About Us:

Located in Georgetown, Texas, Southwestern University is an independent, four-year undergraduate institution offers a top-ranked integrated arts and sciences curriculum that incorporates the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, and natural sciences.

At Southwestern University, we are committed to fostering an environment where every individual feels respected, valued, and empowered. We believe that a thriving community is built on the strength of varying perspectives and experiences, and we strive to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding. Our actions are guided by a commitment to fairness, openness, and the belief that our differences are what make us stronger as a whole.

Position Overview:

Southwestern University has an immediate opening for an Assistant Director of Benefits. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Human Resources, the incumbent is responsible for leading the administration, compliance, and oversight of the university’s employee benefits programs and ensuring adherence to federal, state, local, and institutional employment laws and regulations. This role also serves as the ADA Coordinator, overseeing the accommodation process for employees and ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related laws. The position supports the Associate Vice President for Human Resources in developing and implementing policies, procedures, and initiatives that promote compliance, accessibility, employee well-being, and the effective delivery of HR services. This is a full-time, 12-month, exempt position eligible for our comprehensive benefits program.

Essential Duties:

• Oversee the administration of health, dental, vision, life, disability, and wellness programs, along with workers’ compensation, unemployment, and retirement plans.
• Evaluate benefits plans and vendors for cost effectiveness, employee satisfaction, and compliance while analyzing market trends to develop competitive benefits offerings.
• Lead annual open enrollment, including planning, communication, and vendor coordination.
• Partner with vendors and consultants to resolve employee benefits issues and ensure timely processing.
• Support and promote wellness initiatives across the university, including design and implementation of an annual wellness fair and other wellness initiatives for employees.
• Administer and oversee various employee leave programs, including family and medical leave (FMLA) requests.
• Supervise, mentor benefit staff provide quality oversight, and serve as backup for HR staff responsible for benefits entry and leave functions.
• Provide expert guidance to employees and supervisors on benefits and leave administration.
• Contribute to efforts that promote employee understanding and utilization of benefits programs.

ADA

• Serve as the university’s ADA Coordinator for employees, managing the full accommodation process from intake to implementation.
• Partner with AVPHR, supervisors, and employees (as needed) to ensure accommodations are effective, compliant, and appropriately implemented.
• Maintain confidential records and ensure all practices align with legal requirements and ADA compliance standards.
• Provide training and resources to supervisors and employees regarding ADA rights, responsibilities, and procedures.
• Ensure policies and practices support accessibility and non-discrimination.

Compliance

• Monitor and ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including ERISA, SECURE 2.0, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, FMLA, and ADA.
• Oversees the submission of required compliance reports (e.g., ACA filings, 5500s, etc.).

Additional Duties:

• Support employee relations cases that intersect with benefits, accommodations, or workplace policies.
• Assist in the development and update HR policies, procedures, and employee communications to ensure alignment with legal requirements and institutional goals.
• Collaborate with Payroll, Finance, Risk Management, and other departments to ensure accuracy and consistency in HR operations.
• Serve as backup to the Associate Vice President for HR in their absence, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible HR experience with emphasis on benefits administration, compliance, or ADA coordination.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations, including ADA, FMLA, ERISA, SECURE 2.0, HIPAA, and ACA.
• Demonstrated experience managing employee benefits and/or accommodations programs.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• Professional certification (e.g., SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR, CEBS, ADA Coordinator Training Certification).
• Higher education or public sector HR experience.
• Experience with HRIS (Colleague or Ellucian Banner) and benefits administration systems.

Starting annual salary: $90,000. The final offer for the successful candidate will be commensurate with experience and may exceed the starting salary.

Benefits:

Southwestern University offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes health and welfare insurance (medical, dental, and vision), life and AD&D insurance, long-term disability coverage, generous contributions to a 403(b) retirement account, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), various paid time-off options, undergraduate tuition assistance for you and your dependents, access to athletic facilities, free parking, and discounted meal rates, along with other benefits designed to support your well-being and work-life balance.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, resume, and the name and contact information of three (3) professional references through Interfolio at apply.interfolio.com/173393. Email and paper applications will not be accepted.

All offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

In compliance with immigration laws, proof of work authorization in the United States will be required when employment begins. Southwestern University is an E-Verify employer.

Southwestern University is an equal-opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at hr@southwestern.edu.

Jeanne Clery Statement: Notice of Availability of Annual Security and Fire Safety Report— Southwestern University Annual Safety and Fire Report is available online at https://www.southwestern.edu/life-at-southwestern/safety-security/annual-security-reports/ containing mandated information about current campus policies concerning safety and security issues, required statistics, and other related information for the past three calendar years. To obtain a paper copy of the report, please call 512-863-1435.

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