Assistant Director of Total Rewards

Job Description

The Assistant Director of Total Rewards is responsible to designing, implementing, and managing the university’s compensation, benefits, and payroll programs. This role is responsible for ensuring the effectiveness and competitiveness of our total rewards offerings, ultimately contributing to employee attraction, retention, and engagement.

REQUIREMENTS/MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience

5 – 7 years of progressive experience in compensation, benefits, and/or payroll management. Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations and compliance requirements related to employee compensation and benefits administration. Experience in a not-for-profit or higher education environment is valuable.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree is preferred.

Licenses/Certifications/Credentials

Professional certification in Human Resources, Compensation, Payroll or Benefits required (e.g. – CEBS, CCP, PHR, SHRM-CP)

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position manages compensation, benefits, and payroll for the university and oversees the professionals administering those functions, including a Payroll Manager, Benefits Manager and HRIS Analyst.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Develops and executes the overall total rewards strategy, aligning with the university’s mission, culture, and business objectives.
• Leads the design, implementation, and administration of competitive compensation, benefits, and payroll programs to meet the needs of employees and the organization.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations related to compensation, benefits, and payroll.
• Oversees the preparation of regular salary and benefits surveys, market data analysis, and benchmarking to ensure competitiveness within the industry.
• Hires, trains, and effectively manages payroll, benefits, and HRIS professionals administering the University’s total rewards programs.
• Partners with HR Business Partners and University leadership to develop and implement compensation structures and salary administration programs that support talent management objectives.
• Collaborates with benefits brokers and vendors to manage the organization’s benefits offerings, including healthcare, retirement plans, and wellness initiatives.
• Oversees the organization’s payroll function, ensuring timely and accurate processing, tax compliance, and record-keeping.
• Leads the communication and education efforts related to total rewards programs, ensuring transparency and understanding among employees.
• Continues education to remain current on best practices and regulatory changes related to compensation, benefits, and payroll.
• Behaves ethically, respectfully, and with integrity at all times.
• Abides by the University’s policies, procedures, and rules.
• Works reliably and is responsive to the needs of employees within and outside Human Resources.
• Other duties, including special projects, as required or assigned.

COMPETENCIES/OTHER CHARACTERISTICS:

To perform the job successfully, an individual will demonstrate the following:

• Thorough understanding of compensation, payroll, and benefits practices, regulations, and trends.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience using data to drive decision-making.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to develop and mentor high-performing teams.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Proficient in HRIS and benefits administration systems.

Company Description

About UIndy

The University of Indianapolis, known commonly as UIndy is a private, comprehensive institution located in the heart of a growing and dynamic Midwestern city. Home to nearly 5,000 students, it is a modern university defined by relevance, applied learning, innovation, and real-world experience. Under the leadership of President Dr. Tanuja Singh since 2023, the University has entered a period of financial strength, innovation, and renewed strategic direction.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Tuition Discount
• Retirement Savings Plan - 403B
• Paid Vacation and Sick Time Accruals
• Paid Holiday time and additional University days off
• Employee Discounts & Services
• Free Parking
• Onsite Health & Wellness Center