Director Of Benefits & Risk Management (Anticipated) Central Office (24-25 SY)

JOB TITLE: Director of Benefits & Risk Management

WAGE/HOUR STATUS: Exempt

REPORTS TO: Senior Executive Director of HR & Employee Services

PAY GRADE: Admin/Prof 8 [230 Days]

DEPARTMENT: Human Resources & Employee Services

DATE REVISED: June 2024

This position is eligible for a Non-Chapter 21 Contract

PRIMARY PURPOSE: Provide leadership for operations of the District's Employee Benefits office, which includes administering numerous insurance benefits, voluntary retirement benefits, and 457 FICA Alternative Plan for part-time, temporary, and seasonal employees; enrollment of the employee-owned Catastrophic Leave Bank; and Affordable Care Act reporting.

Provide leadership for the innovation, governance, and management necessary to identify, evaluate, mitigate, and monitor the district's operational and strategic risk. Develop risk management tools, practices, and policies to analyze and classify risks and measure the financial effect of risks on the district. Identify, evaluate, develop, control, and minimize the district's exposure to loss or damage to physical assets, fidelity losses, and losses arising from liability claims.

Responsible for the administration of the district's property and casualty program, which includes all insurance programs for property, auto, general, and professional liability. Responsible for accidental injury policies for certain student groups. Responsible for the District's Workers' Compensation, Leave of Absence, and Unemployment Benefits program.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Education/Certification:

• Master's degree with a major in Human Resources, Business, Education, Leadership or related field

• TX principal/mid-management certificate, preferred

• Bilingual proficiency English/Spanish, preferred

• Certified School Risk Manager (CSRM) (certification must be obtained within 2 years)

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Knowledge of applicable federal and state employment laws and regulations

• Knowledge of HR practices and principles & HR documents system

• Knowledge of school administrative practices and procedures

• Knowledge and skill in functions/processes of a HRIS

• Knowledge of computer-assisted compensation and benefits analysis techniques

• Knowledge of certification rules and procedures

• Knowledge of personnel records systems

• Skill and knowledge in the collection, analysis, and determination of the relative market value and institutional application of quantitative salary and benefit survey data

• Knowledge of Texas workers' compensation codes

• Ability to interpret and disseminate insurance and benefits information to individuals and groups

• Knowledge of administration of property and casualty programs

• Knowledge of voluntary retirement plans

• Knowledge of Leave of Absence principles, including ADA accommodation

• Knowledge of Texas Unemployment rules

• Ability to conduct on-site safety inspections of all district facilities

• Ability to effectively utilize and manage district human resources software systems, spreadsheets, and database programs

• Customer service skills with the ability to work collaboratively with organizational teams

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail

• Skill and knowledge in the collection, analysis, and determination of the relative market value and institutional application of quantitative salary and benefit survey data

• Effective communication skills to communicate with all levels of employees both verbally and in writing, including top management, sufficient to provide information, interpret policy, and to justify and persuade others

• Skill in writing concise, logical, analytical reports and notes to justify compensation and benefits recommendations and decisions

• Skill in computing rates, ratios, and percentages in gathering and applying salary and benefits data.

• Ability to develop and implement action plans to address unique and unusual issues within compensation and benefits disciplines.

• Ability to work in a diverse team environment with students, faculty, and staff.

• Strong organizational skills

• Ability to work independently

• Exceptional oral and written communication skills

• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

Minimum Experience:

• At least one (1) year of successful experience as a school administrator (Preferred), OR

• Human resources staffing and recruitment experience in a public school system or government agency (Preferred), OR

• Three years experience in human resources, staffing, and/or risk management in a public school system or government agency (Preferred)

• Demonstrated commitment to providing exceptional service to both internal and external customers.

• Five years experience in direct supervision of employees, three years of which should be directly related to benefits administration, risk management, employee relations, classification/compensation administration and/or position control (Preferred)

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Organizational Development and Improvement:

• Assist in identifying, supporting, and executing strategies to support the attainment of annual improvements for the department, division, and district.

• Provide clear, consistent, and positive communication, guidance, and support to internal stakeholders and external partners, vendors, and stakeholders.

• Assist the Senior Executive Director of HR & Employee Services with programs promoting employee retention and development as needed.

• Communicate effectively with staff, district employees, community, and the school board in verbal, written, and other formats.

• Focus efforts of the department toward the accomplishment of the district mission, vision, core values, district goals and strategic priorities.

• Coordinate the preparation and approval of resource plans and budgets in support of district Benefits & Risk Management objectives.

• Leads the Benefits & Risk Management staff that provides support to HR & Employee Services.

• Designs a vision for broader benefits services and strategies, makes recommendations, and prepares proposals for new and improved programs based on district needs.

• Advises managers and employees on resolutions for specific problems relating to benefits, leaves, and risk management-related issues.

• Coordinates the development and implementation of programs, special projects, research studies and other department initiatives to identify best practices and process improvements in order to promote functional efficiency and productivity.

• Keep abreast of employment laws and HR best practices and make recommendations for improvement.

• Prepare and recommend personnel policies and procedures that ensure compliance with policies, laws, and regulations governing district employees.

• Collects and interprets area, regional, and state benefit information for all employee levels using a variety of methods [including, but not limited to, personal contact, surveys and publications, studies] to determine the competitive position of the district.

• Participate or be informed about salary and benefits surveys and other benchmark studies, provide analysis on salary and benefits trends, and recommend solutions.

• Perform all other tasks and duties as assigned.

