Assistant Vice President, Benefits & Wellbeing: Position Profile

The University of Alabama at Birmingham ("UAB") welcomes inquiries, nominations, and applications for the role of Assistant Vice President, Benefits & Wellbeing (AVPB&W).

The University of Alabama at Birmingham, a beacon of education, research, and medical excellence, not only operates at the forefront of academic innovation but also stands as the state's largest employer and is hailed as a Best College to Work For, a Best-In-State Large Employer, and was selected by Forbes’ as America’s Number 1 Best Large Employer. Within this dynamic environment, the Assistant Vice President for Benefits & Wellbeing emerges as a central figure, poised to sculpt the framework of employee support systems across UAB. In addition, the AVPB&W provides strategic oversight and guidance for a 29-member team of specialists that manage Benefits, Wellness, and the Employee Assistance Counseling Center. Anchored by the strategic vision of the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), this role demands a profound understanding of UAB's mission and a commitment to steering the institution's benefits and wellbeing initiatives in alignment with its values.

The AVPB&W must assimilate the intricate relationships that span the University, the UAB Health System, the University of Alabama System, and the nuances of the Teacher’s Retirement System. The department’s recent integration of the Employee Assistance Counseling Center (EACC) into an already robust team underscores the immediate need to foster unity and cohesiveness, a task requiring both diplomacy and decisiveness. This role demands a leader who can empower, inspire, and maintain operational excellence without succumbing to the status quo.

Short-term objectives are clear: successful renewal of insurance plans, the rollout of a new TIAA Platform, adapting to Secure Act 2.0 mandates, and implementing a new wellness program platform. Long-term, the vision extends to nurturing team development, succession planning, and carving a strategic future path. The incumbent will be a pivotal component within the organizational hierarchy, reporting directly to the CHRO, acting as a trusted advisor, and interfacing with an intricate web of internal and external stakeholders.

This leader must navigate a complex landscape, one where collaboration and compassion are as vital as strategic acumen. A background steeped in public university or government benefit programs, and a track record of leading complex projects, is essential. The role demands a leader capable of intricate negotiation, one who is unafraid to engage with the political subtleties of large, state-run benefits systems, and who can deliver innovative solutions that are both equitable and competitive.

Looking forward, the role is brimming with potential. Secure Act II looms on the horizon, promising federal mandates that will necessitate agile adaptation. The incorporation of the EACC into the department opens avenues for groundbreaking wellness initiatives, including a partnership with the UAB School of Education, signaling the inception of pioneering EAP educational tracks.

At its core, success in this role hinges on a delicate balance of attributes: sensitivity to the diverse needs of the workforce, strategic communication skills, and a profound understanding of the complexity of a large employer that is both a university and academic medical center. The individual must be both a confidant and a challenger, a visionary and a pragmatist, ready to shepherd UAB through its next chapter of growth and innovation with energy and enthusiasm.

LeadExec is partnering with The University of Alabama at Birmingham in this national search. For inquiries, nominations, applications, and confidential conversations, please contact:

Lisa J. Marks, Founder & CEO
Leyla Kayi, Senior Search Consultant
413-335-6936
avpbenefitsandwellbeing@leadexec.com

This position is open until filled. Applications should include a detailed letter of interest and a current curriculum vitae/resume.

UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work-life balance irrespective of race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans. A pre-employment background check investigation is performed on candidates selected for employment.