ABOUT THE DISTRICT

Jeffco Public Schools, Colorado's largest K-12 school district, with 85,000 students and approximately 14,000 employees, has provided educational excellence for more than 60 years. Nearly 10 percent of all Colorado K-12 students attend a Jeffco school and our employees benefit from partnerships with experienced, dynamic school leaders throughout our district. Our Jeffco Generations vision document and strategic plan map out with focus and clarity what we expect our schools to accomplish with our graduates. Come join us!

ABOUT THE SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT

About the Department:
The Employee Benefits Department resides under the auspices of Human Resources. The team is responsible for:

• Supporting health, life, and disability benefit programs for over 11,000 benefits-eligible employees and 403(b) benefits for over all employees.
• Managing benefit programs, vendors, and evaluating and implementing program changes.
• Providing benefits-related customer service to employees and resolving escalated issues.
• Working with HR and payroll staff to support accurate and timely HR and payroll records; auditing and reconciliation of payroll and benefits eligibility
• Complying with benefits-related regulations
• Develop and deliver effective communication materials via multiple platforms
• Support Peoplesoft HRMS benefits enrollment and admin systems

ABOUT THE JOB

About the job:
As Benefits Administration Manager for one of the largest school district's in Colorado, the successful candidate will possess a deep understanding of employee benefits, with background working with large employers. Strong supervisory, analytical skills and a focus on leveraging technology to enhance efficiencies and deliver a value-added service experience are key skill needs. In addition to supervising a staff of four, this position will work with the Employee Benefits Director to support two joint labor/staff committees, conduct and evaluate Requests for Proposals, create and distribute communication materials, support special projects and research and implement processes/procedures to meet regulatory requirements. Experience with self-funded health plans is a plus.

HOURS AND DAYS WORKED

Desired Start Date: 06/17/2019
Manager, Benefits Admin
Annual Position
FLSA: Exempt
FTE: 1.00, Hours/Day: 8.00, Year Round Position
Salary Plan, Grade, Step: JCA - Administrator - 229 days, G06, 1
Min-Mid Annual Salary Range: $73,291- $87,315

RESPONSIBILITIES

SUMMARY: Provide day-to-day management of benefits department including managing Benefits Specialists. Recommend technology improvements, and work directly with HRIS department in implementation of upgrades, system changes and testing. Ensure consistent benefits administration processes are documented, implemented and followed. Ensure effective customer service is provided and documented. Collaborate with payroll to ensure proper deduction and tax treatment of benefits. Research upcoming regulations, recommend suggestions for compliance and implement necessary processes/procedures; perform and monitor ongoing compliance.

Uses advanced knowledge of administration of benefit plans, retirement programs, taxation, and accounting to resolve escalated problems and ensure compliance with regulations and District policy. Manage projects, support RFP efforts and committee work as requested by Director, Employee Benefits.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned:

Provide day-to-day direction and guidance to department staff. Ensure workload needs are distributed effectively to accomplish required work and meet deadlines; rebalance as needed to meet changing needs. Identify future department workload needs, identify resources, and implement action plans. Identify staff training needs, create/review process documentation, conduct employee training sessions or find appropriate training opportunities for department staff. Conduct ongoing informal and formal staff evaluations. Screen initial applicants for openings and make recommendations to department Director for final consideration.

Using technical benefits knowledge, ensure compliance with regulations such as, but not limited to: HIPPA, COBRA, FMLA, ADEA, CMS, ACA, 403(b) and section 125 plans. Stay apprised of upcoming regulatory changes, conduct research and make recommendations for needed process changes. Prepares and submits necessary documents/ monitors ongoing processes to make sure that compliance deadlines are met.

Ensure proper audit controls are in place. Conduct process audits, create procedure documentation and ensure proper implementation.

Respond to escalated issues and conduct in-depth research to identify root cause of problems; develop appropriate action plans to resolve any systemic issues and respond to participants.

Leverage technology to create/enhance department efficiency. Work directly with HRIS staff to plan and manage joint projects, support upgrades and system changes and ensure that improvements meet department needs. Provide directly or manage staff to support testing efforts. May write business requirements. Identifies system changes needed to support annual benefits enrollment activities. Using knowledge of HRIS systems, assists HRIS staff with system set-up, text catalogue changes, rate table development and other updates as needed.

