Compensation benefits specialist - #1337374

Augustana University is located in Sioux Falls — South Dakota’s largest city, with a metro area (population 280,000) among the fastest growing in the country. Key industries include health, bio & life sciences, distribution & logistics and advanced manufacturing. Home to more than 70 parks, 40 miles of greenways, a walkable downtown that features musical and cultural events, award-winning restaurants, the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Washington Pavilion of Arts & Science, Sanford Sports Complex, Levitt at the Falls and much more, there are unlimited opportunities for entertainment and recreation. All of this, along with a healthy economy and low cost of living, are among the many reasons Sioux Falls is consistently recognized as a great place to work, live, launch a career, start a business and raise a family.

Guided by its five core values — Christian, liberal arts, excellence, community and service — Augustana provides students with an education of enduring worth. They enter to learn and leave prepared to be servant leaders and visionaries who impact and influence every aspect of society. As the world continues to change, the need for AU graduates is greater than ever before.

Augustana instills a sense of calling and purpose in students' lives, as well as employees. All members of this special community are encouraged to be innovative, curious, lifelong learners who boldly live out the university’s core values.

In 2020, AU launched its Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030 strategic plan, supported by Viking Bold — the largest fundraising campaign in the university’s history. Through this bold journey, Augustana strives to enhance its position as a top-ranked regional university in service to its students and elevate the university’s national profile in service to its alumni, the city of Sioux Falls and Upper Great Plains region.

If you are looking for meaningful work and wish to be part of something much bigger than yourself, consider joining us at Augustana University.

Employees whose work activities are substantially involved in the administration of the University, other than teaching, shall be designated at administrators. These positions at Augustana University are salaried, exempt employees.

Title: Compensation & Benefits Specialist

Position Type: Full-Time

Department: Human Resources

Augustana University invites applications for a Compensation & Benefits Specialist within the Human Resources department. This full-time position will research, collect, analyze and prepare wage and salary data for compensation decision making purposes. This position will also develop, implement, and oversee Augustana University benefit plans
related to communication, enrollment and processing.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

Compensation

• Study current organizational wage and salary data.
• Develop and design compensation packages and policies that align with the university’s strategic goals.
• Research and compare compensation plans offered by demographically comparable universities. Make recommendations for enhancements or improvements required to keep Augustana’s wages competitive.
• Oversee competitive analysis, merit increases and salary structure.
• Collect, analyze, and communicate data to internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage and adjust internal reward practices (salary bands, promotions, pay changes) based on market practice/development, benchmark results and university needs.
• Conduct position audits, analyze and evaluate jobs using established evaluation system and recommend action concerning appropriate classification and pay level.
• Participate in salary and benefit surveys and provide market analysis/benchmarking of the exiting practices.
• Prepare faculty Letters of Appointment creation and staff salary notification letters.

Benefits

• Participate in surveys, censuses, and other research and demographic efforts required to collect accurate quotes from benefit providers.
• Identify and select carriers and plans based on quotes, available benefits and prior experience.
• Maintain knowledge of trends, developments and best practices within benefits administration.
• Responsible for ensuring benefit programs meet the needs of employees, legal requirements and that the selected programs are fiscally responsible.
• Develop and design presentations for benefit programs and manage benefit enrollment from start to finish.
• Respond to benefit inquiries from managers and employees on plan provisions, benefit enrollments, status changes and other general inquiries.
• Work with carriers in resolving claim or coverage issues.
• Ensure the accuracy of all benefit enrollments to vendors and perform quality checks of benefits-related data.
• Ensure plan compliance with applicable provisions of COBRA, HIPPA, ERISA, etc.
• Complete records, reporting, surveys, and other documentation required by federal, state and provider rules, regulations and policies.
• Maintain monthly benefits reconciliation including monthly bill audits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related discipline. Equivalent experience is considered.
• Computer literacy with proficiency in Microsoft Office and the Google Suite.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Extensive knowledge of employee compensation and benefits in relation to applicable laws is preferred.
• Prior experience of effective compensation and benefit practices and protocols in higher education is preferred.

Interacting with students, faculty and leadership with different backgrounds and points of view and a deep appreciation of and respect for academic values and culture must be a top value of the candidate.

Application Procedure

Interested applicants are asked to complete the below application materials. These application materials are to be sent electronically to **************@augie.edu. If reasonable accommodations are needed to participate in the application process, please contact *************@augie.edu.

• Letter of interest
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Augustana University employment application
• Statement of Diversity
• Contact information for at least three references

Augustana University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Title IX Employer that seeks to recruit, develop and retain a talented and diverse workforce. Augustana University is committed to excellence through diversity and strongly encourages applications from the entire spectrum of a diverse community. Submission of official transcripts may be
required upon employment. Finalist candidates must satisfactorily complete a pre-employment background check.

Address for sending resumes:

Human Resources
Augustana University
**************@augie.edu
Email submissions are preferred.

OR

Human Resources
Augustana University
2001 S. Summit Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57197

Telephone | 605.274.4110
Fax | 605.274.5547

If reasonable accommodations are needed to participate in the application process, please contact *************@augie.edu.

Augustana University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Title IX Employer that seeks to recruit, develop and retain a talented and diverse workforce. Augustana University is committed to excellence through diversity and strongly encourages applications from the entire spectrum of a diverse community. Submission of official transcripts may be required upon employment. Finalist candidates must satisfactorily complete a pre-employment background check.