Director of Benefits and Payroll

QUALIFICATIONS:  

A Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources (HR), Business Administration, Social Science  or any other field providing a strong foundation for success in the duties and responsibilities in this class specification, or an equivalent combination of education, experience and training that totals 4 years, are required.

Eight years of progressively responsible experience in HR management, which include substantive work in most of the essential functions in this class specification, are required.  These eight years must provide evidence of (1) skill in (a) managing a broad scope benefits program that includes health, welfare and retirement plans, (b) working closely and comprehensively with payroll on deductions for benefits and related matters, (c) performing or ensuring programmatic quality assurance/quality control, and (d) collaboratively managing change in HR programs, (2) skill in working with multiple stakeholders having diverse perspectives, (3) skill in first level supervision of benefits administration, and (4) ability to manage the payroll function through a subordinate supervisor.  

• A Master’s Degree in HR or another field related to the essential functions of this class of work may be substituted for up to two years of the eight years of experience required

• Experience processing semi-monthly payroll for K-12 employee groups

• Experience with Oracle (PeopleSoft)

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Certified Benefits Professional (CBP)

JOB DESCRIPTION:  

Directs the benefits, retirement and payroll programs and operations of Arlington Public Schools (APS).  In collaboration with senior leadership and key managers:

• Conceives, designs, develops, implements, manages, advocates for, promotes, evaluates and refines benefits-retirement programs, operations and initiatives that support acquisition, retention and management of a well-qualified, diverse and highly effective workforce

• In collaboration with the supervisor, peer directors in the Department of Human Resources and others, ensures that benefit-retirement offerings are part of a comprehensive, integrated total rewards program. 

• Recommends improvements in benefits or supplemental retirement offerings and administration and in payroll operations.  Develops new guidelines, or recommends changes to existing guides, for application, APS-wide, concerning benefits, retirement and payroll

• Serves as a change manager.  Identifies quantitative and non-quantitative measures of effectiveness for assigned functions; implements and reports on status/progress

• Supervises the Benefits Team and the Payroll Team

• Ensures compliance with Federal/State/local regulations and adherence to Arlington School Board-APS vision and generally-accepted merit system requirements/standards

• Serves as a member of the Department’s management leadership team. Performs related functions.  Impact of the work is realized in the development and administration of benefitsretirement programs/operations and payroll operations that are legally compliant, cost effective and employee/productivity supportive.

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Ensures compliance with Federal/State/local regulations and Arlington School Board-APS plans and objectives in management of assigned functions.   

Administers the APS leave programs – annual leave, sick leave, personal leave, military leave, civil leave, professional leave, unpaid leave, etc.  

Administers the APS health and welfare plans for employees and retirees.  Assesses behavioral health care, prescription drug plans, dental plans, vision plans, long-term disability insurance, and long-term care options as well as complementary programs to encourage and support employee health.  Explores issues of employee choice and flexibility, and seeks to positively influence employee outcomes while staying true to the APS cost strategy. Ensures proper eligibility and coverage.  Administers disability and survivor benefits, Unemployment Benefits and Workers Compensation. Manages third party plan administrators.  

Administers the APS 403(b) defined contributions and cash match plan, and APS participation in

VRS (including the Optional Retirement Plan for School Superintendents) and the Arlington County Employees Supplemental Retirement System.  Ensures eligibility, coverage, reporting, etc. Ensures provision of daily assistance to employees and retirees by the Benefits Team.  Advises within APS on regulatory pronouncements by external authorities and plan changes, and represents APS externally to plan administrators. 

Ensures effective benefits communication within a framework of strategic total rewards communication such as individualized annual benefits (or total rewards) statements and other recurring and one-time newsletters, articles and other issuances.  Defines objectives, assesses the audience(s), creates or supports key messages, selects the communication mode, implements the communication, evaluates its effects, and otherwise manages the communication effort. 

Ensures the preparation and processing of legally-compliant, timely and accurate payroll actions, the auditing of time and attendance reports, the checking/updating of leave records, etc.  

Seeks continuous improvement in health/welfare benefits, retirement and payroll management, and plans for, implements and manages improvements in the benefits-retirement domains of total rewards (strategically and tactically).  

Identifies quantitative and non-quantitative measures of effectiveness for assigned functions; implements, and reports on, status/progress.  

Supervises the Benefits and Payroll Teams – plans/assigns/reviews work, deploys personnel, monitors work operations, obtains effective results and performs a full array of supervisory personnel functions; ensures effective unit administration – budgeting, contracting, etc.  Serves as first level supervisor (over Benefits) and second level supervisor (over Payroll).

