Stewards public funds with a high sense of responsibility
Leads with an unrelenting commitment to universal student success
Demonstrates the ability to organize teams to achieve common goals
Leads with an awareness of the cross-functional nature of district work
Generates a culture of care for, learning with and service to the community
Aspires to the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality
Demonstrates a passion for working with a culturally, racially linguistically diverse district team of administrators, educators and staff in all roles
Actively seeks feedback, including critical feedback intended for professional growth
Understands the intersection of public school leadership, student learning and equity
Courageously addresses adult behavior that does not meet professional expectations
About This Role
The Human Resources Benefits Manager serves as the initial point of contact for employees' issues and inquiries related to benefits, leaves of absence, and workman’s compensation. The Human Resources Benefits Manager tracks and maintains all personnel-related records, prepares local, state, and federal reports, assumes responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Human Resources Department for employees, researches and prepares information for use during collective bargaining, and supports the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.
The Human Resources Benefits Manager will ensure that equity is at the center of decisions as expressed in Board Policy 7:12: Ensuring Racial and Educational Equity. positively impacting staff experiences. Employees include all OPTA, OPTAA, OPESP, and SEIU members as well as administrators and staff considered as educational support personnel according to the Illinois School Code.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
SPECIFIC TASK AREA: BENEFIT PLAN MANAGEMENT
Prepares benefits communications for websites and newsletter publications ensuring all staff members are accessing and understanding available benefits.
Prepares benefits packets for new employees.
Processes all benefits paperwork to ensure full and accurate completion of all documentation.
Answers questions and conducts informational sessions for staff on employee benefits including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, 403b, FSA, HSA, and any other voluntary benefit plans offered by District 97.
Conducts new employee orientations to ensure employees gain an understanding of benefit plans.
Assures that benefit plan communications are comprehensive, accurate, and understandable.
Coordinates with Assistant Superintendent of HR or designee in conducting open enrollment meetings and in communicating benefit plan changes.
Processes enrollments and changes in benefits and maintains accurate employee benefit data.
Reconciles monthly insurance invoices and payments to enrollment census from carriers and to payroll deduction records.
Reviews and processes payment for all benefits plans.
Maintains files and tracks retiree and LOA insurance benefits.
Assists employees in resolving employee benefit plan claims.
Attends all meetings and takes minutes for the Benefits Insurance Committee.
Coordinates and administers COBRA for all staff.
Creates letters of explanation for salary adjustments associated with leaves of absence, “left our employ,” or changes to full time equivalency or position.
Prepares and calculates longevity recognition and retirement recognition payments for the payroll department.
Assists employees through the offboarding process in regards to termination of benefits and leave balances.
Promotes an ongoing wellness campaign for all employee groups.
SPECIFIC TASK AREA: LEAVE ALLOCATIONS AND LEAVES OF ABSENCE
Answers questions and conducts informational sessions about leaves of absence available to each employee group.
Meets with and provides information to employees requesting leaves of absence.
Coordinates with payroll and communicates with employee(s) regarding unpaid/paid status during LOAs and generates invoices for the collection of missed payroll deductions.
Calculates leave allocations for all employees and provides allocation information to payroll and staff.
SPECIFIC TASK AREA: RECORDS AND REPORTS
Enters new employee information and maintains Benefit Management System records and compiles monthly/biweekly audits from the database.
Assists with maintenance of personnel files for all employees in compliance with legal requirements.
Prepares state and federal reports including ACA, workers compensation, and others as directed.
Assists in gathering information, compiling reports, and assembling confidential information for use during Collective Bargaining.
Researches and prepares reports for collective bargaining and assists in the data collection and preparation related to negotiating agreements, including (1) preparing cost analyses; (2) redlining bargaining proposals; and (3) reviewing proposed contract language.
Prepares personnel-related reports for other District 97 departments as needed.
Acts as Payroll Liaison for all staff ( leave balances, deductions, benefits, etc.)
Prepares for the audit of all benefits records annually and assists Board-appointed auditor in the annual audit process.
SPECIFIC TASK AREA: WORK ACCOMMODATIONS, WORKERS COMPENSATION, AND UNEMPLOYMENT
Reports accidents, submits invoices and monitors claims for District's Worker Compensation for all District 97 staff.
Processes unemployment claims, prepares documentation for unemployment hearings, and responds to requests for information related to unemployment.
Maintains and completes unemployment claims paperwork against the district.
Manages the ADA process for all employees which includes conducting the interactive ADA dialogue, collecting and reviewing medical documentation, communicating with supervisors, employees, and payroll, and returning employees to work.
Supports TRS and IMRF data entry and compliance.
SPECIFIC TASK AREA: OTHER SERVICES
Assists in planning regular meetings of the Human Resources Department and serves actively to improve communication, cooperation, and planning.
Supports the Assistant Superintendent for HR and/or designee in administrative efforts; keeps him/her informed of important developments and events; and seeks counsel or decision as necessary.
Supports the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources in collective bargaining, particularly with regard to formulating, determining, and effectuating proposals.
Assumes other duties as assigned by the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and/or designee
Content Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Required
Sound knowledge of best practices in benefit management including leave of absence management, benefit plans, work accommodations and workers' compensation.
Sound knowledge of best practices in payroll operations and/or the inter-relatedness of benefits management and its impact on the implementation of payroll.
Handles confidential information discreetly and professionally.
Ability to exercise appropriate initiative and work independently.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
Excellent computer skills (running reports, data entry, spreadsheet management, file management, mail merges and word processing).
Ability to manage multiple projects, tasks, and timelines at the same time.
Ability to use discretion and exercise sound judgment.
Critical thinker and problem solver.
Strong interpersonal skills and customer service oriented.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Ability to work effectively in a constantly changing environment.
Ability to maintain a cooperative nature under stressful business situations.
Possess an above-average ability to relate individuals to names and situations.
Ability to meet deadlines.
Education, Credentialing, And/or Experience
Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources or Related Field, preferred
Two years related experience managing benefit programs and/or training, preferred
Physical Requirements
This position requires the performance of light work—which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to move objects. The position includes close visual acuity, frequent talking, hearing, walking and standing, occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, some stooping, kneeling, crouching and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity. The job is performed in non-hazardous environments and a clean atmosphere.
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