Job Description

POSITION: 24-25 Benefits Manager

REPORTS TO: Director of Compensation and Benefits

POSITION TYPE: 12-month

START DATE: Immediately

COMPENSATION: $67,359 - $80,831, Home Office grade 6

At YES Prep, work for a mission that impacts the life trajectory of students and their families. YES Prep creates pathways to extraordinary opportunity through best-in-class development, competitive compensation and benefits, and recognition for your impact. Grow as an authentic leader and be part of an equity driven, team-oriented culture.

Our campuses are advancing educational equity. Some quick stats about us:

19,500 Students
2,300 Team Members
15 Secondary Campuses
9 Elementary Campuses
92% Students Who Qualify for Free/Reduced-Price Lunch
96% Hispanic & African-American Students
90% Students Who Are Accepted to a 4-Year University
88% First-Generation College Students
Ranked in the Top 100 High Schools in the Nation, U.S. News & World Report

We serve the students of Houston, Texas, the 4th largest city across the United States. There are over 20 public-school districts and other great public charter school options within Houston’s city limits serving our increasing population. We are a rapidly growing organization, committed to creating life-changing opportunities for over 23,000 students by 2025.

THE OPPORTUNITY

YES Prep needs a dynamic Benefits Manager with a diverse set of experiences, to make our mission a reality. As a YES Prep employee, you will achieve jaw-dropping results, create pathways to opportunity for our students, build transformative relationships, and eliminate educational inequities to advance social justice.

To put it simply, we exist to provide compelling benefit options that allow staff to make the best health and wellness choices for themselves and their families. So, you will work with the Compensation and Benefits team to develop and improve benefits plan designs and resources and support with building out programming that meets the needs of staff and strategic direction of YES Prep Public Schools.

THE ROLE

When you join the YES Prep team, some of the work and responsibilities will include:

Reviewing, maintaining, and making recommended updates to benefits policies to ensure that programs are current, competitive, and in compliance with legal requirements;
Understanding the unique needs of YES Prep and staff, government regulations, and prevailing plan designs and contribution models to support with the development and recommendations competitive benefits offerings;
Project managing and leading with Annual Enrollment, and working with the team to build, offer, and advertise affordable group rates that allow staff to choose a comprehensive health and wellness package that fits within their budget and needs;
Working with the Director of Compensation and Benefits to create a pathway to ensure staff have equitable access to the benefits that impact them the most through cost/affordability and coverage;
Collaborating with the Benefit Specialist to review benefits data to develop methods to improve employment policies, processes, and practices, and recommend changes to plan/benefits management that improve compliance and minimize internal risk to the organization and employees;
Administering and overseeing employee benefits and wellness programs, including the integration of benefits programs through transitions, annual enrollment cycles, and the entire benefits plan year cycle;
Creating and sustaining productive and collaborative relationships with internal teams, along with all benefit carriers, to ensure accountability for and execution of service agreements;
Identifying and implementing benefits offerings, resources, and communications to increase the quality of life for staff by working with brokers and researching benefits issues;
Developing a communications voice and strategy marketing benefits internally and the day-to-day functions of a benefits life cycle, that is tailored to staff needs, increasing cost control, and making recommendations to assist with minimizing plan volatility and risk for YES Prep;
Liaising between benefits providers and employees, such as by assisting in handling employees' benefits-related questions or taking and implementing suggestions for improvements;
Additional duties as assigned.

THE PERSON

We seek staff with diverse backgrounds, talents, interests, and ideas. Certain traits consistently shine through for our most successful employees: passion for the mission, drive for results, care for students, and resilience. Other traits needed and desired for this role are:

THE MUST HAVES

Minimum of 3 years’ experience with health and welfare administration (i.e. Benefits Coordinator, Specialist, Analyst, Administrator, Manager, etc.)
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)
- In lieu of bachelor’s degree: 4+ years working directly with benefit administration
Knowledge of legislation affecting benefit plans (ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, Section 125, ACA)
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
Experience and aptitude with Benefits Administration Systems, Human Resources Information Systems, and benefit carrier systems
Ability to interpret laws and plan documents
Ability to work outside of normal hours and on weekends as needed
Openness to giving and receiving frequent feedback
Ability to maintain emotional control under stress
Ability to work urgently in a fast-paced and results-oriented environment
Creates and maintains positive working relationships on a team and/or in a highly collaborative environment
A dedication to learn, grow, and develop as a professional

THE MUST HAVE BELIEFS

Belief in and commitment to the mission and core values of YES Prep Public Schools
Desire to disrupt systemic status quos in education
Willingness to go above and beyond to disrupt said status quos
Passion to develop resiliency through a relentless pursuit of jaw-dropping results
Conviction that high expectations + high accountability = high performance and high growth

THE NICE TO HAVES

1-2 years of benefit administration experience with self-funded medical plans
2 years of Benefits Specialist experience
Ability to juggle multiple tasks and initiatives at once

THE PERKS

Compensation – This position is an exempt, salaried position; offers commensurate with experience.
Health and Supplemental Insurance – A $0 monthly medical option that includes $600 towards a Health Savings Account, in addition to a variety of supplemental benefits including Dental, Vision, Disability, Life, etc. Employees must work 20+ hours a week to be eligible for a full spectrum of benefits, and 10 hours a week minimum for medical benefits.
Retirement Plans – Participation in Teacher Retirement System of Texas and a 457b Retirement Plan.
Paid Time Off – Employees working 20+ hours a week receive 15 days of Paid Time Off in addition to the system closures during the Academic Calendar.
Paid Leave Programming – In the event you need to be out due to medical needs (including maternity and paternity leave), YES Prep offers paid leave, paid out at 100%, based on eligibility and tenure.
Professional Development - YES Prep values longevity and performance over time. We invest in developing leaders through high-quality programs, effective coaching, and ongoing professional development.
Award Winning Culture – The strong cultures of our campuses and Home Office are just one of many reasons we were named Houston’s Best Place To Work in 2018, 2019, and 2021. We won the  2012 Broad Prize for Excellence in Urban Education  and were a 2016 finalist as well.

WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO EQUITY & DIVERSITY

YES Prep strives to recruit a diverse team of leaders. We believe there is a transformative academic and social benefit for students when their teachers and leaders reflect a diversity of backgrounds. Ninety-five percent (95%) of staff members agree that the organization provides a welcoming environment given their background and identity according to our latest system survey.

YES Prep is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood.

YES Prep Public Schools

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24-25 Benefits Manager