Company Description

KIPP TEAM & Family is our network office that includes support teams - such as Leadership Development, Recruitment, Advocacy, Facilities, Finance, HR and more - dedicated to empowering our schools and ensuring the success of KIPP students throughout New Jersey and Miami. Our schools are part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life. The first KIPP New Jersey school opened in Newark in 2002 and since then our school network has expanded to educate 8,684 students in grades K-12. By 2027, KIPP New Jersey will provide a world-class education to over 10,300 students across Newark and Camden. To learn more, visit www.kippnj.org.

In 2018, we grew our KIPP community in response to a need for high-quality school options for students in Greater Miami’s Urban Core communities. That led to the creation of KIPP Miami, which currently educates more than 1,200 students in 2 schools, with plans to reach 5,800 students by 2026. By offering highly effective educators with strong bonds to families, more time in school learning, services that support a variety of student needs, and a culture focused on achievement, our students in New Jersey and Miami are on the path to and through college, career, and choice-filled lives.

Job Description

Here’s what you need to know:
The Benefits and Pension Manager is a strategic and hands-on leader responsible for the overall management, compliance, and continuous improvement of all benefits and pension programs across the KIPP TEAM and Family network. This role ensures the organization offers competitive, cost-effective, and employee-centered benefit plans that meet both organizational goals and employee needs. This individual will oversee the administration of core benefit offerings, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, wellness programs, voluntary benefits, and all retirement and pension-related plans. The manager will ensure alignment with internal policies, regulatory compliance (including ACA, ERISA, and state pension requirements), and industry best practices. Working in close partnership with the Human Resources, Payroll, and Finance teams, as well as external vendors, brokers, and state pension offices, the Benefits and Pension Manager will play a critical role in driving employee engagement and satisfaction through high-quality benefits education, timely issue resolution, and efficient plan administration.

This a hybrid role: in-person requirement to be in the office at a minimum twice a week, and additional in-person time is necessary based on organizational needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Stakeholder Management
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for all employee benefits and pension inquiries, ensuring timely, accurate, and empathetic support.
  • Partner closely with internal HR, Payroll, and Finance teams to align and streamline benefit and pension processes across systems.
  • Manage relationships with vendors, brokers, and NJ pension offices (PERS, TPAF, DCRP), including enrollment oversight and account resolution via MBOS.
  • Lead benefits education efforts to enhance employee understanding and engagement, including presentations and self-service resources like HR Wiki and Zendesk articles.
• Full-cycle Benefits Support
  • Oversee the administration of all employee benefit programs including health, dental, vision, life, disability, wellness, and retirement plans.
  • Manage employee transitions including new hire enrollments, life events, terminations, and pension-related changes.
  • Maintain accurate eligibility and plan data across systems; serve as certifying officer for NJ pension plans and complete quarterly IROC submissions.
  • Support audits, analyze utilization trends, and recommend cost-effective program improvements.
  • Provide Tier 2 support for escalated employee questions and serve as a technical liaison with vendors to troubleshoot complex issues.
  • Review and process all benefits-related invoices in partnership with AP and Purchasing to ensure timely payment.
• Benefit Events
  • Lead planning and execution of annual open enrollment, including system readiness, communications, and post-enrollment audits.
  • Support benefits onboarding during new hire orientation and ensure departing employees receive accurate COBRA, pension, and retiree information.
  • Monitor and process qualifying life events in accordance with plan rules and compliance standards.
  • Ensure benefits messaging is incorporated during key employee transitions in partnership with HR Ops.
• Compliance & Regulatory Oversight
  • Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local benefits regulations including ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and ERISA.
  • Lead preparation and submission of required filings (IRS Form 5500, ACA reporting) and manage external audits.
  • Conduct internal audits to reconcile deductions and correct discrepancies across systems.
  • Maintain policies and ensure all employee-facing materials meet legal and organizational standards.
  • Monitor legislative changes and assess implications for KIPP’s benefits programs.
• Team Leadership & Management
  • Directly supervise and develop the Benefits Coordinator, ensuring timely support and service excellence.
  • Monitor Zendesk ticket resolution, documentation, and audits to meet internal service expectations.
  • Assign projects, delegate tasks, and promote continuous improvement across benefits operations.
  • Conduct regular check-ins and performance reviews while identifying development opportunities to grow team capacity.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of experience in benefits administration, with specific experience managing pension plans.
• Deep knowledge of benefits compliance including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and IRS regulations.
• Strong experience with HRIS and benefits platforms (plus NJ MBOS and IROC familiarity preferred).
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to simplify complex information for diverse audiences.
• Bachelor’s degree required; HR certification (SHRM-CP/SCP or PHR/SPHR) preferred.
• Experience in a school district or public-sector setting is a plus.

Additional Information

KIPP Team & Family offers a market-competitive salary ranging from $110,000 to $115,000. Salary ranges at KIPP are set based on the role level and function using benchmarks in the education and non-profit sectors, and allow for growth within the role. Individual compensation within this range will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to: relevant professional experience and qualifications; education, skills, and training; and market conditions.

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package including, but not limited to, the following:

• Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision
• Optional participation in the KIPP NJ 403b retirement plan, including matching contributions
• An organization-issued laptop
• Flexible time-off policy
• Up to 12 weeks of 100% parental leave for primary caregivers
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Extensive optional ancillary benefits, including short-term and long-term disability, and accident and hospital indemnity

Our organization is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organization will make a reasonable accommodation to known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the organization. No questions on this application are asked for any unlawful purpose.