THE CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE

TITLE: Executive Director for Alliance Benefits

AREA OF MINISTRY: Ops/Finance

OFFICE: Alliance Benefits

REPORTS TO: Vice President for Operations and Finance

DIRECT REPORTS:  Benefit Consultants, Benefits Coordinator, Benefits Customer Care Representative, Marketing Coordinator, Billing and Data Service Representative

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Executive Director for Alliance Benefits is under the direction of the vice president for Operations and Finance and is responsible for directing all aspects of the benefit plans for The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) both domestically and internationally. In the performance of his/her responsibilities, this position supports the overall mission of the C&MA as described below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education

• Four-year college degree in related field required

• Postgraduate degree in related field preferred for some positions, required for some positions

• Major must relate directly to daily work Experience

• 9+ years of experience in a related position

• Work requiring an extensive background to understand trends and to develop broad programs for health and retirement plans.

• Work includes participating in formulation of C&MA, National Office (N.O.), or departmental policies and procedures Certification/Licensure/Ordination

• Preferably a licensed official worker or a certified worker, as set forth in the Manual of The Christian and Missionary Alliance and maintain membership in a local C&MA church

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Requires solving very complex problems or planning and developing programs and procedures

• Demonstrates the spiritual calling, giftedness and maturity requisite for a position of ministry leadership within the denomination, as determined by the C&MA senior management; among other things, the individual and the C&MA must agree that God has called him or her to serve Him in a ministry leadership position within the C&MA, and has equipped him with appropriate gifts, training and skills for such calling; further, the devotion, character, lifestyle, and values of the person who is called to serve in this capacity must demonstrate the reality of his commitment to the Lord and His Word

• Affirms such individual’s understanding and agreement that this position is a position of ministerial leadership within the C&MA, and that the position plays an important role in the expression and exercise of the Christian beliefs of the C&MA, and that the position is subject to the “ministerial exception” legal doctrine

• Possesses the ability to utilize computerized software applications and operate various office equipment such as telephone, computer, printer, copier, fax, and calculator

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Ministry Responsibilities

• Serves in a ministry position within the C&MA by providing spiritual, ministry, and administrative leadership for the accomplishment of the C&MA’s mission and the effectiveness of its ministries

• Serves as a role model for spiritual maturity in accordance with the Christian beliefs of the C&MA

• Represents the C&MA to outside organizations and in conferences, business meetings or on working committees; serves as a consultant, advisor, or member of task force committees or boards as appointed or elected

• Provides spiritual guidance to employees under the individual’s supervision and to others with respect to living as a disciple of Jesus Christ and serving the mission of the C&MA

• Committed to personal development of team members by providing opportunities for spiritual and professional growth

• Performs other duties related to ministry leadership as set forth from time to time in the Employee Handbook or the Manual of The Christian and Missionary Alliance, or as appropriate to participate in, and contribute to the leadership of, the exercise and expression of Christian beliefs of the C&MA

• Organizes, leads, and participates in chapels, religious services, and prayer groups on a daily or periodic basis as assigned, and fulfill such other ministry functions and requirements as requested by the C&MA

MENTAL DEMANDS:

• Complicated and widely varied assignments that frequently require careful analysis of the effect of solution on other activities; ingenuity and judgment are required to plan work, deal with factors not easily evaluated, interpret results, draw conclusions and take or delegate recommended actions

• Directs a staff of supervisory, professional, and support staff. A wide variety of complex, changing problems, most of which cannot be anticipated; frequently addresses issues where there might be minimal existing procedure or precedent; establishes objectives and policies; serves a part of the top management strategic planning team

• Accuracy is essential and not subject to further check

• Significant travel

• Responsible for an area of ministry or overall GCF budget funds

IMPACT ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Decisions have very significant impact from a cost standpoint

• Errors may take time to detect and correct and could result in embarrassment and/or significant dollar loss to the organization

• Responsible for setting area of ministry goals, programs, strategic planning, and making area of ministry decisions

