Manager, Benefits and Pension

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The Benefits and Pension Manager is a strategic and hands-on leader responsible for the overall management, compliance, and continuous improvement of all benefits and pension programs across the KIPP TEAM and Family network. This role ensures the organization offers competitive, cost-effective, and employee-centered benefit plans that meet both organizational goals and employee needs. This individual will oversee the administration of core benefit offerings, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, wellness programs, voluntary benefits, and all retirement and pension-related plans. The manager will ensure alignment with internal policies, regulatory compliance (including ACA, ERISA, and state pension requirements), and industry best practices. Working in close partnership with the Human Resources, Payroll, and Finance teams, as well as external vendors, brokers, and state pension offices, the Benefits and Pension Manager will play a critical role in driving employee engagement and satisfaction through high-quality benefits education, timely issue resolution, and efficient plan administration.This a hybrid role: in-person requirement to be in the office at a minimum twice a week, and additional in-person time is necessary based on organizational needs.Key Responsibilities:Stakeholder ManagementServe as the primary point of contact for all employee benefits and pension inquiries, ensuring timely, accurate, and empathetic support.Partner closely with internal HR, Payroll, and Finance teams to align and streamline benefit and pension processes across systems.Manage relationships with vendors, brokers, and NJ pension offices (PERS, TPAF, DCRP), including enrollment oversight and account resolution via MBOS.Lead benefits education efforts to enhance employee understanding and engagement, including presentations and self-service resources like HR Wiki and Zendesk articles.Full-cycle Benefits SupportOversee the administration of all employee benefit programs including health, dental, vision, life, disability, wellness, and retirement plans.Manage employee transitions including new hire enrollments, life events, terminations, and pension-related changes.Maintain accurate eligibility and plan data across systems; serve as certifying officer for NJ pension plans and complete quarterly IROC submissions.Support audits, analyze utilization trends, and recommend cost-effective program improvements.Provide Tier 2 support for escalated employee questions and serve as a technical liaison with vendors to troubleshoot complex issues.Review and process all benefits-related invoices in partnership with AP and Purchasing to ensure timely payment.Benefit EventsLead planning and execution of annual open enrollment, including system readiness, communications, and post-enrollment audits.Support benefits onboarding during new hire orientation and ensure departing employees receive accurate COBRA, pension, and retiree information.Monitor and process qualifying life events in accordance with plan rules and compliance standards.Ensure benefits messaging is incorporated during key employee transitions in partnership with HR Ops.Compliance & Regulatory OversightEnsure full compliance with federal, state, and local benefits regulations including ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and ERISA.Lead preparation and submission of required filings (IRS Form 5500, ACA reporting) and manage external audits.Conduct internal audits to reconcile deductions and correct discrepancies across systems.Maintain policies and ensure all employee-facing materials meet legal and organizational standards.Monitor legislative changes and assess implications for KIPP’s benefits programs.Team Leadership & ManagementDirectly supervise and develop the Benefits Coordinator, ensuring timely support and service excellence.Monitor Zendesk ticket resolution, documentation, and audits to meet internal service expectations.Assign projects, delegate tasks, and promote continuous improvement across benefits operations.Conduct regular check-ins and performance reviews while identifying development opportunities to grow team capacity.