Attend payroll meetings; manage staff deadlines for data corrections to ensure that benefit deductions are handled accurately and problems are resolved to the extent possible prior to monthly payroll finalization. Monitor FSA and HSA contributions to ensure tax limits are not exceeded and HSA set-up has been successfully completed in advance of monthly payroll.

Attend and provide support for benefits-related committees as needed, including taking and preparing minutes, and material preparation. Run committee meetings in the absence of the Director.

Craft communication materials, prepare and deliver presentations. Organize, schedule vendors and support employee events and teacher induction. Manage publication of monthly benefits newsletter to include content planning, drafting and editing articles, creating the newsletter personally, and/or in conjunction with Director. Craft outreach notices/letters to employees who become benefits eligible and work with HRIS to ensure HRMS Message Center is updated for needed changes on an ongoing basis.

Anticipate needed support to ensure that annual benefits enrollment occurs smoothly, including managing vendor file transmission, providing COBRA and flex claims administrator with up-to-date information to manage benefit plan changes and materials are created to assist employees with understanding upcoming benefit changes.

Perform ongoing review of benefits onboarding websites, updating documents to provide to web SME to update; ensuring accurate information is available to newly eligible benefited employees.

Ensure department website is timely and accurately updated. Provide project and ad-hoc support to department Director to include, but not limited to: Data analysis and manipulation, preparation of summary analysis reports.

Prepare quarterly sick and personal leave payment calculations, conduct limit testing and provide to payroll in accordance with payroll deadlines.

Ensure proper processing of 403(b) requests for distributions, loans, participant data updates, beneficiary distributions and DRO?s.

Perform other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EXPERIENCE: Minimum of 8 years of progressive benefits experience to include a technical/compliance focus. Prefer previous supervisory experience or experience in a lead-benefits position and experience with automated benefits administration systems. Experience working with large employers strongly preferred.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING: Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced training in business administration, accounting, or finance. Previous school district experience is preferred. Equivalent experience will be considered.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS: None required. CEBS or ACA Benefits Certification a plus.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, & EQUIPMENT: Advanced Excel skills, including ability to create and manipulate large, complex spreadsheet and intermediate to advanced skills in Word and PowerPoint preferred. Strong analytical skills, previous benefits accounting, supervisory experience, and successful experience in a customer service-oriented environment preferred. Must be creative problem solver with ability to develop pro's and con's of various solutions, as well as ability to multi-task effectively.

Must have excellent oral and written communication skills; and strong presentation skills. Knowledgeable of HRIS environments in benefits, payroll and Human Resources. Previous experience with PeopleSoft, particularly the benefits administration module is strongly preferred.

DECISION MAKING: Decision making is guided by Board, District, and department policies and procedures; negotiated agreements; federal and state laws; and department workflow. Decision making requires collaboration with director, all levels of administrators, licensed staff, support staff throughout the District, and employee associations. Errors in decision making could include errors in benefits and/or noncompliance with established policies, procedures, negotiated agreements, and laws. Director is involved only in major decisions.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS: Daily contact with persons within/outside department/building and applicants to negotiate controversial or confidential matters. Daily contact with general public to furnish or obtain information and with consultants, attorneys.

SPAN OF CONTROL: Directly supervises five (5) employees in the Benefits Department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; and addressing complaints and resolving problems.

EDUCATIONAL DELIVERY: Develop and maintain programs designed to help attract and retain high quality employees. Educational delivery is provided for employees, department and related staff and leadership. The majority of time is not spent on the school site.

COMPLEXITY OF WORK: Work is self-directed; management may request information or assign a project. Requires thorough technical knowledge, problem solving skills, independent thinking and decision making; extensive knowledge of District policies and procedures; organizational skills and tact to effectively oversee, interpret policies and procedures for District personnel, and respond to applicant and administrator inquiries; and research and resolve employment and compensation issues. Duties require knowledge of position functions and requirements; ability to troubleshoot, problem solve, and independently evaluate and resolve issues in a timely manner; and cross-training in customer service, supervision, payroll, benefits, HRIS, laws and regulations, District and department policies, and negotiated agreements.

The physical demands, work environment characteristics, and mental functions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

MENTAL FUNCTIONS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to instruct, compare, analyze, communicate, coordinate, compute, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, synthesize, and compile. The employee is occasionally required to copy.

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.