Director of Employee Relations and Benefits - Austin, United States - Teacher Retirement System of Texas
Description
Location:
1000 Red River
Austin, Texas, 78701
United States
Director of Employee Relations and Benefits - Hybrid
Requisition ID:
req1054
Employment Type:
Unclassified Regular Full-Time (URF)
Division:
Organizational Excellence
Compensation:
140, ,000.00, Annual Salary
Location:
TRS
Job Closing:
May 5th at 5:00 pm, CST
WHO WE ARE:
Service, Respect, and Connection are core to the individual and collective
TRSexperience.
We know that great service rests on a foundation of relationships that connect us all to an empowering and rewarding career.
At TRS, we're inspired by our diverse community who bring authenticity and commitment to our mission to improve the retirement security of public education employees and retirees throughout Texas.
As a group of achievers, we tap collaboration and innovation to raise the bar in performance, administering and counseling pensions and healthcare benefits to ensure certainty for the future of our members.
We invite you to join us, where both personal and career growth are respected and where you can make a difference in our members' lives every day.
The Director of Employee Relations & Benefits is responsible for overseeing employee relations, employee benefits, and workplace accommodations programs throughout the organization.
The incumbent will manage a team and provide strategic direction, technical guidance and support to managers and employees across the organization.
This position will collaborate with Legal and Compliance, the Executive and leadership team, and employees to manage sensitive and confidential matters while adhering to state and federal requirements.
This position reports to the Chief Organizational Excellence Officer.This is a hybrid position that will require the applicant who is selected to report to our Austin, TX office at least three days per week.
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
Section Administration and Oversight
Responsible for managing the day-to-day activities for employee relations, employee benefits, and workplace accommodations staff which includes hiring, performance management oversight, coaching and developing staff.
Develops and implements techniques for evaluating program activities while pursuing new goals and objectives for improvement. Collaborates with leadership and legal staff to maintain compliance and updates to related
TRSpolicies, practices, and procedures as needed.
Stays attuned to organizational and operational changes across the agency to identify potential risks. Advises OE leadership of the issues and develops plans to address risks proactively.
Employee Relations
Oversees the development and delivery of employee relations training programs for agency staff on
TRSpolicies and procedures for corrective actions, dispute resolution, and/or best practices.
Consults with leadership on employee relations matters to provide direction on assessing root causes, determining appropriate strategies for addressing problems; coaches and supports leadership through the execution of identified actions, including corrective action, as appropriate.
Administers the performance improvement process. Partners with managers and employees to explore and identify available options and appropriate course of action throughout the process.Partners with other OE staff to create and implement strategies and measures to increase employee engagement, morale, and satisfaction.
Conducts and documents investigations. Partners to recommend resolutions.Conducts exit interviews, analyzes trends or opportunities for feedback or improvement, particularly in areas related to employee engagement.
Employee Benefits
Administers employee benefit programs including health, dental, vision, life, short and long-term disability and workers' compensation insurances.
Educates staff on the above benefits and other benefits available through employment with the State of Texas.
Reviews and analyzes benefits procedures, makes recommendation to implement changes leading to best-practice operations.
Oversees the annual open enrollment process. Manages benefit open enrollment meetings and ensures that all employee health enrollment elections are processed accurately.
Employee Workplace Accommodations
Oversees the workplace accommodation activities of TRS, which includes the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Employee Assistance Program (EAP), extended sick leave, sick leave pool and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) programs.
Serves as a liaison on all matters involving leave and workplace accommodation programs and provides subject matter expertise on leave and accommodation administration to employees and managers.
Identifies reasonable accommodations (including alternative reasonable accommodations) and assesses hardship, when needed.In collaboration with leadership and Legal and Compliance, finalizes accommodation outcomes, including alternative reasonable accommodations, approval/denial of requested accommodation(s), and follow-up in appropriate cases.
Assesses and analyzes data to gain insights into patterns and trends concerning leave and accommodations.Advises leadership and employees on emerging workplace accommodation issues and takes appropriate action as required.
Consults with and advises employees and leadership on eligibility, provisions and other matters related to leave programs.
Performs related work as assigned.
WHAT YOU WILL BRING:
Required Education
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in human resources or closely related field.
High school diploma or equivalent and additional full-time experience in human resources, employee relations administration, benefit program administration, and/or workplace accommodations or related experience may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
Required Experience
Eight (8) years of full-time progressively responsible Human Resources experience to include direct experience in employee relations administration, benefit program administration, and/or workplace accommodations, which includes experience with FMLA, ADA and ADAAA.
Four (4) years of experience leading, or supervising the work of others, required.Experience may be concurrent.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with benefits coordination in a State of Texas agency.
Experience with ERS PeopleSoft system.
Experience with Centralized Accounting and Payroll/Personnel System (CAPPS).
Familiarity with with Workers Compensation programs.
Experience with workplace accommodations and special leave requests in a Texas governmental setting.
Certified Benefits Professional (CBP), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
Knowledge of:
State of Texas employee payroll accounting statutes, policies, procedures, processes, and systems, including USPS and CAPPS
Texas Employees Group Benefits Program, deferred compensation, and other benefit programs administered by ERS, including relevant federal and state laws, regulations, policies, and procedures
State and federal employment laws, statutes, and regulations
Federal and state laws related to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Workers Compensation
Thorough understanding of dispute and conflict resolution
Skills in:
Problem solving
Interpersonal communications
Ability to:
Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
Remain tactful, calm, and persuasive in controversial and/or confrontational situations.
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing with a diverse workforce.
To interpret and follow federal, State of Texas, and
TRSpolicies, procedures and guidelines.
Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply the appropriate sections of applicable laws, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, and policies.
Ensure agency is in compliance with State of Texas and federal laws, statutes, and regulations requirements.
Resolve issues and when needed, escalate issues appropriately.
Effectively train, lead, evaluate and recognize teams.
Participate positively in highly collaborative environment and appropriately incorporate legal advice.
Interpret policy and data of varying levels of complexity in a clear and concise manner.
Manage difficult situations with tact and diplomacy.
Lead projects and facilitate workgroups.
Provide quality customer service.
Establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with co-workers, agency staff, and external contacts.
Work effectively in a professional team environment.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)
Codes:
Veterans, Reservists or Guardsmen with experience in the Military Occupational Specialty ( ) along with the minimum qualifications listed above may meet the minimum requirements and are highly encouraged to apply.
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