People, Benefits and Culture Partner

The People, Benefits and Culture Partner supports the administration of JCFS Chicago’s employee benefits, leave of absence, and workplace accommodation programs and plays a key role in advancing the agency’s culture, belonging, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

This position serves as a trusted resource to employees and leaders and is expected to approach all interactions with a strong customer service mindset. The Partner provides timely, responsive, respectful, and solution focused support while helping employees navigate benefits, leave, accommodation, and culture related matters that may be complex or sensitive.

The People, Benefits and Culture Partner works closely with employees, managers, People and Culture team members, payroll, benefits vendors, leave administrators, and other internal and external partners. The role is responsible for creating a positive employee experience by providing clear communication, consistent follow through, thoughtful guidance, and a high level of service.

The People, Benefits and Culture Partner also supports agencywide culture and inclusion efforts and works closely with People and Culture leadership to advance the agency’s DEI initiatives.

Responsibilities:

Benefits Administration

• Serves as a responsive and knowledgeable resource to employees regarding benefit programs and provides clear, timely, and supportive assistance throughout the benefits process.
• Assists employees with enrollment, disenrollment, benefit changes, and access to employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, AD&D, wellness programs, transit benefits, and retirement plans.
• Provides employees with information and guidance in a customer focused manner to help them understand, access, and effectively use available benefit programs.
• Assists employees with utilizing the online benefits enrollment system and works to resolve routine enrollment or system related concerns promptly and professionally.
• Administers COBRA and retiree benefits programs, including coordinating benefit changes among vendors, People and Culture, Finance, and Payroll.
• Tracks, reviews, and verifies benefit elections and changes within HRIS and payroll systems.
• Coordinates and supports annual open enrollment activities, including employee communications, enrollment meetings, benefit materials, and system updates.
• Ensures required employee benefit notices and communications are distributed timely and accurately.
• Prepares and maintains semimonthly, monthly, annual, and regulatory benefit reports.
• Reviews benefit vendor reports and assists with identifying and resolving enrollment, deduction, eligibility, and reconciliation discrepancies.
• Serves as a liaison with benefit vendors and third party administrators and takes ownership of employee concerns through resolution, including timely follow up and communication.
• Identifies opportunities to improve benefit related processes, communications, and the overall employee experience.

Leave and Accommodation Management

• Coordinates and administers employee leaves of absence, including FMLA, medical leave, parental leave, personal leave, military leave, and other federal, state, local, and agency provided leave programs.
• Serves as a primary point of contact for employees navigating leave and accommodation matters and provides compassionate, respectful, and responsive support throughout the process.
• Explains leave eligibility, documentation requirements, benefit continuation, return to work expectations, and available resources in a clear and understandable manner.
• Tracks employee leaves from initial request through return to work and ensures appropriate documentation, notices, approvals, and follow up are completed.
• Maintains regular communication with employees during the leave process and ensures questions and concerns are addressed timely.
• Maintains accurate leave information and documentation within HRIS and other applicable systems.
• Coordinates with employees, managers, payroll, benefits vendors, and third party leave administrators to ensure appropriate administration of employee leave.
• Supports the workplace accommodation process in accordance with applicable laws and agency practices.
• Engages with employees and appropriate People and Culture leadership in the interactive accommodation process, including gathering documentation, identifying potential accommodations, coordinating implementation, and monitoring approved accommodations.
• Approaches accommodation discussions with empathy, discretion, neutrality, and a solution focused mindset.
• Tracks accommodation requests and ensures required documentation and communications are maintained appropriately and confidentially.
• Supports return to work planning and assists with coordinating temporary restrictions, modified work arrangements, and other approved workplace accommodations.
• Maintains knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local leave and workplace accommodation requirements and assists with ensuring agency practices remain compliant.
• Escalates complex or sensitive matters appropriately while maintaining continuity of service to the employee.

