Benefits Coordinator

Role Overview

The Benefits Coordinator supports the day-to-day administration of employee benefit programs at KIPP Texas Public Schools, ensuring accurate enrollment, compliance, and a positive employee experience. This role serves as the key point of contact for employees, vendors, and internal teams, providing guidance on benefits, supporting enrollment and changes, and ensuring smooth coordination across systems and processes. The position demands strong attention to detail, organization, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining data accuracy and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Benefits Administration and Support

• Manage and execute comprehensive benefit programs across KIPP Texas, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and retirement plans.
• Administer qualifying life events (QLEs), including processing benefit changes, dependent updates, and required documentation.
• Assist staff with enrollment, qualifying life event (QLE) changes, and general benefit inquiries while ensuring accurate eligibility.
• Serve as the primary contact for employee benefits-related questions and needs, including leave coordination (FMLA, short-term disability, long-term disability) and ensuring required forms are completed and tracked appropriately.
• Provide staff assistance regarding plan adjustments, updates to coverage, and resolve escalated benefits concerns requiring coordination across employees, vendors, Payroll, and HR Operations.
• Prepare benefits resources, employee communications, and enrollment materials for onboarding, enrollment deadlines, plan changes, and benefits updates.
• Lead yearly open enrollment initiatives, including system configuration, enrollment monitoring, and employee guidance.
• Audit payroll deductions and benefits records to ensure accurate processing.
• Maintain annual benefits administration calendars, processing timelines, and operational deadlines across all benefits programs.

Compliance, Operations, and Vendor Management

• Serve as a primary liaison between KIPP Texas and benefits vendors to support responsive issue resolution and accurate administration.
• Partner with vendors, payroll, and internal teams to support benefits administration, including COBRA coordination and resolution of employee or system-related issues.
• Collaborate with external vendors and internal HR/Payroll teams to reconcile billing, resolve discrepancies, and address escalations.
• Oversee benefit documentation and records to ensure adherence to ACA, COBRA, and retirement reporting requirements.
• Conduct regular audits, review and reconcile benefit invoices and payroll deductions to ensure accuracy and alignment across systems.

Operational Reporting and Efficiency

• Maintain benefits data integrity within HR systems and support reporting, auditing, and compliance activities.
• Generate and maintain participation reports, audit logs, and enrollment summaries for leadership review.
• Monitor workflow timelines to ensure the timely completion of all benefits-related administrative tasks.
• Identify and execute process improvements to enhance the employee experience and administrative consistency.
• Engage in cross-functional partnership with Finance and HR Operations to ensure seamless service delivery across KIPP Texas.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field strongly preferred.
• 2–3 years of benefits administration or HR operations experience.
• Experience with reconciliations, reporting, and benefits coordination.
• Working knowledge of employee benefits programs and processes.
• Familiarity with applicable benefits regulations, such as COBRA.
• K-12 or education experience preferred but not required.
• Experience with HRIS systems (Skyward preferred).

Key Competencies and Skills

• Strong knowledge of employee benefits administration and applicable compliance requirements (ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, retirement).
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and operational processes simultaneously.
• Ability to identify discrepancies, operational risks, and data inconsistencies across benefits records and reporting.
• Strong communication, customer service, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately manage sensitive employee information.
• Strong organizational, operational coordination, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proficiency with HRIS systems, payroll systems, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Office applications.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Work Environment: Hybrid work – Reports to the central office or schools three days a week.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to move about inside and outside the school throughout the workday. Expected to attend conferences, meetings, and training sessions both virtually and in person within the Region.
• Travel Requirements: Minimal travel to other school sites or regional offices.
• Additional Requirements: Reliable transportation needed for travel between campuses. Ability to maintain emotional control under stress. Work with frequent interruptions.

What KIPP Texas Offers

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with coverage options for employees and their families.
• Competitive vacation and flexible paid time off (PTO) policies.
• Paid family leave.
• Flexible spending account or high-yield HSA.
• Employee assistance programs.
• KIPP also offers the following employee-paid benefits: legal plans, LifeLock identity protection, life insurance, and disability insurance.

Equal Opportunity Employer

KIPP Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations are provided for qualified individuals with disabilities.