Description

The Department of Human Resources is seeking a talented individual to fill the position of Benefits Manager.

Under the direction of the Executive Director, Human Resources, the Benefits Manager will possess strong technical expertise in benefits administration, and demonstrate core management competencies, including strategic thinking, effective communication, change management, and the ability to educate and influence employees at all levels of the organization.

This role will be responsible for evaluating and analyzing current benefit plans, identifying opportunities for consolidation and improvement, and leading the engagement and management of external consultants to conduct comprehensive cost analyses and assessing benefit options that best align with organizational goals and employee needs. The position also requires the ability to clearly communicate benefit offerings, lead employee education initiatives, and train staff to ensure understanding, utilization, and compliance.

ABOUT THE DISTRICT

Santa Clara County, home of the Silicon Valley, is a world-renowned center for high technology and an important business and financial center. It is also the Bay Area's most populous county, with almost 2 million residents, and the site of California's third largest city, San Jose. West Valley and Mission Colleges serve an area of approximately 350,000 residents. The West Valley-Mission Community College District is one of the largest employers in Santa Clara County.

The district is composed of two colleges: West Valley College in Saratoga and Mission College in Santa Clara. Together they enroll more than 17,375 students with diverse backgrounds. Courses are taught during day, evening, and weekend hours, in addition to online courses and distance learning. More than 1,525 faculty and staff work for the District, which has a budget exceeding $135,287,206. The service area includes the cities of Santa Clara, Saratoga, Campbell, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno; and parts of San Jose, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, and Santa Cruz County.

Applicants who possess the knowledge, skills and life experiences to address the cultural and educational needs of a diverse student population are encouraged to apply.

Assignment
This is a classified administrator position with an anticipated start date of September 2026. This is an exempt, management position and is not subject to overtime.

Work Location: Daily location will be at West Valley College, Saratoga, CA with occasional meetings required at our Mission College in Santa Clara, CA.

Salary and Benefits
Salary Range:
Initial hire range: $147,266 - 156,841 annually (Program Manager, Benefits classification; Administrative Salary Schedule, Range 11, Steps A-C).
Annual salary step increases to maximum of salary range, $183,593 annually (Administrative Salary Schedule, Range 11, Step H).

Benefits include:

• Additional compensation: $2,000 for doctorate added to base salary annually, to be prorated on a monthly basis.
• Employer-contributed medical, dental and vision for employee, spouse, and/or dependents.
• Employer-paid long term disability for employee.
• Employer-provided life insurance.
• 14 paid holidays, plus 1 floating holiday annually; paid non-workdays between Christmas and New Year.
• 22 days vacation leave accrued annually (25 days after 5 years).
• 12 days sick leave accrued annually.
• Personal necessity leave and personal business leave.
• Professional development and renewal leave.
• $1000 longevity award annually after 10 years of service and $1,500 longevity award annually after 15 years of service.
• CalPERS retirement.

Minimum Qualifications
Any combination of experience and education that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

• Experience: Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in benefits administration, with 2 years of experience in supervisory roles. Experience to include leadership in vendor management, regulatory compliance, and developing benefit options from start to completion.
• Equivalent of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in human resources, business administration, or a related field.

License and Certificate
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver's license as required by the position.

AND

Understanding of, and sensitivity to the diverse academic, socio-economic, ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds, disability, and sexual orientation of community college students, faculty, and staff.

Desired Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Benefits program design and administration
• Health, dental, vision, life, disability, and voluntary benefits
• Retirement and post-retirement benefits (e.g., CalPERS, CalSTRS)
• Leave of absence programs (paid and unpaid)
• Eligibility rules, enrollment life events, and coordination of benefits
• Cost-sharing structures, planning funding models, and contribution strategies
  how to design benefits that are competitive, sustainable, and aligned with organizational goals.

• Strong working knowledge of complex and overlapping regulations is essential, including:
  
  • Federal laws: ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA
  • Leave laws: FMLA, CFRA, ADA, PDL, PFL
  • State and education-specific requirements (e.g., California Education Code)
  • Collective bargaining agreements and Board policies.
  
  
  Knowledge & Abilities
  Ability to:
  
  • Analyze and interpret data, interpret surveys, and manage budgets.
  • Effectively communicate with employees and stakeholders.
  • Demonstrate Proficiency with HRIS systems and Microsoft Office products.
  • Interpret and apply rules to real-world situations, reducing institutional risk.
  • Select and evaluate insurance carriers, brokers, TPAs, and leave administrators.
  • Resolve escalated vendor issues. This includes the ability to hold vendors accountable while maintaining productive partnerships.
  • Use technology to streamline operations, reduce errors, and improve employee experience.
  
