Human Resource HR Generalist

About KIPP Team and Family

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 8,135 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 1,000 students in four schools, with plans to reach 5,800 students by 2025. 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.  

What you should know: 

The KIPP TEAM and Family Human Resources Generalist will deliver high touch customer service providing day-to-day administrative and operational support to the KIPP New Jersey and KIPP Miami network. This role is responsible for, including but not limited to, day-to-day benefits administration – employee communication and ongoing support, audit and compliance support, general human resources and school support and special projects. This role will work closely with all members of the Human Resources and Payroll team.

What you'll be doing:

General HR Support

• Provide HR mail administration – distributing (scanning, faxing, delivering) mail to appropriate team members.
• Provide back-up, cross-functional support across the human resource team, as needed.
• Maintain human resources information system records and employee personnel files, as required.
• Support with management and communication related to employee onboarding and new staff orientation

Stakeholder Management

• In collaboration with the HR Team, hold monthly office hours at all schools and the home office to provide in-person support and check-ins to all employees. Report findings and areas of improvement for increased engagement.
• Make recommendations and assist with maintaining all human resource team outward-facing documentation related to all benefits programs for easy self-service for all stakeholders (HR Wiki, Zendesk Macros, Zendesk Help Center articles, ADP, KIPP TEAM and Family Benefits Site, etc.) for increased engagement.
• Manage and assign HR Helpdesk (Zendesk) inquiries to appropriate team members. Review and respond to inquiries daily.

Full-cycle Benefits Support

• Serve as the primary regional point of contact for employee benefits support, including new hire enrollments, employee changes and life events and general benefits inquiries.
• Primary regional liaison between our employees, HRIS and all benefits vendors.
• Oversee and manage the enrollment and benefits change process for all eligible employees. Review and approve all required documentation for employee life events and dependent changes.
• In working with the HR team, make recommendations to create and maintain employee marketing materials and ensure internal and external resources are updated and refreshed on a quarterly basis.
• In partnership with the HR team, serve as primary support in organizing and planning of benefits-specific events and information sessions such as open enrollment and new staff orientation.
• Provide technical support and liaise between our employees and our vendors. Support includes, but not limited to troubleshooting on an employee’s behalf, reaching out to vendors after researching on our end provides no answers, employee navigation support, and assisting the HR Generalist with system testing due to upgrades or system changes. Benefits management systems include, but not limited to:
  • Core health insurance systems – Medical, dental, vision
  • Retirement systems – NJ Pension and 403b
  • Ancillary benefits systems – Life insurance and other voluntary & supplemental benefits
• Identify and report any HRIS system updates and configuration changes that may impact efficiency and the self-service employee experience for all enrollment processes (new hires, life events, open enrollment, etc.).  Identify any new connections or updates that may be needed based on improvements, vendor changes or plan changes.  
• Review, reconcile, and process for payment of all benefits-related invoices on the appropriate processing cycle per vendor. Partner with the Accounts Payable and Purchasing teams to ensure all invoices are paid on a timely basis
• In collaboration with the HR Team, the HR Generalist will lead all internal and external benefits audits and reconciliations on a monthly, quarterly, and yearly cycle (403b, NJ Pension, etc.) and support the Managing Director, HR with non-benefits related audits by compiling selection documentation, HRIS reporting, and recommendations for process improvements that might yield improved audit findings
• Ensure compliance with all federal programs such as HIPPA, COBRA and FMLA.
• In partnership with the HR team, process and submit regional ACA compliance reporting at the end of each fiscal and calendar year for all entities.

Special Projects

• Provide HR administrative support to Managing Director of Human Resources.
• Complete special projects as requested and support the overall day-to-day operations of the human resource team.
• As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above essential duties and responsibilities.

Must Haves:

KNOWLEDGE

• Understand the essential functions of benefits best practices and procedures.
• Understand the essential functions of HRIS and understanding of carrier connection processing.
• Familiar with NJ Pension and processing of IROC preferred, but not required.

SKILLS

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Working knowledge of MS Office and Google Suite.

ABILITIES

• Ability to multi-task and manage competing priorities and multiple assignments at once.
• Ability to travel to school locations to meet with staff as needed.
• Ability to manage a high volume of work while maintaining and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to break down complex information into comprehensive parts, ask questions, synthesize and analyze.
• Ability to handle highly sensitive information with absolute confidentiality and professionalism.

Physical Requirements

The usual and customary methods of performing the job’s functions require the following physical demands:

• Prolonged periods of working at computer and sitting at a desk.
• Frequent periods of scanning, copying and mailing.
• Travel to various school locations in Newark, Camden and Miami.
• Hybrid role: in person required in office at minimum once a week and additional in person time necessary based upon organizational needs.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business, Social Service or related field preferred but not required.
• At least one year of HR or direct benefits experience.
• Previous experience working in a school district is preferred, but not required.

Compensation & Benefits

KIPP TEAM & Family offers a market-competitive salary ranging from $60,000 - $75,000 Salary ranges at KIPP are set based upon the role level and function using benchmarks in the education and non-profit sector 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, KIPP NJ offers a full comprehensive benefits plan, including health care, retirement, a school laptop and transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into New Jersey from the New York City area. 

KIPP New Jersey | KIPP Miami is an equal opportunity employer