District Manager, Benefits

Nocccd•Anaheim, CA

About The Position

Under 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.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited institution in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related discipline
Three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in administering leaves of absence and workplace accommodations
At least one (1) year of experience in a management or supervisory role
Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations and leading equity-minded practices in hiring, personnel processes, and organizational development.
Commitment to diversity.
Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff.
The applicant must be able to demonstrate how their experience with these factors relates to successfully achieving the goals of the position.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Ellucian, PeopleSoft, or comparable HR/payroll information systems.
Experience in a higher education environment with shared governance.
Demonstrated experience fostering an inclusive and welcoming work or educational environment through equity-minded approaches in professional interactions with colleagues and students.
Demonstrated experience ensuring equity in the duties and areas of responsibility for this position.

Responsibilities

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.
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.
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.
Receives, 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.
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.
Supervises, trains, evaluates, and directs assigned management and classified personnel.
Conducts performance evaluations, provides coaching, and fosters professional growth.
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.
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.