intersect.
• Present and provide benefits overview at new hireorientations.
• Provide retirement counseling to employees, including guidance on 403(b) and supplemental retirement plans, and coordinate withplan vendors as needed.
• Manage the HR-administered portion of the Tuition Exchange Program, specifically overseeing outbound (export) applications for University employees.
• Conduct complex benefits case management, resolving employee issues with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Serve as a key resource for interpreting benefits policies,procedures, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Assist the Director of Benefits in ensuring compliance with all applicable benefits-related laws, including the Affordable Care Act(ACA), ERISA, ADA, FMLA, and other relevant regulations.
• Support benefits-related reporting, audits, invoices,reconciliations, and documentation, including coordination with Payroll/HRIS, Business Affairs, and external vendors.
• Assist with the administration of the annual Open Enrollment process, including coordination with vendors, system updates, and employee communications.
• Partner with the Director on benefits projects,implementations, and…