Central Team Leader - Benefits

Life.Church wants to make a lasting difference in your life, in our community, and in the world. Our mission is to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. That's how we’re able to make a difference, and it's the driving force behind everything we do.   The Central Team Leader, Benefits is primarily responsible for planning and directing the overall design, implementation, communication, and administration of the Life.Church benefits programs. This role is responsible for casting vision and setting strategy for the Benefits Team, ensuring programs reflect Life.Church's mission and values while remaining compliant, competitive, and clearly communicated. As both a benefits expert and ministry leader, this role guides team members through some of the most personal decisions they face and does so with both excellence and pastoral care as a key member of the Staff Operations Group leadership team.   The Central Team Leader, Benefits is responsible for casting vision, providing direction, and leading ministry efforts within their teams to outcomes that further Life.Church’s mission and reach people for Christ. What You'll Do Lead the Benefits Team • Partner with the Central Group Leader, Staff Operations to shape the overall vision and strategic direction of the Benefits team. • Provide consistent leadership to direct reports through regular one-on-ones, coaching, pastoral care, and clearly communicated expectations aligned to team and organizational goals. • Develop individualized growth plans for each team member, tracking progress and removing barriers to professional and personal development. • Lead through benefits initiatives and projects, ensuring timelines are met and the team is resourced to deliver high-quality work. • Develop a talent pipeline that supports the future growth of the team and the programs we deliver. Lead Benefits Strategy and Administration • Develop and implement a multi-year benefits strategy that supports Life.Church's mission, attracts and retains top talent, and reflects care for our staff and their families. • Oversee the design, implementation, and administration of all Life.Church benefit plans, including health, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and supplemental programs. • Evaluate plan performance regularly and propose improvements, partnering with our benefits broker and advisors to stay current with market trends and best practices. • Maintain deep working knowledge of all Life.Church benefit plans and how they interact with payroll, HRIS, and compliance requirements. • Act as the primary liaison between health and financial plan representatives and Life.Church staff, maintaining strong vendor relationships. • Oversee the timely auditing and payment of benefit invoices and ensure budget accuracy in partnership with Finance. • Ensure all stakeholders are informed on high-cost claims and stop-loss activity, ensuring that our overall funding strategy is accurate. • Partner with Human Resources to design, implement, and maintain an equitable and clear leave program for Life.Church. Own Compliance and Controls • Ensure full compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations governing employee benefits, including ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, and applicable state mandates across all 12 states. • Conduct regular audits of benefits plan documents, contracts, and vendor agreements to identify and address potential compliance issues proactively. • Partner with legal counsel as needed to resolve compliance issues and stay ahead of regulatory changes. • Ensure all benefits communications and materials meet applicable legal standards. • Monitor legislative and regulatory changes impacting benefits and proactively brief leadership on implications. Oversee Benefits Education and Communication • Provide proactive, accessible education to staff on how to understand and utilize Life.Church benefits. • Regularly review and improve internal and external educational programs using staff feedback and utilization data. • Oversee education content to ensure it is current, accurate, and easy to understand. • Collaborate with other departments to ensure benefits communication is integrated, consistent, and aligned with organizational priorities. Skills Needed to Succeed • Strong leadership skills with demonstrated experience developing and guiding others in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. • Ability to self-motivate, make independent decisions, and problem-solve with creativity and sound judgment. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to translate complex benefit information into clear, accessible language for diverse audiences. • Deep knowledge of employee benefits design, administration, and applicable federal and state laws (ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, and multi-state leave mandates). • Effective at process and project management — able to coordinate multiple initiatives simultaneously while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines. • Collaborative and relational; skilled at building trust across teams, with vendors, and with staff at all levels. • High School Diploma or GED. • Bachelor's Degree preferred. • 8+ years of related work experience in employee benefits, HR or a related field. • Experience in a self-funded health plan environment strongly preferred. • CEBS, CBP, or SHRM-CP/SCP certification preferred. Benefits We Offer Paid parental leave, including maternity, paternity, and adoption leave. Generous employer-paid leave for the use of vacation, sick time, and other qualifying reasons.  Innovative and comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance that provides team members with useful resources and savings to navigate their holistic health.  Life insurance policy provided for all staff members at 2x annual salary at no cost. Additional life insurance coverage is available to purchase.  Short-Term and Long-Term disability is covered at 100% for full-time qualified staff members. Comprehensive wellness and mental health benefits allow staff to proactively invest in their physical and emotional health. Generous 401(k) retirement plan allowing a team member to have up to 12.5% (including employee contribution, employer match, and employer discretionary contribution) contributed into their account in their first year. It doesn’t stop there—the more years on staff, the greater the investment!  $160 annually in development dollars for team members to invest in their professional growth.  Casual dress and work environment. And much more!   Our Beliefs, Culture, and Commitment to Diversity At Life.Church, every staff member, and intern is a minister and is expected to engage in the church's ministry fully. We consider ministry readiness and an individual’s capacity to represent Life.Church’s beliefs as a minister during the selection process for all staff and intern positions. An essential function within every position held by a staff member or intern at Life.Church is to uphold and represent the beliefs of Life.Church. Learn more about what we believe at Life.Church.    While we unite around our mission, we know unity doesn’t mean uniformity. Our calling is too great, and our mission is too important not to be intentional about strengthening our team through diversity. We know that diverse perspectives in race, ethnicity, background, age, and gender are essential to reaching the world for Christ. To learn more about how we strengthen our team through diversity, visit our careers page.    All data collected in our application process, from resume collection to application questions, is used for recruitment purposes only.