Position Details

Classification Information

Classification Title
District Manager, Benefits

Salary Range
$137,462 - $173,349 Annually

Salary Schedule Information

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Position Information

Job Title
District Manager, Benefits

Position Number
DEM997

Location
District Services

Department
District Human Resources

Percentage of Employment
100%

Months of Employment
12 Months Per Year

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (However, some flexibility such as evenings and weekends will be required to meet the needs of the department.)

Primary Purpose

PRIMARY PURPOSEUnder the general direction of an administrator, manager, or designee, the District Manager, Benefits is responsible for the administration, coordination, and oversight of all employee leave of absence and workplace accommodation programs. The Manager ensures compliance with federal, state, and local laws, collective bargaining agreements, and organizational policies, while delivering timely, accurate, and empathetic service to employees and managers.

The District Manager, Benefits serves as the primary subject-matter expert (SME) and point of contact for complex leave and accommodation matters, partners closely with Payroll and HR colleagues, and provides training and guidance to supervisors and leadership. The Manager requires a high degree of discretion, independent judgment, and expertise in employment law, particularly within a California and unionized environment.

Distinguishing Characteristics

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The District Manager, Benefits is distinguished by its responsibility for managing complex, highly regulated leave and accommodation programs that require advanced knowledge of employment law, policy interpretation, and risk mitigation.

Unlike generalist or coordinator-level roles, the District Manager, Benefits independently oversees all aspects of leave and accommodation administration, leads the interactive process for disability and medical accommodations, provides training and consultation to leadership, and ensures consistent application of legal and contractual requirements across a large and diverse workforce. The District Manager, Benefits requires strong analytical skills, discretion in handling sensitive information, and the ability to balance legal compliance with employee-centered service delivery.

Essential Functions

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Examples of essential functions are interpreted as being descriptive and not restrictive in nature.

Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Leaves of Absence Administration

Administers and manages all leave of absence programs, including but not limited to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), California Family Rights Act (CFRA), Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), workers' compensation, union-related leaves, and applicable local leave ordinances.

Reviews and processes leave requests, ensuring required documentation is complete, accurate, and compliant with applicable laws, collective bargaining agreements, and organizational policies.

Communicates approvals, denials, extensions, and return-to-work (RTW) requirements to employees, supervisors, and leadership in a timely and professional manner.

Updates and maintains accurate leave records, monitors leave timelines, and prepares reports and audits as required.

Provides training and guidance to supervisors and leadership regarding leave rights, responsibilities, and procedures.

Workplace Accommodations

Coordinates and oversees the reasonable accommodation process in compliance with the ADA, Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), and related regulations.

Leads and documents the interactive process with employees, managers, HR partners, and union representatives, as applicable, to identify and implement appropriate workplace accommodations.

Evaluates medical and non-medical documentation, partners with leadership to assess operational impact, and ensures accommodations are implemented consistently and in good faith.

Updates, maintains, and audits comprehensive and confidential records of accommodation requests and actions taken.

Provides training and consultation to supervisors and leadership regarding accommodation requirements and best practices.

Collaboration and Communication

Develops and manages trusted partnerships with third-party administrators, vendors, and contractors to ensure high-quality, cost-effective services supporting leave, accommodation, and disability programs.

Serves as a central point of coordination and SME for leave and accommodation matters; responds to complex inquiries from employees, supervisors, union representatives, and leadership; ensures consistency, accuracy, and compliance across HR systems and processes.

Collaborates closely with Payroll, Benefits, Risk Management, and HR team members to ensure accurate pay continuation, benefits deductions, coordination with disability and workers' compensation programs, and timely return-to-work processing.

Designs and delivers training, presentations, employee education materials, and communications addressing changes that impact benefit plans, leaves, and accommodation requirements.

Communicates clearly and empathetically, particularly when addressing sensitive, complex, or high-risk situations.

Conducts regular case management meetings to update leadership, Human Resources Business Partners, and Risk Services regarding the status of open leave cases.

Compliance and Risk ManagementReceives, investigates, and responds to requests and complaints from District employees and students related to ADA violations and other compliance and leave matters; researches and evaluates cases; develops and recommends responses and determines appropriate resolutions in alignment with District policies, practices, and procedures; recommends corrective actions as needed; and provides guidance to employees regarding compliance requirements.

Reviews, verifies, and ensures all leave and accommodation practices comply with federal, state, and local laws, collective bargaining agreements, and internal policies.

Stays current on changes to employment laws and regulations; updates best practices and procedures accordingly.

Identifies compliance risks and recommends corrective actions or policy updates to mitigate exposure.

Ensures benefit, leave, and accommodation programs are administered accurately and in compliance with plan documents and applicable federal and state regulations.

Process Improvement and Employee Experience

Reviews and analyzes market conditions, program structures, emerging trends, and cost data to evaluate the effectiveness of benefit programs and recommends enhancements or new offerings.

Evaluates existing leave and accommodation processes and recommends improvements to enhance efficiency, consistency, compliance, and the employee experience.

Develops and updates tools, templates, workflows, and guidance materials to support supervisors, employees, and HR partners.

Utilizes HRIS and leave management systems to track data, analyze trends, and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Supervision and Staff Development

Supervises, trains, evaluates, and directs assigned management and classified personnel.

Conducts performance evaluations, provides coaching, and fosters professional growth.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)

Supports the success of a diverse workforce and student population through interculturally competent and equity-minded policies, decision-making, and conflict resolution.

Provides training and participates in District and State-level committees.

General and Administrative Responsibilities

Represents Human Resources on District and campus committees; serves as a subject matter expert (SME) and resource to participatory governance groups, including hiring committees and administrative councils.

May participate in labor negotiations and collective bargaining activities.

Performs other related duties to support the operational objectives of the Human Resources Department.

Working Relationships

WORKING RELATIONSHIPSThe District Manager, Benefits maintains frequent contact with the Chancellor and Chancellor's Staff, college presidents, vice presidents, deans, and District and campus administrators to coordinate the implementation of Districtwide human resources programs and policies. The position interacts regularly with representatives of local, state, and federal agencies; employee association leadership; vendors, contractors, and/or third-party administrators; and collective bargaining representatives. The District Manager, Benefits also collaborates with academic and classified staff, governance committee members, and HR staff to support institutional goals related to employee benefits, leaves, accommodations, and HR initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Federal laws and guidelines including but not limited to COBRA, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), FMLA, CFRA, PDL, ADA, FEHA, workers' compensation, coordination, and applicable local leave laws.
• Proficiency with HRIS and leave management systems and strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Principles and practices of human resources management in public sector and higher education settings.
• Strategies utilized in the administration of comprehensive leave of absence and workplace accommodation programs.
• Terminology and documentation associated with leave of absence and workplace accommodation administration.
• Industry resources to stay current with legislative issues and industry trends.
• HR principles, laws, regulations, and best practices.
• HRIS, ATS, and ERP system management.
• Federal and California employment laws, Education Code, Title 5, and regulations governing public education and collective bargaining.
• Collective bargaining and contract interpretation.
• Organizational development, classification and compensation systems, benefits administration, and employee evaluation processes.
• Principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) and their application in employment practices.
• Administrative procedures, policy development, and participatory/shared governance in a multi-campus academic environment.
• Processes for developing board policies, administrative procedures, and presenting HR matters to governing boards.
• Public agency budgeting, fiscal accountability, and personnel management practices
• Techniques for conducting investigations, hearings, and compliance reviews in a confidential and legally sound manner.
• Use of human capital management systems (e.g., PeopleSo