Associate Director, Benefits and Leaves of Absence

Dynavax Technologies
life insurance, parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, 401(k)
United States, California, Emeryville
2100 Powell Street (Show on map)
Mar 04, 2025
This position can be 100% remote, but must be located in the United States. Dynavax is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing novel vaccines to help protect the world against infectious diseases. We operate with the highest level of quality, integrity and safety for the betterment of public health. Our proprietary CpG 1018 adjuvant powers our diversified infectious vaccine portfolio, which includes HEPLISAV-B, our commercial product approved in the U.S. and the European Union, for prevention of hepatitis B virus in adults. We also supply CpG 1018 to research collaborations and partnerships globally. Currently, CpG 1018 is being used in development of COVID-19, plague, shingles, and Tdap vaccines. At Dynavax, our vision and work ethic are guided by the collective ideals underpinning our core values, and these form the basis of our dynamic company culture. We strive to maintain a culture where each employee is valued by the organization and where our organization is valued by each employee. We offer a highly flexible work environment for our headquarter employees where individuals work remotely and gather for in-person meetings when necessary. Dynavax is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay area, and our manufacturing facility is in Dusseldorf, Germany. The Associate Director, Benefits and Leaves of Absence, will play a critical role in the Human Resources Department by overseeing all U.S. benefit plans and managing employee leaves of absence. This position ensures compliance with all benefits plans and supports general HR operations, contributing to the overall employee experience and organizational success. The role requires a strategic and hands-on approach to managing and owning the overall benefits administration, including the design, implementation, communication, and continuous improvement of benefit programs. The Associate Director will work closely with leadership to align benefit strategies with business goals, ensuring the company remains competitive and attractive to top talent. Responsibilities Manage and administer all U.S. employee benefit programs, including but not limited to health, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, 401(K) plan, wellness, etc. Work closely with brokers on insurance renewals and open enrollment evaluating the design, recommendations, and implementation of new benefit programs while ensuring alignment with company objectives and budget constraints. Participate in market surveys evaluating and comparing existing benefits with peer companies. Mange relationships with all benefit providers and third-party administrators. Communicate benefits information to employees and assist them with understanding their options and making informed decisions. Oversee and manage the entire leaves of absence process, including FMLA, short-term disability, long-term disability, parental leave, and other statutory leaves. Provide guidance and support to employees and managers regarding leave policies, procedures, and regulations. Ensure accurate tracking of leaves and proper documentation in compliance with company policies and legal requirements. Coordinate with payroll and HR team to ensure accurate leave payment and record-keeping. Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations related to benefits and leaves of absence. Serve as primary liaison with Finance team on billing, accounting, or finance support services. Lead and assist the filing of 5500s, 401(K) audit, non-discrimination testing, and EEO reporting. Monitor legislative changes and assess their impact on existing programs, update policies and procedures accordingly. Develop and maintain benefits-related documentation, including plan documents, summary plan descriptions, and employee benefit guides. Assist with the generation of monthly HR metrics and other ad-hoc employee reporting. Assist with general HR operations, employee data maintenance, and other projects as needed, contributing to the continuous improvement of HR processes and initiatives. Other duties/projects as assigned. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field. 7-10 years of related work experience managing employee benefit programs and leaves of absence. Strong knowledge of federal and state regulations related to benefits and leaves, including FMLA, ADA, ERISA, COBRA, and HIPAA. Life Sciences industry experience preferred. Previous experience with UKG preferred. Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) or similar certification is a plus. Collaborative work style with strong customer service orientation. Skilled in planning, organizing and managing workload and priorities. Ability to handle sensitive data and maintain confidentiality. Skilled communicator with excellent listening skills. Ability to effectively communicate on complex issues. Strong proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook. Strong attention to detail. Ability to sit; stand; walk; reach with arms and hands; lift and move small objects; and use hands to keyboard and perform other office related tasks including repetitive movement of the wrists, hands and/or fingers. Occasional travel required, as needed. The estimated salary range for this position is $163,000 to $185,000. Final pay determinations may depend on various factors, including, but not limited to experience level, education, geographical location, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The total compensation package for this position also includes other compensation elements such as stock equity awards and participation in our Company's discretionary annual bonus program. Dynavax also offers a full range of health and welfare insurance benefits, 401(K) company match, and paid time off benefits, including 17 paid holidays in 2025. #LI-REMOTE California residents: for information on how we handle your personal information and your privacy rights as a job candidate, please see our Candidate Privacy Notice: https://www.dynavax.com/file.cfm/53/docs/dynavax_privacy_notice_for_california_applicants.pdf Dynavax is an equal opportunity employer & prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, disability, marital & veteran status.