Serves as a member of the Department’s management leadership team – identifies, recommends, and implements initiatives that improve productivity and coordination, as well as quality and effectiveness, of Department-wide work efforts, and works with broader scope and higher echelon APS management teams as well as inter-agency teams, as assigned.  Leads on issues, and resolves problems requiring comprehensive professional knowledge of benefits-retirementpayroll in a public school system. Applies program management knowledge/skills and APSspecific knowledge.

Continuously improves knowledge of requirements, trends and ‘best practices’ in the fields of health/welfare benefits, retirement and payroll as well as complementary areas of total rewards (such as talent development, performance management and compensation).  Keeps abreast of the fit of benefits within the overall demographics of APS as pertinent to effectiveness in the array of benefits offered, the management of benefits and the ways/means of program communication/coordination.

Communicates and interacts effectively with internal and external business contacts.  Speaks to groups of employees/retirees.  Briefs principals, other administrators, managers, etc., on benefits program initiatives.  Participates in advisory committee meetings.  Collaborates with State agencies, Arlington County and neighboring school districts. 

Uses a computer and (a) modern office suite software for various applications such as, but not limited to, planning/scheduling, communicating (email), word processing, manipulating data (databases and spreadsheets), preparing charts/graphics/presentations and researching (Internet); (b) enterprise systems/software for requisitioning, budgeting, personnel reporting and other functions; and (c) specialty systems/software for tracking/reporting benefits/retirement data and performing other functions. 

Maintains confidentiality of data, including legally-protected personal information, sensitive decision-making and programmatic data, and other sensitive information. 

EXPERIENCE:  

Comprehensive knowledge (from both strategic management and day-to-day administration perspectives) of health, welfare and retirement benefits (types, costs, specific plans, regulatory requirements, etc.), and how they fit within a total rewards framework to ensure legally compliant, effective and forward-looking benefits, oversee benefits-retirement and payroll operations, and perform related functions.  This knowledge set includes key aspects of such regulatory requirements, standards and issues as Social Security integration, HIPAA/medical privacy, continuation of health coverage under COBRA, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements, benefits/retirement nondiscrimination rules and tests, IRS guidance on benefits-pensions, DOL guidance and other guidance [such as accounting guidance for Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB)] as well as such practical matters as payroll deductions for benefits and open season processes.  

Knowledge of fundamental payroll requirements and processes to manage the preparation and processing of legally-compliant, timely and accurate payroll actions, the auditing of time and attendance reports, the checking/updating of leave records, etc.  This body of information includes, but is not limited to, fundamental knowledge of (1) Federal pay- and payroll-related regulations (such as FLSA, FICA and FMLA), Federal-creditor-student loan garnishments, levies, other involuntary deductions and taxes, (2) employee and employer pay/payroll forms (such as W-2, W-4 and 1099-Misc.), (3) methods and timing of payment (such as direct deposits and stop payments), (4) State requirements, and (5) principles and practical matters of automated payroll systems.

Knowledge of, or ability to rapidly acquire knowledge of, benefits-retirement matters specific to APS such as VRS benefits and processes. 

Knowledge of, and skill in, (1) planning, assigning and reviewing work, (2) budgeting, using capital and managing resources to accomplish work, and (3) managing work and supervising employees at the first and second levels of supervision.  

Knowledge of, or ability to rapidly acquire knowledge of, budgeting, procurement and contracting, and other administrative-support programs, policies, processes and practices of APS to adhere to APS guidelines in performing/supervising functions of these types as a unit leader.  

Skill in problem solving to select, organize, and logically process relevant information (verbal, numerical, or abstract) to solve a problem.  This includes skill in recognizing subtle aspects of problems, identifying relevant information, and making balanced recommendations and decisions.  

  

Skill in written communication to understand written information, draw inferences, form hypotheses and develop logical arguments, and to express such information in writing so that others will understand, comply or agree and, at times, be convinced or persuaded.  This includes skill in reviewing written work, preparing memoranda, drafting procedures, etc.

Skill in oral communication to understand verbal information (including facts, assertions and arguments) and to express such information verbally so that others will understand, comply or agree and, at times, be convinced or persuaded.  This includes skill in listening ‘actively.’ 

Skill in using a computer, modern office suite software (such as MS Office), enterprise systems/software, specialty systems/software, etc.

Interpersonal skills to interact with contacts in a businesslike, customer service-oriented manner by establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and working in harmony with others.

Ability and willingness to work under pressure of deadlines, such as payroll deadlines, on a recurring basis.

OTHER INFORMATION:  

 

APPLY TO:  

careers@apsva.us

SALARY:  

E16 $98,750- $140,555

DAYS:  

   

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