Director of Benefits Administration
Published Date: May 13, 2025
Location: US
Company: Los Angeles Unified School District
SALARY DETAILS
$157,350 - $194,910 Annually
APPLICATION FILING DATES
Apply Now! The application period will close at 11:59 PM on Friday, June 20, 2025.
Open: 05/13/2025
Close: 06/20/2025
INFORMATION ABOUT LAUSD
We are LAUSD. We are at the forefront of innovation in public education, focused on a clear and inspiring vision of the future for all of our students as they venture forward on their journey as lifelong learners. Here, you will have the opportunity to exercise your potential in a role supporting the business of education. Our work directly contributes toward the goal of ensuring that our students graduate ready for the world – ready to thrive in college, career and life.
LAUSD is the second largest school district in the nation with an enrollment of nearly 575,000 students. We serve an area totaling 710 square miles, with over 1,190 schools and educational centers, and we employ over 74,000 individuals, making us one of the largest employers in our city.
LAUSD Employees: Please be advised that all LAUSD employees must sign in to the GlobalProtect Virtual Private Network (VPN) in order to submit an application from an external network outside of an LAUSD location. For assistance with installing the GlobalProtect virtual network, please contact Information Technology Services at (213) 443-1300 or (213) 241-5200 or via their page (https://www.lausd.org/helpdesk)
DEPARTMENT
The Division of Risk Management and Insurance Services is currently looking for a well-qualified Director of Benefits Administration.
Benefits Administration is responsible for the management of medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, retirement plans, COBRA/AB528 continuation coverage, and various voluntary benefit programs such as optional life insurance and flexible spending accounts for eligible employees, retirees, and their dependents.
For more information about EDS, please visit: https://www.lausd.org/Page/4141
THE POSITION
The Director of Benefits Administration directs, implements, educates, and administers a wide range of benefits and retirement programs for District employees and retirees.
The Director of Benefits Administration receives administrative direction from the Chief Risk Officer, and exercises supervision over subordinate managers and supervisors. General directions will be exercised over other lower-level personnel.
NOTE: This position is 100% in-person. Qualified candidates will report to physical worksites.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL POSSESS:
- Deep expertise in administering complex health and welfare benefit programs and retirement systems, with a strong grasp of regulatory framework such as CalPERS, CalSTRS, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, and relevant California and Federal laws.
- Ability to model long-term cost scenarios, including OPEB liabilities and stop-loss coverage.
- Proven experience developing cost-containment strategies, managing large-scale budgets, and overseeing third-party vendor contracts and evaluations.
- Demonstrated success navigating union environments, collective bargaining agreements, and ability to serve as a liaison with Health Benefit Committees.
- Ability to analyze and cost out benefit proposals during labor negotiations.
- Strong understanding of technology systems used in Benefits Administration, with a vision for modernizing manual processes and reducing error-prone workflows.
- Exceptional ability to prepare and deliver clear, persuasive presentations to executive leadership, board members, and external stakeholders.
- Diplomatic and politically sensitive when discussing health care options, plan access and costs in public, and high-level meetings and negotiations.
- Superior communication skills, capable of translating technical benefit information into accessible guidance for a wide range of audiences.
- Proven leadership skills and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse employee groups, including union-represented staff, administrators, and executive staff.
- A collaborative leadership style with a track record of mentoring high-performing teams and working cross-functionally with departments such as Budget, Payroll, ITS, HR, Labor Relations, and Procurement.
- The ability to oversee efficient and effective operations, including the launch of new benefits programs, successful execution of open enrollment, in addition to timely and thorough audits.
JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
- Directs the activities of the Benefits Administration Branch which include processing health benefits enrollment applications, assisting employees and retirees with insurance questions, transmitting eligibility data to health plan vendors, ensuring proper payment to plans for covered employees and retirees, and resolving issues with plan representatives.
- Directs the fiscal management of health and welfare expenditures and implements cost savings and develops initiatives.
- Directs the deferred compensation programs.
- Develops and implements strategies to address the rising cost of healthcare and Other Post- Employment Benefits (OPEB) liabilities.
- Represents the Branch in labor negotiations related to health and welfare and deferred compensation programs.
- Oversees the District’s compliance with all regulatory mandates related to health and welfare and deferred compensation programs.
- Serves as a liaison to the Health Benefits Committee and coordinates the implementation of new health benefits policies and procedures.
For a complete class description, please visit https://careers.lausd.org/pc, under >Working at LAUSD> and select >Job Descriptions-Classified Jobs. Search for the position under its official title.