Benefits:

• Direct and manage the district's Benefits and Risk Management, loss control, and safety program functions: Healthcare, COBRA, Workers' Compensation, Unemployment Compensation Benefits, 403(b), 457 Non-Classified, TRS, 125 Cafeteria, Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, Catastrophic Leave Bank, Student Accident/Athletic Insurance, Property/Casualty, Loss Control, and Automatic Deposits/Pay Cards.

• Counsel employees on available retirement options, rules, and regulations, both mandatory and voluntary.

• Oversee leave of absence, including Family and Medical Leave (FML), programs to ensure administration according to applicable federal/state laws and district policies.

• Implement benefits programs, ranging from the initial stage of gathering information through program implementation and evaluation that comply with all applicable federal and state laws.

• Collect and interpret area, regional, and state benefit information for all employee levels using a variety of methods (including, but not limited to, personal contact, surveys, and publications, studies) to determine the competitive position of the district.

• Analyze, design, and administer employee benefit programs, such as medical, dental, life, and disability insurance plans, as well as 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plans, to ensure programs are current, competitive, and compliant with legal requirements.

• Participate or be informed about benefits surveys and other benchmark studies; provide analysis on benefits trends and recommend solutions.

• Manage the design and development of tools to assist employees in benefits selection and to guide managers in benefit information dissemination to assist their employees.

• Manage leaves of absence cases.

• Oversee components and strategies within the total compensation package (e.g., ELEVATE, PRG, Grow with Irving, Course & Certification Reimbursements, etc.)

Risk Management:

• Advise upper management on issues related to loss exposure and accompanying risk to assets and employees. Recommend strategies to reduce risk and loss exposure and related costs.

• Direct, analyze, and negotiate workers' compensation, unemployment, property and casualty, liability, automobile, and student insurance policies; make sound recommendations for selecting insurance brokers and carriers.

• Identify, develop, coordinate, and conduct training programs related to safety, driving, incident investigation, and risk management for district employees.

• Assist the Purchasing Department with reviewing vendor contracts for the district to ensure appropriate insurance limits are obtained prior to services being awarded.

• Develop proposals, bids, quotations, or other documents for products and services. In conjunction with the Purchasing Department, review and respond to questions submitted by proposers.

• Manage workers' compensation claims and programs, including loss trends, utilization reviews, return to work, and light duty programs.

• Direct all unemployment claims; serve as district representative for Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Workers' Compensation Commission hearings. Manage claims or work in defense and settlement of claims against the district.

• Coordinate with insurance carriers regarding property/auto losses and liability claims filed by the district.

• Coordinate with agents, insurers, service providers, and district personnel on the design, implementation, and monitoring of safety, loss prevention, and claims administration programs for the district.

• Coordinate the administration of the Americans with Disabilities Act provisions to include investigations as to accommodations and other remedies.

• Coordinate all aspects of ADA matters for compliance with federal and state laws; keep all tracking documents as required by the Department of Justice for ADA compliance.

• Conduct investigations into inquiries regarding ADA compliance status at District-owned sites.

• Coordinate all fitness-for-duty exams and reasonable suspicion/under-the-influence medical testing for the district.

• Serve as Chair of the district's Workers' Compensation Claims Review Committee.

• Document and retain approved certification of insurance coverages for organizations using school facilities, vendors, or contractors.

• Investigate and analyze accidents involving employees injured while using District vehicles, equipment, or facilities.

• Notify the insurance carrier and district attorney immediately after being made aware of lawsuits against/on behalf of the district.

• Assist in the development of Employee Wellness Programs.

Policy, Reports, and Law:

• Monitor and review quarterly health, worker's compensation, student accident/athletic, and property/casualty claims and reports and advise supervisor of trends or concerns.

• Implement and monitor all labor laws and related posters required for public viewing.

• Implement the policies established by federal and state law, State Board of Education rule, and local board policy in the areas of benefits and risk management.

• Compile, maintain, and file all physical and computerized reports, records, and other documents required for benefits and risk management.

• Recommend sound policies to improve compliance and circumvent regulatory financial penalties.

Budget:

• Provide advice on loss exposure and accompanying risk regarding assets and employees. Recommend strategies to reduce these risks and loss exposures and their related costs.

• Monitor insurance program budgets and ensure that programs are cost-effective and funds are managed properly.

• Assist with compiling budgets and cost estimates based on documented program needs.

Human Resource Information Systems [HRIS]:

• Promotes proactive approaches using HRIS to solve business needs/problems, enhances the understanding and acceptance of the HRIS capabilities by directing, researching, and resolving HRIS problems, unexpected results, or process flaws and recommends solutions or alternate methods to meet requirements.

• Assists the IT Department in the review, testing, and implementation of HRIS system upgrades or enhancements, including maintenance of system tables, to ensure that HR needs are addressed.

• Maintain documentation on HR systems processes, interfaces, and technology infrastructure.

Other duties as assigned by the Senior Executive Director of Employee Services

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Benefits and Billing Specialist

• Benefits & Leaves Assistant

• Risk Management Specialist

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors: Must maintain emotional control and exercise reasoning and problem-solving skills while under stress. Must demonstrate ability to communicate effectively [verbal and written]. Repetitive hand motions. Prolonged use of computer. Occasional prolonged and irregular hours during high-demand calendar events.

Safety: Contribute to the prevention of accidents and injuries by observing safety rules and District policy, practicing the principles and skills taught in safety training, wearing personal protective equipment as required, reporting injuries and incidences immediately to a supervisor, and being proactive in the ongoing efforts to improve and maintain workplace safety.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA], and the foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills that may be required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.