Director, Benefits

Office of Human Resources | Brandeis University
The hiring range for the position is $149.2 - 167.7K.

Lead the Strategy. Elevate the Experience. Shape the Future of Total Rewards.

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.

What You Will Lead

Strategic Benefits Leadership (40%)

You will architect the future of benefits at Brandeis:

• 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.

Operational Excellence & Administration (35%)

You will ensure flawless execution and regulatory rigor:

• 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.

Leadership, Communication & Influence (25%)

You will build capability, trust, and clarity:

• 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.

Who Thrives in This Role

• Strategic, systems-level thinker with a track record of leading enterprise-wide benefits transformation.

• Financially savvy operator who uses analytics to drive ROI, cost containment, and better outcomes.

• Trusted leader who builds strong teams and cross-functional partnerships.

• Customer-centric executive with a passion for employee experience.

• Confident change leader who can “rumble with complexity” and deliver results.

Qualifications:

• 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.

• Experience in higher education or complex, unionized environments preferred.

Why This Role Matters:

This is not a maintenance role—it is a strategic leadership mandate. The Director of Benefits directly shapes Brandeis University’s employee value proposition, financial sustainability, and workforce experience. Your leadership will influence recruitment, retention, well-being, and institutional performance—today and for years to come.

Pay Range Disclosure

The University's pay ranges represent a good faith estimate of what Brandeis reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of posting. The pay offered to a selected candidate during hiring will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience and education/training, internal peer equity, and applicable legal requirements.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Brandeis University is an equal opportunity employer which does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religious creed, gender identity and expression, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, genetic information, disability, caste, military or veteran status or any other category protected by law (also known as membership in a "protected class").