Benefits Manager

Salary: $59,900.00 - $95,000.00 Annually

Location : Ashland, VA

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: 03575

Department: Human Resources

Opening Date: 05/24/2025

Description

General Responsibilities:

The Benefits Manager contributes to the human resources function by administering the School District's employee benefit programs for all employees and retirees. Work requires extensive knowledge of employee benefit rules and federal laws, relating to ACA, ADA, COBRA, FMLA and EEO. Manages the day to day administration of benefits programs and annual open enrollment process. Technical knowledge related to navigation of HRIS Systems, coordination with vendors, the ability to manage multiple priorities with frequent interruptions as well as independent judgment and decision making are key to success. Serves as primary contact for short and long-term disability insurance, tax sheltered annuity plans and active and retiree health and dental benefits. The ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing is essential. Serves as liaison between employees/retirees, insurance carriers and the school system for problem resolution. Conducts presentations for new-employee orientation. Serves as the school division's primary contact for the Virginia Retirement System.

Essential Duties:

(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.)

Coordinates health insurance, dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, disability plans, Virginia Retirement System counseling and tax-sheltered annuities for all school division employees utilizing benefit vendor websites

Ensures timely processing of employee/retiree benefit enrollments and changes

Serves as primary contact for plan vendors and third-party administrators

Assists with the RFP and renewal process for all benefit plans

Assists with the design and implementation of benefit plans

Prepares materials and convene committee to consider Sick Leave Bank applications

Conducts individual counseling sessions for prospective retirees and group retirement sessions. Interprets and explains policies, procedures and retirement laws to employees, retiring employees and beneficiaries. Develops communication tools to provide information to retirement system members. Responds to retirement inquiries via email and phone. Prepares retirement and purchase of service applications. Determines retirement eligibility of members; researches and computes benefit options; computes purchase of service, withdrawal of contributions. Maintains files of all active, deferred, retired and separated members of the retirement system.

Assists employees on 403b/457 matters. Serve as liaison with deferred compensation representative

Administers COBRA health insurance for qualified participants, assuring appropriate compliance with federal laws

Communicates benefits information to employees via written materials, website updates, and in individual meetings

Prepares and distributes information on benefits to school employees

Serves as notary for employer/employee actions

Organizes and present open enrollment information to all HCPS employees on health, dental, and voluntary benefits

Conducts new employee orientations for all employee groups

Oversees the preparation of employee materials for input into payroll system

Prepares benefit materials for payroll processing

Reconciles monthly benefit premium payouts

Maintains confidential files related to employee benefits and employee medical information

Monitors benefits for compliance with Affordable Care Act and prepares annual 1095 filings

Supervises Benefits Specialist

Performs related work as required

Qualifications: KSA's, Education

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Extensive knowledge of benefits programs and federal laws such as FMLA, FLSA, HSA, COBRA, ACA and 403b/457 administration. Considerable knowledge of Human Resources policies and procedures. Considerable knowledge of retirement benefits and related federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. Working knowledge of all Microsoft Office Programs. Working knowledge of business English and mathematics to perform arithmetic calculations and compose correspondence. Demonstrated ability to analyze, interpret and apply laws, regulations, rules and guidelines. Demonstrated ability to develop communications, prepare presentations, conduct interviews and present information/orientation sessions to large groups of people. Demonstrated ability to organize and coordinate multiple programs independently. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing in a tactful and confidential manner in stressful circumstances to all levels of personnel, their families and insurance carriers. Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality of member data.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in personnel, human resources, business administration or relevant field. Requires professional-level and responsible human resources experience in a setting of related scope and complexity to a school division or similar environment and experience managing multiple functional areas of Human Resource office/department.

An equivalent combination of education and professional level experience administering personnel policies, procedures, and programs may be accepted in lieu of preferred level of education.

Proficiency to expert level use of Excel. Prior supervisory experience. Experience working with the Virginia Retirement System is preferred. Flexibility to attend events on evenings and weekends, as needed.

Terms of Employment

Job Title: Benefits Manager

Location: Central Services

Work Schedule: 8 hours a day, 12 months (261 days)

Pay Grade: 16

Salary Scale: Uniform

FLSA Status: Exempt

Physical requirements and Disclaimer

Physical Conditions:

Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees and the public through the use of the telephone and personal contact as normally defined by the ability to see, read, talk, hear, handle or feel objects and controls. Physical capability to effectively use and operate various items of office related equipment, such as, but not limited to a, personal computer, calculator, copier, and fax machine. No significant climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, and repetitive motions.

Rev 8/2021; Rev-Grade change 10/2018, Title 02/2018 Rev 01/2018 - 07/2014. Hanover County Public Schools assures Equal Employment Opportunities and equal education opportunities for employees and students as required by Federal and State Orders and Laws. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks. This job description is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements. However, management and administration reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position.

Please visit compensation for more information on our competitive benefits package. If you have further questions about your benefit status, please contact your recruiter.

The Hanover County School Board does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, disability or national origin in its employment practices or educational programs and activities. The Director for Special Education is designated as coordinator for non-discrimination for access to and implementation of programs under Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources is designated as coordinator for non-discrimination regarding personnel matters under Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To contact Hanover County Public Schools by phone, you may call .