Culture, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• Coordinates JCFS Chicago’s DEI Committee and supports the development of an effective committee structure, including clearly defined roles and responsibilities for committee members, Chairs, and Co Chairs.
• Builds positive relationships with committee members, employees, and leaders and fosters an inclusive and collaborative experience for participants.
• Develops and maintains systems that support participation, accountability, communication, and progress toward established DEI goals.
• Supports the development, implementation, and ongoing growth of Employee Resource Groups.
• Educates employees and leaders regarding the purpose, structure, and value of Employee Resource Groups and provides responsive support to employees interested in establishing or participating in an ERG.
• Partners with People and Culture leadership and other agency stakeholders to support initiatives that strengthen belonging, inclusion, employee engagement, and organizational culture.
• Assists with planning and coordinating DEI related programs, educational opportunities, events, communications, and employee engagement activities.
• Researches emerging practices and resources related to organizational culture, employee belonging, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Supports collection and review of employee feedback and other information that can help identify opportunities to strengthen workplace culture and the employee experience.
• Builds strong relationships across departments and programs and serves as an approachable People and Culture partner to employees and leaders.
• Responds to employee and leader questions in a timely, professional, and service oriented manner and ensures appropriate follow through.
• Identifies recurring employee concerns, service gaps, and process barriers and recommends practical improvements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Social Services, or a related field preferred. Equivalent relevant professional experience may be considered.
• Three or more years of progressively responsible Human Resources experience, with experience in benefits administration, employee leaves, workplace accommodations, employee relations, or a related People and Culture function preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working in a customer focused Human Resources, employee service, benefits, or People and Culture environment.
• Demonstrated ability to provide high quality service, manage employee concerns, communicate clearly, follow through on commitments, and resolve issues in a timely and professional manner.
• Experience administering or supporting employee leave programs, including FMLA and other federal, state, or local leave requirements.
• Experience supporting workplace accommodations and participating in the interactive accommodation process preferred.
• Experience working with employee benefit programs, benefit vendors, HRIS systems, payroll processes, or third party benefit and leave administrators.
• Demonstrated experience supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, or organizational culture initiatives. This experience may include professional DEI responsibilities, serving on or leading a DEI committee, participating in Employee Resource Groups, coordinating employee engagement initiatives, facilitating DEI related programming, or leading other workplace culture initiatives.
• Experience facilitating committees, workgroups, employee programs, or cross functional initiatives preferred.
• Experience handling sensitive employee information with discretion and maintaining appropriate confidentiality.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong customer service orientation with a demonstrated commitment to providing responsive, respectful, accurate, and solution focused support.
• Ability to create a positive employee experience even when managing complex, sensitive, or highly regulated matters.
• Ability to listen actively, understand employee concerns, explain information clearly, and identify appropriate next steps.
• Strong follow through and ownership mindset, with the ability to manage employee questions and issues through resolution.
• Ability to balance employee service with policy consistency, compliance requirements, and organizational needs.
• Working knowledge of employee benefits, leave administration, workplace accommodations, and Human Resources practices.
• Familiarity with applicable employment laws related to benefits, leaves, disability accommodations, and employee rights.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and maintain productive working relationships with employees, leaders, vendors, and colleagues.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple employee cases, deadlines, documentation requirements, and competing priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate difficult or complex information with empathy, clarity, professionalism, and good judgment.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with employees and leaders across different roles, departments, backgrounds, and levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive workplace and supporting a culture of belonging, respect, equity, and accountability.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate employee records and documentation.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality when working with sensitive employee information.
• Proficiency with Human Resources information systems, Microsoft Office applications, and other Human Resources technology.

Compensation: The minimum compensation for this full-time position is starting at $75,000 annually. Final compensation will be determined based on experience.

JCFS Chicago offers an array of benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Wellness, Paid sick and vacation time, Agency holidays, Pension, 403(b), Flexible Spending Plans, and Life Insurance.

Please visit us at http://www.jcfs.org

JCFS Chicago is committed to serving the needs of the diverse Chicago metropolitan area. Accredited by COA, Charter member of CWLA, Licensed by DCFS

JCFS Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer: disability/veteran JCFS provides a reasonable accommodation to those who need assistance in completing this application