• Work is of a highly complex and difficult nature, not easily checked or subject only to broad controls. Impact of actions is significant to the office(s) and affects others’ results

• Highest level of confidential information is known

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Personal Contact

• Intensive and frequent contacts with those within the N.O. and those outside the N.O. requiring maximum knowledge of pertinent policies and objectives

• Frequent contacts of a significant nature requiring very advanced knowledge of N.O. policies, plus an ability to understand, communicate and persuade others to obtain willing acceptance, consent or action; sets good example for others, good role model

• Frequently involves explanation of detailed information in verbal and written form and requires giving presentations

• Ability to establish rapport needed to generate understanding and motivation in others, as well as utilize judgment in communicating, persuading, negotiating, and planning strategy concerning matters critical to the success of the office or organization

General

• Manages time effectively, including the ability to organize and manage multiple priorities and the ability to effectively meet deadlines, significant exposure to extensive deadline pressures, frequently unpredicted deadlines

• Requires ability to handle extensive exposure to stress

• Interacts positively in a cooperative team environment

• Adheres to dress code policy and serves as a role model for those under his/her direction

• Addresses internal and external questions and issues and ensures effective and long-term problem resolution

• Promotes open and honest communication, mutual respect, and strong teamwork

NONESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ministerial and administrative leadership experience in a nonprofit, Christian organization

ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to visually focus.

• Work environment: The duties of this position are primarily conducted in an indoor, office environment with typical lighting, heating and cooling customarily found that type of environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.

Specific Duties:

• Directs the Alliance Benefits staff and their responsibilities including the sales, operations, risk management, and administration of all health insurance and retirement benefit plans as well as preparation of the annual budgets and audits/reviews for the health, Fellowship Fund, and 403(b) retirement funds

• Provides direct supervision and coaching for other team members within assigned office including assignment and oversight of duties, conducting coaching sessions and performance evaluations, approving timecards if applicable, and handling of other personnel matters

• Leads business development efforts; travels regularly to current and potential participants, churches, district offices, and supporting organizations to build relationships and promote and grow the health and retirement benefit programs

• Plays a key role with Alliance Benefits’ consultants and its third parties who support the various plans as well as with member associations such as The Church Benefit Association, Church Alliance and the Christian Alliance for Benefits (CAB), including serving on the boards of these organizations if requested

• Serves as product manager for the various self-funded health insurance benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, long-term disability, life insurance and supplemental products to ensure the products are priced appropriately and positioned competitively and marketed effectively through a communications and marketing plan; leads a comprehensive communication plan (print, email, video, blogs, website, etc.) that grows awareness and participation in the plans

• Serves as a member of the 403(b) Investment Committee, providing oversight and selection of the investments and monitoring of fund performance; assesses performance of the Fellowship Fund to ensure assets are sufficient to pay planned liabilities

• Reports regularly on results, including an annual report to the president of the C&MA

• Accountable to the Benefit Board for scheduling, developing meeting content, and reporting at least three times annually, including at least one telephone conference call providing information and updates for the board to make appropriate decisions; serves as a non-voting member of the C&MA Benefit Board and serves as a trustee representing the board as needed

• Serves on other assigned C&MA committees including the Operations/Finance

Leadership Team

Attends and works at biennial General Council; oversees booth, distributes

materials related to benefits plans and meets individually with participants to

answer questions, solve problems, and address concerns

• Salary:  Commensurate based on experience

• Benefits:  Medical and Prescription, Dental, Vision, Basic Life Insurance, Long-Term Disability, and Employer HSA Contribution

• Vacation: 4 weeks of vacation, 12 sick days, 2 personal days, 11

       holidays

• Relocation: Required (Relocation assistance is offered)

• Travel: Up to 40% The position offers significant opportunities to lead a team within the Alliance, which is a $82 million denomination with 840 full-time employees, the majority of whom are located overseas. The role involves working closely with district superintendents, pastors, international workers, and external partners such as insurance brokers and retirement providers.