Director of Benefits & Risk Management chez Plaquemines Parish School Board

Salary Range: $96,316- $140,916 

Ad Valorem - 2.40 parish property (ad valorem) tax mills are dedicated to employee salaries.  The annual receipts from this tax are distributed to employees twice a year, one-half in January and one-half in June. The amount of each employee’s supplement is the employee’s salary multiplied by the annual percentage (computed each year based on actual tax revenues).

Job Goal

To provide strategic leadership and oversight of district-wide risk, insurance and safety programs, ensuring compliance with regulations while mitigating financial and operational risks. The Director fosters accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement, aligning departmental initiatives with district goals, optimizing resources, enhancing employee well-being and strengthening emergency preparedness.

Qualifications (minimum education, licensure, skills and/or experience)

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Risk Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field, from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in risk management or benefits administration, with at least three (3) years in a leadership or supervisory role.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state and local laws and regulations related to risk management and employee benefits, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the State of Louisiana Office of Risk Management (ORM).
• Understanding of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) insurance regulations.
• Strong organizing, planning and project management skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for managing risk and benefits programs effectively.
• Skilled in managing departmental budgets and operational planning.
• Ability to develop and implement risk management and employee benefits policies and procedures aligned with organizational goals.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including employees, leadership and external vendors.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Risk Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field, from an accredited institution.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Risk Manager (CRM), Certified Benefits Professional (CBP) or similar credentials.
• Experience in a pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade (Pre-K-12) environment.
• Skilled in managing large-scale insurance and benefits programs, including policy procurement and claims resolution.
• Expertise in data-driven decision-making to evaluate and mitigate risks and improve operational efficiency.
• Understanding of conflict resolution and crisis management in an organizational setting.
• Ability to mentor and develop team members to enhance leadership capacity.
• Familiarity with industry-specific technology, tools and systems.
• Working knowledge of Google Workspace.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and Departmental Oversight

• Oversees and coordinates key departmental programs and initiatives ensuring compliance with laws, policies and administrative regulations.
• Investigates, mitigates and monitors claims related to district liability, property damage and employee and stakeholder incidents, ensuring compliance with legal and insurance requirements. 
• Coordinates underwriter and actuarial reviews of claims history and loss runs to assess the sufficiency of the insurance program and implement risk mitigation strategies.
• Ensures timely reporting of all claims, including Workers' Compensation, general liability and vehicle-related incidents.
• Oversees the planning, procurement, and administration of the School Board's group health insurance programs in collaboration with vendors and third-party providers. 
• Promotes employee health and wellness initiatives through district newsletters, wellness fairs and biometric screening programs.
• Oversees Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for health insurance, combined benefits, property and casualty, general liability and cyber and crime insurance.
• Reviews and updates vendor certificates of insurance (COIs) annually, ensuring carriers maintain accurate and current records.
• Supports emergency functions through the insurance claims process and other disaster grant programs (e.g., FEMA).
• Recruits, hires, trains, supervises and evaluates all assigned personnel.
• Provides oversight and mentorship to ensure staff fulfill responsibilities effectively and meet departmental expectations.
• Promotes a culture of innovation, accountability and collaboration within the department to achieve high performance and engagement.
• Collects, analyzes and utilizes data on the school system's challenges, needs and operations to support strategic planning and continuous improvement across assigned programs.
• Develops and executes strategic plans for the department that align with district-wide goals and address emerging needs.
• Evaluates and refines departmental operating procedures to improve efficiency and ensure compliance with district priorities and regulatory requirements.
• Develops budget recommendations and prepares annual risk management budgets, overseeing departmental budgets to ensure efficient resource allocation for operational needs. Maintains accurate budgetary, financial, inventory and program records to comply with state and federal monitoring and auditing requirements, while controlling variances effectively.
• Identifies opportunities to enhance resource utilization and recommends improvements for cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

Stakeholder Collaboration and Representation

• Builds collaborative relationships with district leadership, school administrators and external stakeholders to identify, define, address, eliminate and resolve workplace hazards and risks in the areas of personal injury and property.
• Represents the department in district meetings and public forums, communicating updates, challenges and accomplishments.

• Acts as a liaison between the department and external partners, including Plaquemines Parish emergency officials, to promote initiatives, foster community engagement and enhance emergency preparedness and response coordination.

