The Assistant Director, Benefits is a critical leader within Pepperdine’s Human Resources team, responsible for managing the University’s employee benefits programs. Informed by our Christian mission, Pepperdine thoughtfully provides benefits that encourage and allow holistic wellbeing for employees and their families, ensuring every aspect of life is improved as a result of working at the University. This position plays a pivotal role in attracting and retaining the best individuals to realize our shared mission by delivering a best-in-class benefits program that is core to employees’ total compensation package.

Beyond day-to-day administration of plans, coverage, enrollment, compliance, communication, and leaves of absence, this role drives the strategic decision-making behind one of the University’s largest financial investments and upholds the integrity and excellence of all University-provided benefits. The Assistant Director embodies the University’s Christian mission and values through commitment to excellent service, where employees at every level of the University feel supported, informed, and empowered in navigating their benefits.

Duties

• Provide comprehensive oversight and management of all employee benefits programs, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations such as ERISA, HIPAA, FMLA, CFRA, PDL, COBRA, and the ACA. This involves working closely with brokers, legal counsel, consultants, and vendors to administer each plan with excellence, including communication of coverage details, distribution of required notices, preparation of required filings, coordinating utilization reviews, managing contract renewal discussions, and maintaining all plan documents. Additionally, the Assistant Director partners closely with other HR workgroups to streamline workflows, enhance service delivery, and maintain data integrity across all HR operations.
• Manage day-to-day benefits administration, including enrollments, qualifying life events, billing, and eligibility. Partner closely with external vendors, Information Technology, and the Payroll Office to manage automated file feeds and manual enrollment processes, ensuring all coverage, paycheck deductions, and effective dates are accurate and updated in a timely manner. Lead the annual open enrollment process, ensuring HRIS and third-party administrators accurately support benefits calculations, payroll deductions, and EDI file feeds. Coordinate regular audits and reviews to ensure accuracy and eligibility compliance.
• Provide white glove service to Pepperdine's faculty and staff at all levels of the University to ensure they are informed and empowered to navigate their benefits choices and ongoing access to care. Produce communication materials, such as website content, community emails, new employee presentations, annual benefits guides, and other ad-hoc materials to clearly communicate coverage options, network limitations, and projected out-of-pocket expenses. Provide consultative guidance to employees to ensure understanding and engagement with all benefits offerings. Serve as a subject matter expert and internal consultant on benefits compliance and policy interpretation.
• Partner with Human Resources leadership to provide strategic analysis and recommendations to University executives, the Benefits Committee, and the Retirement Plan Committee. Analyze utilization, trends, and benchmarking data to inform program design and cost-containment strategies. Partner with leadership and decision-making bodies to align benefits strategy with workforce needs, compensation philosophy, and institutional priorities.
• Lead the Benefits team by recruiting, training, supervising, and evaluating two employees. Foster accountability, professional growth, and high-quality service delivery while cultivating a collaborative and high-performing work environment.
• Oversee leaves of absence and workers' compensation programs, ensuring effective administration and compliance with applicable law and University policy. As needed, develop, implement, and manage new or modified benefits offerings, including insurance, retirement, and leave programs.
• Serve as primary liaison with benefits brokers, consultants, carriers, and third-party administrators. Maintain proactive, ongoing relationships with insurance carriers and other vendor partners, establishing clear expectations, monitoring service performance, and ensuring that contracts and partnerships align with the University's mission and goals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Uphold University mission through work performed.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in HR or benefits administration, including direct supervisory responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience managing comprehensive benefits programs, including health, retirement, disability, and voluntary benefits.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with a strong customer service orientation and ability to engage effectively with employees at all levels.
• Experience with HRIS and benefits administration technology.
• Strong attention to detail, discretion in handling sensitive information, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Professional demeanor and ability to integrate the University’s Christian mission and values into daily work.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field.
• Experience with PeopleSoft and BenefitFocus.
• Experience with benefits strategy, benchmarking, and implementation of innovative programs in higher education or large organizations.
• Proven ability to serve as a strategic partner in benefit plan design, vendor negotiations, and program enhancements.

This is a Regular, Exempt, 40 hour per week position.

Expected Pay Range: $92,000 - $95,000 per year

pperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Pepperdine is committed to providing a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Engaging in unlawful discrimination or harassment will result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University.

Pepperdine is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. While students, faculty, and staff represent many religious backgrounds, Pepperdine is permitted under applicable law and reserves the right to seek, hire, and promote persons who support the goals and mission of the institution, including the right to prefer co-religionists who support Pepperdine's Christian mission.

Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Individuals will be required to disclose any criminal convictions on a designated form after receiving a conditional offer of employment; failure to disclose accurate information may result in withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.