Benefits Manager - Human Resources

Human Resources Benefits Manager Revised: November 2026

Perm/contract:

12-Month Position

Department:

Human Resources - Operational Excellence

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Reports to:

Assistant Superintendent for HR

Primary Reporting Location & Hours:

District Office & 8am to 4:30pm (some meetings are required outside of these times)

Level:

Districtwide

Compensation:

Minimum: $70,000

Date Available:

December 1, 2026

Bargaining Unit & Classification:

N/A & Classified

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Limited/As Assigned

Benefits:

Insurance - medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance are available Leaves - paid sick, personal, and vacation days provided Retirement - pre-tax retirement plans (e.g. 403b) available

D97 Ideal Team Member Profile

• The ideal team member in District 97 is a visionary and equity-centered leader who inspires excellence and fosters collective responsibility for student success. This individual:
• Champions the district's vision and drives forward-thinking, innovative practices that anticipate future educational needs.
• Stewards public trust and resources with fiscal responsibility and ethical transparency.
• Demonstrates relentless commitment to student success, ensuring that every decision supports equitable opportunities and outcomes for all learners.
• Organizes and empowers teams to work collaboratively toward shared goals, recognizing the interdependence of roles across departments and schools.
• Fosters a culture of care, learning, and service, grounded in authentic engagement with students, families, staff, and community members.
• Models integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality, serving as a role model for ethical and respectful conduct at all levels.
• Thrives in a culturally, racially, and linguistically diverse environment, showing a deep passion for inclusive practices and building belonging for all team members.
• Seeks and embraces feedback, especially when it challenges them to grow and improve in service of students and colleagues.
• Understands the powerful intersection of leadership, learning, and equity, and aligns their work to dismantle systemic barriers.
• Courageously addresses unprofessional behavior, holding self and others accountable to high standards in service to the community and students.

About This Role The Human Resources Benefits Manager serves as the initial point of contact for employees' issues and inquiries related to benefits, leaves of absence, and workman's compensation. The Human Resources Benefits Manager tracks and maintains all personnel-related records, prepares local, state, and federal reports, and supports the day-to-day operations of the Human Resources Department. The Human Resources Benefits Manager will ensure that equity is at the center of decisions as expressed in Board Policy 7:12: Ensuring Racial and Educational Equity. positively impacting staff experiences. Employees include all OPTA, OPTAA, OPESP, and SEIU members as well as administrators and staff considered as educational support personnel according to the Illinois School Code.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

SPECIFIC TASK AREA: BENEFIT PLAN MANAGEMENT

• Prepares benefits communications for websites and newsletter publications ensuring all staff members are accessing and understanding available benefits.
• Prepares benefits packets for new employees.
• Processes all benefits paperwork to ensure full and accurate completion of all documentation.
• Answers questions and conducts informational sessions for staff on employee benefits including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, 403b, FSA, HSA, and any other voluntary benefit plans offered by District 97.
• Conducts new employee orientations to ensure employees gain an understanding of benefit plans.
• Assures that benefit plan communications are comprehensive, accurate, and understandable.
• Coordinates with Assistant Superintendent of HR or designee in conducting open enrollment meetings and in communicating benefit plan changes.
• Processes enrollments and changes in benefits and maintains accurate employee benefit data.
• Reconciles monthly insurance invoices and payments to enrollment census from carriers and to payroll deduction records.
• Reviews and processes payment for all benefits plans.
• Maintains files and tracks retiree and LOA insurance benefits.
• Assists employees in resolving employee benefit plan claims.
• Attends all meetings and helps to facilitate the Benefits Insurance Committee.
• Coordinates and administers COBRA for all staff.
• Creates letters of explanation for salary adjustments associated with leaves of absence, "left our employ," or changes to full time equivalency or position.
• Assists employees through the offboarding process in regards to termination of benefits and leave balances.
• Promotes an ongoing wellness campaign for all employee groups.