  
  Examples of Duties & Responsibilities
  Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
  
  • Lead the design and execution of health, welfare and leave of absence programs to ensure they meet the district's strategic and operational goals.
  • Design, analyze, and update benefits programs to align with district goals and market trends.
  • Interpret and apply complex regulations including ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, and California Education Code.
  • Select and manage third-party insurance providers, brokers, and administrators, ensuring successful achievement of business objectives.
  • Lead annual enrollment processes, including developing communication strategies and system updates.
  • Act as the subject matter expert, resolving complex benefits issues and educating staff and retirees on benefit packages.
  • Streamline benefits administration processes and utilize HRIS software for efficient tracking.
  • Manage the day-to-day administration of all employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life and all other offerings.
  • Lead key benefits projects such as open enrollment, implanting new programs, enhancing systems and supporting broader initiatives as needed.
  • Oversee the auditing, assessment, and payment of health and welfare invoices; conduct monthly reconciliation of vendor premiums to ensure the District does not over or under pay.
  • Ensure district-wide compliance with absence management, including state and federal regulations (FMLA, CFRA, ADA, PDL, PFL), board policies, and collective bargaining agreements.
  • Compile and analyze complex benefits and absence data to prepare and deliver reports for the Executive Director, Vice-Chancellor of HR, Executive Management team, Board of Trustees and Finance.
  • Design and execute multi-platform communication strategies (email, print, digital, and virtual) to educate and drive engagement among active employees and retirees.
  • Work closely with Payroll, Finance, Legal and other teams to ensure seamless benefits operations and compliance.
  • Assist and counsel employees and retirees on sensitive or complex benefits related questions, including absence plans.
  • Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other district employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
  • Foster an environment that embraces diversity, integrity, trust and respect.
  • Be an integral team player, which involves flexibility, cooperation and communication.
  • Perform related duties as assigned.
  
  
  Applicant Information
  APPLICATION INFORMATION:
  
  • Interested applicants must submit online all materials requested, including: (1) A completed online West Valley-Mission Community College District application; (2) Supplemental application questions; (3) Resume; (4) Unofficial copies of transcripts, if requested; (5) Cover letter and/or reference list, if requested; and (6) Any requested licenses or certificates, if applicable.
  • All sections of the online application, including Education and Educational Work History, must be completed thoroughly.
  • Supervisor(s) name(s) and telephone numbers must be included in the application.
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • Do NOT send unrequested materials. Unrequested materials will be removed from your application and will not be used for consideration of employment.
  • The employment application and supporting documents represent you; it is to your advantage to fill out the application form carefully and completely.
  • If you have a question that isn't covered in our FAQs, please contact us at [email protected].
  
  
  ABOUT TRANSCRIPTS:
  
  • If a minimum requirement is possession of a degree, then a copy of transcripts is required to be included with your application to verify the degree being awarded. If no transcripts are included or the transcript does not show a degree conferred AND degree conferred date, the application may be screened as not meeting minimum requirements, the application may be screened as not meeting minimum requirements.
  • Should the minimum qualifications state \“any combination equivalent to,\” then additional relevant work experience may substitute for education. In this case, please upload a document stating such in the Required Transcripts document field.
  • Degrees must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation and/or the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Candidates with degrees earned outside of the United States must provide official certification of equivalency to U. S. degrees by a certified U. S. credential review service, must have a U.S. evaluation (course by course of the transcripts) and must be submitted with this online application.
  • If you do not have an electronic version of the transcript, you can get it scanned at an office supply or copy store; then attach the electronic version of your transcript to this online application.
  • Copies of diplomas, grade reports, graduation petitions, transcript evaluations requests, or similar documents WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of transcripts.
  • When uploading transcripts, please ensure they are NOT encrypted, secured, or password-protected or they will be rejected by the system.
  
  
  For reasonable accommodations and assistance, contact:
  Office of Human Resources, Attn: Recruitment
  14000 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga, CA 95070
  Phone: (408) 741-2171 Fax: (408) 741-2564
  Email: [email protected]
  
  Selection Process
  SELECTION PROCESS INFORMATION:
  
  • After the deadline date, a committee will review and evaluate applications and supporting materials to select the applicants to be interviewed. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not assure the candidate an interview.
  • All candidates will receive an e-notification to acknowledge receipt of their application materials. If not contacted within 3-6 weeks following the close of the recruitment, no suitable match was determined at this time.
  • Travel expenses to attend first-level interview are the responsibility of the candidate.
  • Application materials become the property of the District and will not be returned or duplicated.
  • The district may choose to re-advertise or indefinitely delay filling a position. Some positions may include first and second level interviews.
  • The district reserves the right to contact former, current, the most recent employers, and others to investigate past employment records of applicants.
  • Any tentative verbal offer of employment is contingent upon formal approval of the college Governing Board.
  • Upon hire the successful candidate must provide the required documents of identity and authorization to work and attest he/she is authorized to work in the United States.
  • The district does not provide visa sponsorship.
  
  
  EEO STATEMENT:
  West Valley-Mission Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that seeks to employ a diverse workforce who will contribute to an inclusive and welcoming educational and employment environment. The District is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of ethnic group identification, race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, physical disability, mental disability, genetic information, ancestry, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, language, accent, citizenship status, transgender status, parental status, marital status, economic status, military or veteran status, and medical condition consistent with applicable federal and state laws.
  
  To apply, please visit https://wvm.peopleadmin.com/postings/6525
  
  
  
  
  
  
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