Entrance requirements are representative of the minimum level of knowledge, skill, and/or abilities.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION: Graduation from a recognized college or university, preferably with a major in human resources, school business management, business or public administration, or a related field. Professional benefits certifications are preferable.
EXPERIENCE: Four (4) years of experience managing the implementation or administration of a health and welfare benefit and retirement program. At least two (2) years of the required experience must include supervision.
Special: A valid driver’s license to legally operate a motor vehicle in the State of California and the use of a motor vehicle, or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation.
SPECIAL NOTES: An employee in this class may be subject to the reporting requirements of the District’s Conflict of Interest Code.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to qualify, you need to meet the educational requirements. As such, you MUST upload a copy of your degree on your official transcripts (i.e., scan, picture, PSD) to your candidate profile, under "attachments." We screen applications based on the minimum requirements and need to verify the educational requirement is met.
Candidates who have completed college or university course work at an institution in a country other than the United States, must obtain a complete evaluation of foreign transcripts and degrees. Please be sure to request a "Detailed" evaluation report. The original of this degree evaluation must be presented. For more information on Foreign Transcript Evaluation please visit https://achieve.lausd.net/Page/7876
BENEFITS
Insurance: District paid premiums for your choice of several medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents; and life insurance plans.
Retirement: Membership in the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS).
Vacation: 24 days each year.
Paid Holidays: Up to 13 days.
APPLICATION PROCESS
After application materials (questionnaire(s), application, resume, and cover letter) are reviewed and determined to meet the minimum qualifications, qualified candidates will move on to the next phases of our selection process.
The tentative selection process may consist of one or more of the following: Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), a Technical Project, and/or a Technical Interview.
This is a competitive process and we anticipate a number of well qualified candidates for this recruitment. Please make sure that you describe in DETAIL your experience, education, and training that most closely relates to this position in your application. You may include a professional resume, but it will NOT be in lieu of a detailed application and the required questionnaire. It is imperative that your application reflects your true and accurate background. Furthermore, if you have assisted in an interim or other temporary assignment or worked out-of-class for a significant and specified duration of time, include the contact information of your immediate supervisor during that assignment and be prepared to present verification from the official (local district superintendent, department administrator, or supervisor) validating your claim.
**Please be sure to include correspondence from @lausd.net AND @successfactors.com as an approved sender so that messages aren't accidentally placed into your spam/junk e-mail folder. All notifications regarding this recruitment will be sent via email.**
PLEASE NOTE: Qualified Candidates will be required to present an unexpired government identification at the time of the test. If you are unable to attend the scheduled test date, rescheduling is NOT guaranteed. We encourage you to visit our website periodically to check for the next recruitment and we encourage you to apply to any positions for which you believe you meet the minimum qualifications. For more information about the LAUSD employment assessment process, visit the 'My LAUSD Career' section of our website at https://careers.lausd.org/pc.
DO YOU NEED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE ON-LINE APPLICATION? Email us at helpmeapply@lausd.net. To find out whether the application deadline has been extended, visit the website at: http://www.lausdjobs.org. The Los Angeles Unified School District intends that all qualified persons shall have equal opportunities for employment and promotion.
Reasonable accommodations in completing an application and testing are available to individuals with disabilities. Please call (213) 241-3455 for more information.
If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Jessica Carrera at jessica.carrera@lausd.net.
ADDITIONAL POSTING INFORMATION
The Los Angeles Unified School District is committed to providing a working and learning environment free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, abusive conduct, or bullying. The District prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, abusive conduct or bullying based on actual or perceived race or ethnicity, gender/sex (including gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding/lactation status and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, religion, color, national origin (including language use restrictions and possession of a driver’s license issued under Vehicle Code), ancestry, immigration status, physical or mental disability (including clinical depression and bipolar disorder, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, epilepsy, seizure disorder, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and heart disease), medical condition (cancer related and genetic characteristics), military and veteran status, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age (40 and above), genetic information, political belief or affiliation (unless union related), a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law, ordinance, or regulation in any program or activity it conducts or to which it provides significant assistance.
For inquiries or complaints contact our Equal Opportunity Section, (213) 241-7685.
Selection and promotion are based on a competitive employment assessment process. Candidates who pass all parts of the assessment process are placed on a hiring (eligibility) list based on their assessment score. Hiring departments may make job offers to candidates on the top three ranks of the hiring list. Eligibility typically lasts for 12 months. The hiring list resulting from this assessment process may be used to fill open positions in related job classifications.
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