Director

You’re an experienced human resources leader with a depth and breadth of knowledge regarding total rewards. Alberta Health Services (AHS) is looking for someone like you to influence and shape the long-term vision for total rewards at AHS as the Director, Employee Benefits and Retirement Programs (EBRP). This is your chance to join a centre of expertise responsible for the strategic and financial direction of all benefit programs under the Health Benefit Trust of Alberta (HBTA) and AHS retirement programs. The HBTA operates as a multi-employer employee life and health trust that provides insured and self-insured employee benefits to approximately 200,000 members and plan beneficiaries, across 36 participating provincial healthcare and related agencies. Your experience and broad knowledge of total rewards will help you navigate the complex environment of unionized and non-unionized employees eligible for the Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP), a defined benefit retirement compensation arrangement (DB RCA), non-registered supplementary defined contribution pension plan (DCSPP), group voluntary RRSP, and/or group voluntary TFSA. In joining AHS, you’ll have access to a flexible benefits program designed to support your individual needs, a defined benefit pension plan, and a generous time-off package to support a healthy work/life balance. EBRP is a provincial team, so the location of this position is negotiable within Alberta. This position offers the option of a flexible work arrangement to support remote or hybrid work arrangements. See full job requirements and apply below!

The Director, Employee Rewards and Benefit Plans (EBRP) leads the overall operations of AHS’ employee benefits and retirement savings programs by providing strategic leadership and operational oversight. In this role, you will provide expertise, informing policy direction and risk management strategies, develop short- and long-term benefit and retirement plan strategies, and lead the development and maintenance of financial service agreements and contracts, providing oversight to program performance standards. As the Director, EBRP, you will provide leadership to the governance and administration of the Health Benefits Trust of Alberta (HBTA), of which AHS is a participating employer, in the provision of group term life insurance, short- and long-term disability, supplementary health, dental, critical illness, accidental death and dismemberment, flexible spending accounts, and other ancillary benefits. This includes the oversight, governance, and delivery of pension, retirement, and savings programs in place at AHS, as well as prudent financial management of the HBTA. As Director, you will allocate resources to ensure effective program delivery, benchmarking, evaluation, and recommendations for improvement. The Director is the primary spokesperson and liaison between HBTA and key stakeholders, including the Policy Council, participating employers, unions, HBTA service providers, consultants, professional advisors, plan beneficiaries, and other vendors. The Director, EBRP, serves as an expert resource and collaborator with other internal and external stakeholders, and will develop and maintain effective working relationships with AHS departments, participating employers, consultants, service providers, insurers, and counterparts from other large benefit plans.

The successful candidate will possess a university degree in a related discipline and a professional designation (CEBS) or equivalent post-secondary education in employee benefits. Holds an active designation or certification as Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR), Institute of Corporate Directors, Director (ICD.D), and/or Advanced Trust Management Standards (ATMS).

A minimum of 10 years’ experience in a multi-union, multi-employer environment, including plan design, funding, underwriting, risk management, labour relations, and financial accounting. Has a strong understanding of the insurance industry and trust law. Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a leadership role including management of staff with diverse and varying degrees of experience. Must have a proven ability to foster strong relationships, work in collaboration with other teams and demonstrated oral and written communication skills. In-depth understanding of financial aspects of employee benefits, including underwriting and risk management, and service provider evaluation. Experience with financial reporting and governance models relating to employee life and health trusts.

3-5 years’ experience in a mid- to senior leadership role. Knowledgeable about various types of pensions, including retirement compensation arrangements, and group savings arrangements, pension funding and investment concepts, and the regulatory and governance framework within which pension plans operate, 2-3 years’ experience with collective bargaining and providing governance and secretariat support to a Board would be considered assets.