• Collaborates with the leadership team, school leaders, Teachers and support staff to gather feedback, plan next steps and implement risk management initiatives effectively.
• Administers strategic surveys to evaluate and enhance service delivery for employees and retirees.

Policy and Procedure Implementation

• Implements district-wide policies and ensures departmental adherence to established procedures, regulations and organizational standards.
• Develops, coordinates and maintains risk-averse policies and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance, including oversight of leave of absence policies and transitional return-to-work programs. 
• Communicates policy changes and ensures district and school staff compliance through training and oversight.
• Recommends procedural updates to align departmental operations with evolving district objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Develops and monitors risk management procedures to promote safety and accountability across operations.
• Oversees audits and evaluations to identify and mitigate risks and improve operational integrity.

Professional Development

• Identifies and addresses professional development needs for departmental staff, organizing and implementing targeted training sessions. 
• Coordinates and supports staff training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), First Aid, de-escalation, active shooter response and emergency preparedness.
• Mentors emerging leaders within the department to strengthen leadership capacity and prepare for future roles.
• Monitors staff performance against established benchmarks and fosters continuous professional improvement.
• Engages in ongoing professional development to enhance technical skills and stay current with emerging technology trends and best practices.
• Participates in federal, state and local training and networking groups to advance knowledge in school risk management, insurance and operations.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting

• Uses data-driven insights and key performance indicators to guide departmental initiatives, recommend strategies for long-term improvement and make necessary adjustments to meet departmental and district goals.
• Prepares and presents detailed reports on program performance, resource use and project outcomes for district leadership.
• Audits the effectiveness of safety initiatives, prepares reports with actionable recommendations for corrective measures and recommends procedural updates to align departmental operations with evolving district objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Reports all claims, including but not limited to Workers Compensation, general liability and vehicles in a timely manner.

Additional Responsibilities

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned by district leadership to support organizational needs and initiatives.
• Contributes to district-wide projects and collaborates with other departments and school administrators on cross-functional goals to ensure continuity between risk management initiatives, emergency preparedness and operational strategies.
• Maintains a valid driver’s license and a clear driving record, follows all district policies and state regulations for safe vehicle operation, reports any incidents affecting their ability to drive immediately to their supervisor and ensures proper care, maintenance and responsible use of district vehicles if required to use a district vehicle for assigned duties.

Act 311 

In accordance with Act 311 of the Louisiana Legislature, the following duties have been added to this job description to ensure clarity regarding the responsibilities encompassed within this position. These duties are considered part of the employee’s standard job expectations and are compensated within the established salary structure.

Directors shall be expected to perform the following duties, along with the completion of corresponding documents, forms and reports.

Supervision

• Supervise employees whose supervision employee is responsible. 
• Complete and/or assist in the preparation / implementation of employee pre- and post-observations, evaluations, Intensive Assistance Plans (IAPs) and other associated tasks and monitoring.

Non-Instructional Components

• Plan and strategize for future school improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with community organizations or partners to support district and school programs.
• Schedule and/or attend meetings generally associated with the instruction of students.
• Develop and support positive district, school and community relationships.
• Attend faculty, staff and department meetings.
• Schedule and/or attend training sessions.
• Attend job fairs and related events.
• Attend Individualized Education Program (IEP) / Individualized Accommodation Plan (IAP) meetings as needed.
• Schedule and/or attend Central Office and department meetings.
• Interview, employ and complete necessary hires.
• Attend School Board / committee meetings upon request.
• Participate in the preparation of necessary disciplinary meetings / hearings.
• Meet with Teachers / staff to discuss school operations or upcoming events.
• Respond to any and all emergency meetings. 

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

This role primarily operates in an indoor, climate-controlled environment, with occasional exposure to moderate temperature variations. The usual methods of performing job functions require light lifting (ten to twenty [10-20] pounds), carrying, pushing and pulling, with frequent engagement in activities such as standing, walking and sitting. Additional physical requirements include extended use of a computer for data analysis, report generation, communication and administrative duties; alternating between sitting and standing for meetings, presentations and other administrative activities; ability to drive within or outside of the district to various schools, meetings and events; and occasional travel outside the district for conferences, site visits or professional development. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

The Plaquemines Parish School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion or any other legally protected status in its educational programs, activities or employment practices. The district is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect.

Note: This job description is subject to change at any time.  While this job description reflects delegation of essential duties and responsibilities, it does not exclude or restrict management’s right to assign or reassign tasks, duties or responsibilities to this job at any time.