Manager of People Operations (Benefits Administrator)
About the role
At Zeta, we pursue an unprecedented combination of high academic achievement and social-emotional development for our students. We insist that every student receives a world-class education while fostering a love for learning. We are passionate about changing the landscape of public education in New York City and beyond, and we are uncompromising in our mission. Currently, we operate multiple elementary and middle schools in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan, and are opening new elementary schools and a High School for the 2026-2027 school year. We plan to grow and open 1-2 schools each year because children in every community deserve excellent, equitable education. Join our growing team today, and be a change agent for children. Our Network office is located at 401 W. 218th St., New York, NY 10034. Zeta teammates are lifelong learners who live with child-like joy and a deep sense of purpose. We disrupt the status quo and tackle problems together. Our team stands united by our commitment to a limitless future for every child. Our Zeta team is comprised of top talent with incredible schooling and private sector experience. At Zeta: we are passionate about our mission of providing world-class education to all students; we bring a mindset of growth, flexibility, and openness to feedback; we are hungry and determined to not only meet your goals, but surpass them; we are humble, willing to put the team's needs ahead of your own, and committed to contributing to a collaborative work environment; we have a high bar for excellence and sweat over the details; we are caring and put team over individual at all times.
Responsibilities
- Manage all aspects of Zeta's benefits programs, including medical, dental, and vision plans, retirement, leaves of absence, unemployment, etc.
- Lead the annual open enrollment process from end to end; develop trainings and materials, communicate plan changes and updates with clarity, and track progress across the organization to ensure completion
- Continuously evaluate benefits programs with a strategic and analytical lens; identify gaps and opportunities, propose enhancements, and drive implementation in partnership with carriers and brokers to maximize employee satisfaction
- Build and maintain strong, productive relationships with benefits brokers and carriers to ensure service excellence, cost-efficiency, and rapid problem resolution
- Oversee our benefits module in Paycom, including the coordination of data feeds and integrations with carriers, and proactively identify ways to streamline and improve system operations
- Serve as the primary point of contact for all leave types including FMLA, ADA, STD, parental leave, personal leave, military leave, and other applicable leave programs
- Manage the end-to-end leave process: eligibility verification, documentation tracking, approvals, extensions, and return-to-work procedures
- Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local leave laws and organizational policies
- Coordinate the intake and documentation of work-related injuries and illnesses
- Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local benefits regulations (e.g., ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, FMLA) and maintain accurate documentation necessary for reporting and audits
- Collaborate with a team of fast-paced, goal-driven strategizers who are constantly improving systems to provide a "Wow" employee experience
- Wear multiple hats as a part of a lean scale-up team, supporting the work of others on the team and taking on new projects and tasks as needed