SPECIFIC TASK AREA: LEAVE ALLOCATIONS AND LEAVES OF ABSENCE

• Answers questions and conducts informational sessions about leaves of absence available to each employee group, including FMLA, Parental leaves, and student teaching leaves.
• Meets with and provides information to employees requesting leaves of absence.
• Coordinates with payroll and communicates with employee(s) regarding unpaid/paid status during LOAs and generates invoices for the collection of missed payroll deductions.
• Calculates leave allocations for all employees and provides allocation information to payroll and staff.

SPECIFIC TASK AREA: RECORDS AND REPORTS

• Enters new employee information and maintains Benefit Management System records and compiles monthly/biweekly audits from the database.
• Assists with maintenance of personnel files for all employees in compliance with legal requirements.
• Prepares state and federal reports including ACA, workers compensation, and others as directed.
• Assists in gathering information, compiling reports, and assembling confidential information for use during Collective Bargaining.
• Researches and prepares benefit reports for collective bargaining and assists in the data collection and preparation related to negotiating agreements, including (1) preparing cost analyses; (2) redlining bargaining proposals; and (3) reviewing proposed contract language.
• Prepares personnel-related reports for other District 97 departments as needed.
• Acts as Payroll Liaison for all staff ( leave balances, deductions, benefits, etc.)
• Prepares for the audit of all benefits records annually and assists Board-appointed auditor in the annual audit process.

SPECIFIC TASK AREA: WORK ACCOMMODATIONS, WORKERS COMPENSATION, AND UNEMPLOYMENT

• Reports accidents, submits invoices and monitors claims for District's Worker Compensation for all District 97 staff.
• Supports the processing of unemployment claims, preparing documentation for unemployment hearings and requests for information..
• Maintains and completes unemployment claims paperwork against the district.
• Manages the ADA process for all employees which includes conducting the interactive ADA dialogue, collecting and reviewing medical documentation, communicating with supervisors, employees, and payroll, and returning employees to work.

SPECIFIC TASK AREA: OTHER SERVICES

• Assists in planning regular meetings of the Human Resources Department and actively serves to improve communication, cooperation, and planning.
• Supports the Assistant Superintendent for HR and/or designee in administrative efforts; keeps him/her informed of important developments and events; and seeks counsel or decision as necessary.
• Assumes other duties as assigned by the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and/or designee

Content Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Sound knowledge of best practices in benefit management including leave of absence management, benefit plans, work accommodations and workers' compensation.
• Sound knowledge of best practices in payroll operations and/or the inter-relatedness of benefits management and its impact on the implementation of payroll.
• Handles confidential information discreetly and professionally.
• Ability to exercise appropriate initiative and work independently.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent computer skills (running reports, data entry, spreadsheet management, file management, mail merges and word processing).
• Ability to manage multiple projects, tasks, and timelines at the same time.
• Ability to use discretion and exercise sound judgment.
• Critical thinker and problem solver.
• Strong interpersonal skills and customer service oriented.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a constantly changing environment.
• Ability to maintain a cooperative nature under stressful situations.
• Possess an above-average ability to relate to individuals.
• Ability to meet deadlines.

Education, Credentialing, and/or Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources or Related Field, preferred
• Two years related experience managing benefit programs and/or training, preferred

Physical Requirements:

This position requires the performance of light work, which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to move objects. The position includes close visual acuity, frequent talking, hearing, walking and standing, occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, some stooping, kneeling, crouching and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity. The job is performed in non-hazardous environments and a clean atmosphere.

Apply through Frontline:

Applications are currently being accepted for this position via our district website. Please reach out to our human resources department at district97hr@op97.org, if you have questions about the application process.

We encourage interested applicants to apply, as we continue to uplift our equity policy. Our goal is to recruit, employ, support, and retain racially and linguistically diverse and culturally competent administrative, instructional and support personnel. Oak Park Elementary School District 97 is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

The mental demands, physical demands, and work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow an employee with disabilities to perform the essential functions.