Benefits & Payroll Director

Our client in Northern Bergen County, NJ has an excellent opportunity for a Benefits & Payroll Director! You are expected to be in the office five days a week.

Responsibilities:

• Ideate, design, and develop benefits programs and processes to senior leadership, leveraging competitive data, industry trends, and cost analysis. Provide strategic recommendations for enhancements or improvements that align with organizational initiatives and respond to evolving environments, regulations, technology, tools, or business needs.
• Continuously monitor and analyze benefits and wellness programs and industry trends using competitive data, industry trends and cost analysis to inform strategic decision-making. Propose recommendations to senior leadership in support of organizational goals, changes to relevant laws and regulations, technology, tools, or business needs.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of competitive benefits and wellness trends and the integration and synergies between various departments (e.g., HRIS, payroll, accounting) to optimize organizational efficiency and drive impactful benefits initiatives.
• Develop and lead the design, administration, and delivery of benefits programs including health insurance, retirement plans (i.e., 401k), and other employee programs (i.e., total rewards)
• to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations and maximize employee satisfaction. Employ critical thinking and innovative approaches to enhance program effectiveness and drive.
• Proficient in analyzing benefits data to identify trends and leverage insights for strategic decision-making. Capable of presenting a compelling case to senior management to drive informed recommendations.
• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive benefit program communication campaigns, strategically directing the preparation and distribution of communication materials, including electronic communications, and orchestrating management and employee meetings to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Responsible for critically evaluating, selecting, and directing benefits consultants, brokers, actuaries, and necessary legal counsel. Demonstrates intellectual curiosity by continuously seeking innovative solutions and exploring new approaches to optimize benefits strategies and enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Strategically oversee vendor contracts, continuously analyze and optimize vendors to ensure alignment with organizational goals. Recommend vendor rationalization where appropriate.
• Manage the RFP process for new contracts and renewals in collaboration with Procurement and Legal groups, driving efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Develop the annual payroll and benefits operating budget. Regularly monitor to identify variances and underlying causes. Utilize metrics and KPIs to drive process optimization and cost savings, ensuring efficient and effective budget management.
• Periodically perform a comprehensive and thorough analysis of benefits and wellness programs to industry standards and best practices to identify areas for improvement.
• Serve as the Lead on the Benefits Committee, responsible for setting the agenda, direction, and acting as the steward of the committee. As the subject matter expert, provide internal consulting and education to employees, HR Business Partners, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment with organizational goals and effective benefits management.
• Lead the Benefits and Payroll teams; grow and engage employees aligned to our strategic pillars; create an inclusive environment for all; mentor team to build capability for future needs. Hold the team accountable to high standards and strive to create a best-in-class organization.

Requirements:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in payroll and benefits design and administration, consistently advancing into leadership roles.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration: Finance, HR, or related field; advanced degree or certification is a plus.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) a plus.
• In-depth knowledge of payroll systems: Dayforce preferred and HRIS platforms.
• Exceptional leadership skills, consistently exhibiting executive presence and the ability to inspire and guide teams towards achieving organizational goals.
• Proven track record of effectively managing and mentoring diverse teams, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment that drives innovation and excellence.
• Adept at strategic decision-making and navigating complex challenges, ensuring alignment with the company’s vision and objectives.
• Possesses exceptional verbal and written communication skills, enabling effective interaction with employees at all levels, management, external benefits professionals (including insurance contacts, vendors, actuaries, etc.), legal counsel, and regulatory agencies.
• Demonstrate the ability to navigate complex discussions and foster collaborative relationships to achieve organizational objective.
• Demonstrate agility in navigating change and making swift, informed decisions to adapt to evolving circumstances and drive organizational success.
• Proven ability to analyze and interpret employee information and data demonstrating a keen understanding of the underlying narratives within the data while effectively communicating insights that drive strategic decision-making and foster a deeper connection to the organization’s goals and objectives.