Job Description - Unclassified
Developed for Equal Opportunity

Executive Director, Benefits and Wellness

Class Code	Pay Grade	Position Group	FLSA	Status	Date Issued	Date Revised
UAS44	12-HR	1D	Exempt	Unclassified	12/19/2022	05/17/2023

BASIC FUNCTION:

Serve as a strategic HR leader responsible for the design, administration and compliance of university benefits as well as health and wellness programs for faculty and staff. Ensures program strategy and objectives adhere to current regulations and disseminates university-wide communications to promote health and wellness consumerism, engagement, and self-care. Champion for evidence-based and collaborative practices to design, integrate and coordinate benefits with health and wellness programming based on population health strategies. Lead the development of new initiatives to establish competitive and cost-effective benefits and wellness programs. Responsible for maintaining strong connections with university leadership and internal and external stakeholders. This position reports to the Vice President for Human Resources.

Kent State’s benefits department uses leading HRIS and online enrollment tools to facilitate engagement with our workforce. Our onboarding system is managed through Banner and oversight of this will be in the executive director’s span of control.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Duties/essential functions may include, but not be limited to, the following:

Design, develop, communicate, implement and maintain stewardship for university-sponsored benefits and employee wellness strategy and programming.

Recommend policy implementation and/or policy changes to enhance the employee value proposition to attract and retain top talent through a competitive total rewards package (e.g., Flexible Work Arrangement, telecommuting, Smoke and Tobacco-Free, etc.).

Recommend changes and best practices to health and wellness strategy/benefits/wellness in alignment with University objectives, constraints and opportunities and government requirements.

Develop and present benefits and wellness educational programming through various mediums, including face-to-face presentations and virtual offerings to meet the needs of a diverse, multi-site workforce.

Partner with university vendors to review and analyze claims and other available data to apply population health strategies to chronic disease and behavioral health needs. Make recommended, data-driven changes to wellness program, educational outreach, and benefit plan deliverables.

Manage the operations of the Benefits and Employee Wellness staff, including staff performance and opportunities for professional development. Provide guidance and training to benefits and wellness staff regarding counseling to employees on benefit, health and wellness programs.

Oversee data integrity and maintenance of all employee benefits and wellness records and the records retention schedule.

Solicit input through large and small-scale surveys and evaluations and committee work to ensure employee-centric input is incorporated into goals, objectives and deliverables of benefits and wellbeing programs.

Host quarterly reviews with health plan vendors to analyze healthcare spend and trends. Make recommendations for timely plan changes or other strategies that may need to be addressed.

Periodically serve on committee as defined within collective bargaining agreements and serve as a subject matter expert on benefits and wellness administration.

Develop, prepare and oversee budget(s) for Benefits and Wellness departments.

Design university wellness program to complement overall health and wellness strategy,

Manage the annual benefits open enrollment and wellness fairs. Review benefits booklets and other print and digital materials for content and accuracy. Request updates/amendments when appropriate.

Monitor provider compliance to insurance contracts and maximize provider services.

Monitor collective bargaining agreements and maintain a working knowledge of variations between represented and non-represented benefits and wellness plan administration.

Administer the university’s policies providing non-cash benefits such as tuition, flexible work and telecommuting arrangements.

Administer the enrollment and administration of all the available retirement programs and associated services and informational sessions. Create opportunities to update and engage employee community regularly regarding opportunities and regulatory changes.

Monitor compliance to all federal and state legislation and implement responsive steps, policy revisions, and updated procedures to achieve compliance.

Oversee the administration of the workers’ compensation program and any transitional work programs available.

Serve as chief liaison to university community for communication of all benefit discussions, articles, web pages, portal information.

Serve on department, division, and University committees; serve as liaison to insurance carriers, retirement systems, wellness and EAP partners.

Perform related duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in human resources, business or related field. Master’s preferred but not required. Minimum of 8 – 10 years progressively responsible employee benefits experience in higher education or similarly complex organization which has included experience with leading and implementing benefit program design, administration, record keeping and compliance laws and regulations.

Preferred Qualifications:

Certified Employee Benefits Specialist or other health and welfare benefits designation.

Knowledge Of:

Federal and state law *
Human resources internet and web systems relative to human resources *
Personal computer applications
Budgeting and strategic planning *

Skill In:

Written and interpersonal communication, to include employee communication *
Examining and re-engineering processes, formulating policy and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures *
Quantitative data analysis and making recommendations based on the analysis
Time management and organization of projects *

Ability To:

Interpret, evaluate and apply complex rules and regulations
Conduct research and analyses *
Conduct multi-year strategic planning
Develop and implement plans *
Provide leadership and direction *
Facilitate groups and manage multiple priorities and projects *

Assessments:

Asterisk (*) indicates knowledge, skills, abilities which may require assessments. Assessments could take the form of interview questions, a request to provide work samples or a written or practical test to assess job related competencies.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

Incumbent may be required to travel from building to building off campus occasionally.

Value Statement

Kent State University is committed to the creation and nurturing of a diverse community of individuals through inclusive excellence. Diversity involves recognizing the value of differences and the inclusion of all members of the community. This is a core value of the organization as we strive for a culturally diverse student body, faculty and staff that reflect the multicultural nature of Ohio, the nation, and our world.

The intent of this description is to illustrate the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and should not be interpreted to describe all the specific duties and responsibilities that may be required in any particular position. Kent State University reserves the right to revise or change job duties, job hours, and responsibilities.