Position Title:  Benefits & Risk Manager
Non Exempt
Location: District Office
Direct Supervisor: Director of Human Resources
Contracted Length Term: 12 month position, 252 days
Salary Schedule: A competitive salary commensurate with education and experience; District Office Support Salary Schedule (range $27.26 to $35.88/hour)
Start Date: June TBD, 2026
 

District Summary:
Nestled within Colorado's gorgeous Western Slope, the towns of Montrose and Olathe are surrounded by an endless variety of prospects for exploration and adventure (Black Canyon National Park, Telluride and the San Juan Mountains to the South, along with rivers, lakes and streams). MCSD is one of the largest rural school districts in Colorado with a great focus on STEM including the arts.  Which means we are small enough to be neighborly, but still big enough to continue growing (with short commutes to school and work). 

Benefits
At MCSD, we care about our employees and their loved ones. Our benefits package consist of the following items: a variety of health insurance plans with employer contribution, including dental and vision insurance, Telehealth, a $50,000 life insurance policy with optional additional coverage, PERA retirement contribution, supplemental insurance options including pet insurance, no match tax shelter account options including 401K, 457(b), 403 (b) and Roth, before tax deductions and flexible spending options, paid leave options and holidays based upon the position, Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
 
Added perks: Great people to work with, professional development and advancement opportunities, and multiple wellness programs and incentives.

DEFINITION:
The Benefits Manager is often one of the most connected and people-focused positions in MCSD - working with employees across the district to provide exceptional service, support, and guidance. This role has the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on employees' daily experiences by helping them navigate benefits, answer questions, and feel supported throughout their employment journey. 

The Benefits Manager oversees and administers a wide range of employee benefit programs, including health insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, disability coverage, and leave benefits. This position supports employees through benefit enrollment and changes, manages insurance billing and employee records, ensures compliance with benefit laws and required notices, and performs highly technical, confidential administrative functions. 

In addition, this role leads the district's risk management efforts by supporting safety programs, loss prevention, risk retention, risk avoidance, and risk pooling initiatives - helping create a safe and supportive environment for all MCSD employees. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

• None

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Maintain positive customer service, timely communication and strong relationships with school district staff, the general public and third parties.
• Manage and administer various employee benefits programs, such as group health (currently self-funded), flexible spending accounts, dental and vision, accident and disability, life insurance, PERA, and wellness benefits.
• Assist employees with health, dental, life and other related benefit claims. Maintain employee benefits filing systems and ensure benefits changes are entered appropriately in the payroll system for payroll deduction.
• Verify the calculation of the monthly premium statements for all group insurance policies and maintain statistical data relative to premiums, claims and costs. Resolve administrative problems with the carrier representatives.
• Ability to oversee and manage, working with the Finance Department, a multi-million dollar medical plan, ensuring timely payment of claims and ongoing monitoring of claim trends.
• Provide the Finance Department with timely updates on anticipated large claims to support financial planning and oversight.
• Review and respond to unemployment claims with appropriate documentation. Review monthly unemployment statements.
• Coordinate the administration of workers' compensation program and claims with third-party administrator, in accordance with State statutes and district policy and procedures.
• Assist HR Director in obtaining statistics as well as information in the renewal process of any health, life, stop loss, and retirement plans that benefit the company.
• Prepare and set up meetings and orientations designed to help employees obtain information and understand company benefits and other related incentive programs.
• Ensure distribution and updates of required employee notices.
• Prepare and maintain biweekly and monthly employee reports, worker's comp reports, absentee reports as well as other requested reports and information.
• Serve as a confidential member of the HR department dealing with a variety of sensitive and privileged matters.
• Responsible for compliance with federal and state legislation.
• Verify and maintain confidential information.
• Work with site administrators in regard to personnel needs.
• Establish and maintain relevant personnel health and workers compensation files and data that may include sensitive and privileged data.
• Organize, participate and/or chair committee meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Risk management:

• Annual review and renewal of Casualty/Liability/Property insurance policies and Workers Compensation plans.
• Supervise safety compliance programs.
• Review student injuries, assessing trends, preventative measures.
• Supervises the collection, analysis and submission of safety reports necessary for internal purposes as well as those required by governing entities.
• May respond to sites of emergencies to investigate potential liability exposures and advise management with regard to these matters.
• May represent district in small claims matters relating to general/auto liability exposures as well as non-litigated and litigated workers' compensation cases before the WC Appeals board.
• Oversight of Transportation requirements - MCSD owned vehicles.

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND/OR ABILITIES:
Knowledge of:
General knowledge of employment laws and practices including familiarity with ADA, FMLA, FAMLI, Workers Compensation, Unemployment; Experience in the administration of benefits and compensation programs and other human resource programs; Modern office practices, standard office equipment and modern data management, storage, and retrieval systems; Legal mandates, policies, regulations, and procedures, which govern the departments operational processes; Effective English usage, spelling, grammar, and report formatting; Effective and efficient communication techniques, strategies, and procedures; Understanding of budgeting process and oversight; Procedures, methods, strategies, and techniques pertaining to the operation of a human resources office.
Ability to:
Be forward thinking, creative and solution-orientated; Be kind, understanding and patient while working with highly sensitive situations; Effectively and efficiently perform highly responsible functions and activities; Compile data and information, prepare comprehensive reports; Communicate effectively in oral and written form; Learn quickly and maintain a complex data management, storage, and retrieval system, using computers; Understand and carry out oral and written directions; Establish and maintain cooperative relationships and maintain a professional and respectful demeanor.
Skills:
Able to prepare and present information in an efficient and clear manner; Data analysis; Use or familiarity with the following programs: Microsoft applications: Excel, Word, Outlook, Planner, as well as Google, Powerpoint, and Canva. (Current additional software programs used: Infinite Visions/ERP Pro, Frontline Solutions, Tableau and Genetic Security).

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and skill is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and skill would be:
Experience:
Three to five years of benefits administration, including working in a human resources capacity.  Experience with budgeting and financial reporting (multi million dollar budgets). Education industry experience is a plus as is prior experience working with a large organization (500+ employees). Experience working in an office setting. 
Education:
Equivalent to the completion of a Bachelor's Degree, and/or supplemented coursework, or training in benefits management/administration, risk management, human resources management, or related areas. 
Professional certification such as CEBS, CMS, GBA or PHR preferred.

Requirements:

• Excellent personal and organizational skills, including being able to connect with employees.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Excellent computer skills, including ability to manage multiple databases, analyze data, reports and presentation creation.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• General knowledge of employment laws and practices.
• Effective leadership and management skills with people, teams, committees and projects.
• Comfortability with public speaking, includes leading trainings and orientations. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 
The physical requirements indicated below are examples of the physical aspects that this position classification must perform in carrying out essential job functions.   

• Persons performing service in this position classification may exert 5 to 25 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• This type of work involves a stationary position a portion of the time, but will involve moving for brief periods.
• Perceiving the nature of sound, near and far vision, depth perception, providing oral information, the manual dexterity to operate business related equipment, and handle and work with various materials and objects are important aspects of this job.
• Hold a valid driver's license.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.