Manager - Employee Benefits - Jeffco Public Schools - Colorado : Job Details

Jeffco Public Schools (Jeffco) is located in Jefferson County, Colorado. It is the second largest school district in Colorado serving 69,000 students across 155 schools. With 14,000 employees, the district is the largest employer in Jefferson County and has provided educational excellence for more than 70 years.

Jeffco embraces the spirit of the West and the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountain region with the county spanning more than 770 square miles running the length of the western edge of the Denver metropolitan area. The district is diverse in both population and geography, from urban to rural, including the mountain communities in the foothills west of Denver.

Overall, Jeffco has 31% of students that qualify for free and reduced lunch, an indicator of poverty, and 34% minority (25% Hispanic) student population. The district is implementing a new strategic plan, Jeffco Thrives 2025 that is focused on providing a world-class education that prepares all Jeffco students for bright and successful futures as local and global citizens. Come join us!

Jeffco Public Schools is a Single-State Employer. All candidates hired by Jeffco Public Schools must reside within the state of Colorado.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT

The Jeffco Human Resources Department is comprised of Talent Acquisition, HR Programs, Employee Relations, Employee Records, Total Rewards and Benefits, Employee Assistance Programming, and Leave Management. The team is responsible for leading all human capital initiatives and supporting Jeffco employees through all phases of their employment lifecycle, and committed to providing flexible solutions to meet the growing needs of our more than 14,000 employees. In support of the District's guiding strategic plan and Jeffco Thrives, the HR Department is focused on the priority area of Our People, Our Strength by creating a collaborative, value-driven team culture.

ABOUT THE JOB

No job description available

HOURS AND DAYS WORKED

Desired Start Date: 06/10/2024

Mgr - Employee Benefits

Annual Position

FLSA: Exempt

FTE: 1.00000 , Hours/Day: 8.000 , Days/Year: Year Round

Salary Plan, Grade, Step: JCA - Administrator - 229 days , G07, 1

Min-Mid Annual Salary Range: $90,732.00 - $108,750.50 Effective as of: 06-16-2023

Compensation schedules for Jeffco Schools can be found here. Starting salary for non-licensed roles is based on the candidate's relevant work experience and education. Additional considerations may be given for job-specific certifications and skills. Applicants should submit all relevant and verifiable education, training and work experiences at the time of application. Starting Salary for licensed educators is based on the step and lane schedule found here.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENT

The successful new hire or rehired candidate will be responsible to complete and incur the fingerprinting and processing fee of $54.50 through an appropriate fingerprinting vendor and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, within 48 hours of offer acceptance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

SUMMARY As a member of the Total Rewards team, oversee the administration, compliance, and strategic management of employee benefit programs. Responsibilities include managing vendor relationships, communicating benefit options to employees, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Manage staff responsible for benefits customer service support. Recommend process and technology changes in support of organization goals, greater cohesion among teams, and strategic alignment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Oversee the administration of all employee benefit programs, including health insurance, retirement plans, disability coverage, and any other benefits offered. Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and union agreements in the design, implementation, and administration of benefit plans.

Manage the Benefits staff in customer service, workflow, training, and process efficiencies. Serve as a resource for team members seeking assistance with benefit-related issues. Coordinate with other departments, such as Finance and payroll, to resolve complex or escalated benefit issues.

Develop and implement strategies to effectively communicate benefit options, changes, and updates to employees. Present on benefit options at Employee Orientation and at workshops to help employees understand their benefit options and make informed decisions.

Manage relationships with benefit plan vendors, including insurance providers, retirement plan administrators, and third-party administrators. Monitor vendor performance and ensure compliance with service level agreements.

Manage annual Open Enrollment process including testing and updating the module, multi-prong district wide communications, setting service expectations including availability of drop-in assistance and phone assistance.

Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements related to employee benefits, such as ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, and FMLA. Prepare and submit required reports to regulatory agencies and union representatives.

Work with finance and budgeting teams to forecast and manage benefit plan costs. Conduct regular analysis of benefit plan expenses and utilization trends to identify cost-saving opportunities.

Support the Benefits Advisory Committee, Supplemental Retirement Plan Committee, and Voluntary Retirement Plan Committees. Assist in setting agendas, provide research in support of recommendations, and make presentations and give updates on important issues.

Develop, review, and update documentation, including website pages, related to employee benefits to ensure alignment with organizational goals, union agreements, and regulatory requirements. Recommend changes or enhancements to benefit programs based on industry trends and employee feedback.

Partner with the HR Operations team to ensure accurate employee benefit data in HRIS or other systems. Serve on committees and work groups on process improvements and technology enhancements.

Support Request For Proposals (RFPs) for benefit programs.

Coordinate closely with the Employee Leaves team to improve synergy between the two areas.

Assist in special projects that may impact the work of the budget team, including selection of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, document management software, system updates, website redesign, etc.

Perform other duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE 5 years of experience in the administration of employee benefits, leaves, and/or Total Rewards. Prior experience as a team lead or manager preferred. Previous experience in a large public sector employer or unionized environment preferred.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING Bachelor's degree required. Additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS None required. Professional Human Resources (PHR) Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR), SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) certification preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES Demonstrated understanding of various employee benefits programs including, retirement plans (401(k), pension), life insurance, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and wellness programs. Familiarity with relevant laws and regulations governing employee benefits, including ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, FMLA, and state-specific regulations. Experience in evaluating, selecting, and managing relationships with benefit vendors. Strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively communicate to employees at all levels of the organization. Proficiency in analyzing benefit utilization data, claims reports, and employee feedback to assess the effectiveness of existing benefit programs and identify opportunities for improvement or cost savings. Ability to lead benefit-related projects from inception to completion, including plan design changes, open enrollment processes, vendor implementations, and compliance audits. Aptitude for identifying and resolving benefit-related issues and concerns, whether they arise from employee inquiries, compliance challenges, or operational inefficiencies.

SPAN OF CONTROL Direct supervision of five Benefits staff members. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include supporting on interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; and addressing complaints and resolving problems. This position is responsible for supporting budget development and accountability.

WORK ENVIRONMENT Work is performed in a semi-secured office building with a typical office environment and risk factors.

SALARY

Jeffco Salary Schedules

BENEFITS

Jeffco Benefits

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Jefferson County School District does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, pregnancy, or gender.