Associate Director – Benefits, Payroll

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California, +11 more states.

📋 Description

• Lead the development, execution, and ongoing oversight of health, welfare, and ancillary benefit programs.

• Participate in the Healthcare Committee, contributing to plan oversight, fiduciary governance, and decision-making.

• Collaborate with brokers, consultants, vendors, Finance, People & Culture, and other stakeholders.

• Ensure compliance with ERISA, IRS, DOL, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, and other relevant regulations.

• Manage plan renewals, vendor assessments, RFP processes, audits, and compliance reviews.

• Track benefits trends, benchmark data, program performance, and identify opportunities for cost optimization.

• Supervise daily management and governance of employee retirement programs.

• Coordinate retirement plan administration, including recordkeepers, consultants, legal counsel, and internal stakeholders.

• Assist Retirement Committee activities, including governance documentation, reporting, vendor evaluations, and employee education.

• Oversee the organization's physical, emotional, financial, and social well-being programs and strategy.

• Provide operational leadership and expertise in multi-state payroll processing.

• Enhance payroll governance through controls, audits, standardization, systems optimization, and automation.

• Coordinate payroll, benefits, retirement, compensation, and other People & Culture processes.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance payroll accuracy, efficiency, and service delivery.

• Offer daily leadership, coaching, development, and support for assigned team members.

• Set operational priorities and enhance processes, procedures, controls, metrics, and service delivery.

• Direct projects aimed at improving operational effectiveness, employee experience, and organizational priorities.

• Act as a liaison among Benefits, Payroll, Retirement, and Compensation functions.

• Assist in compensation planning, incentive payments, reward initiatives, and Total Rewards communications.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related discipline.

• 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in benefits, payroll, and/or Total Rewards.

• Experience within a large law firm or other professional services organization.

• Proven experience in leading teams and cross-functional initiatives.

• Significant experience in administering employer-sponsored health and welfare benefit programs.

• Experience in supporting qualified retirement plans and retirement plan governance.

• Demonstrated experience in managing complex, multi-state payroll operations.

• Strong understanding of ERISA, IRS, DOL, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, and state-specific wage and hour regulations.

• Proven ability to manage broker and vendor relationships, oversee annual plan audits, and participate in fiduciary committees.

• Comprehensive understanding of compensation principles and their interaction with payroll, benefits, and retirement administration.

• Excellent analytical, communication, and project management capabilities.

• Ability to convert complex information into actionable insights.

• Capacity to lead teams, juggle multiple priorities, and maintain confidentiality with sensitive employee and financial data.

• CEBS, CPP, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or other relevant professional certification preferred.

• Experience in supporting executive and partner benefit programs preferred.

• Familiarity with UKG Pro and related HR technology platforms strongly preferred.

• Cover letter and resume required.

• Principal applicants only.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical and dental coverage.

• Life insurance.

• Short-term and long-term disability insurance.

• Pre-tax flexible spending account for certain medical and dependent care expenses.

• Employee assistance program.

• Paid Time Off.

• Paid holidays.

• Participation in a retirement plan program after meeting eligibility requirements.

• Discretionary bonus opportunity, dependent upon individual and firm performance.

• Remote work arrangement.

• Employee benefits and well-being programs.