Voluntary Benefits - Senior Associate

Our Health and Benefits business helps large and mid-size clients control health and welfare plan costs, improve health outcomes, and promote employee engagement through broad-based, state-of-the-art interventions. We provide solutions encompassing creative plan design, vendor evaluation and management, pricing and funding strategies, data analytics, valuation support, compliance, and governance strategies. We also provide Specialty consulting services including clinical/health management program design, pharmacy solutions, disability/absence management strategies and claims audit services. Product based solutions such as our pharmacy purchasing coalition round out our broad-based suite of offerings.

The Voluntary Benefits Practice represents another solution set as we seek to serve the range of client needs. Voluntary benefits are one of the largest growth segments in the benefits arena and are to be positioned as an integral part of our clients’ Total Rewards strategies. Willis Towers Watson views voluntary benefits as an expansion opportunity for our current client base as well as a differentiation strategy through an integrated approach for new business development efforts. As such, we expect the Voluntary Benefit (VB) initiative will accelerate our growth within Health & Benefits for current and new client organizations.

Employment-based non-immigration visa sponsorship and/or assistance is not offered for this specific job opportunity.

The Role:

As a Voluntary Benefits Senior Associate, you will be responsible for supporting VB sales and operations, enrollment and implementations, and collaborating with others to ensure a successful client experience throughout the client project lifecycle. You will contribute to a wide variety of complex projects involving the design, financing, delivery, ongoing management and communication of the full spectrum of voluntary plans and programs. You will interface with carriers/vendors and key internal and external contacts, create client deliverables, and ensure quality standards are met. This role will be working remotely within the posted location/s.

Responsibilities:

• Build strong relationships internally and collaborate effectively on cross-functional teams
• Support strategic assessment and sales preparation for clients and prospects, including but not limited to the following:
  • Attend/support client calls (e.g. client discovery, underwriting, finance)
  • Conduct VB Vendor RFP – prepare tools, send requests, review responses, populate tools, conduct carrier/vendor Q&A, prepare deliverable; Analyze and compare vendor products, services and contracts
  • Prepare client profile intake form and financial projections (proforma)
  • Assist with client scope of services and contract preparation and tracking
  • Assist with client stewardship reports; validate VB commissions and fees received
  • Oversee/actively facilitate post-enrollment paperwork, to assure timely completion
  • Assist in resolving project issues and escalations timely and efficiently
  • Communicate and collaborate effectively with colleagues and clients regarding all aspects of internal and client project execution
  • Provide strong project and process management support for the VB Sales Team
  • Support client retention and growth efforts
  • Support reporting requirements for the VB business including sales, operational and financial reporting
  • Deliver enrollment and implementation project steps to clients with superior quality and perform in depth peer review on client deliverables
  • Ensure all VB implementation and enrollment functions and services are operating with the VB Practice’s objectives and initiatives
  • Serve as the day-to-day project lead, ensuring the progress of the team against established objectives, budget, timeline, deliverables, and quality standards
  • Provide process expertise in multiple areas of enrollment and implementation
  • Share feedback with others timely and effectively that will enhance client, vendor and/or employee experiences

Job Requirements:

• 3-5+ years of experience in the insurance industry with practical knowledge of voluntary benefit plans, ideally gained in a group benefit consulting/brokerage firm, insurance company or enrollment firm.
• Superior ability to collaborate with senior management and work across all levels of an organization
• Strong analytical and project management skills, including:
  • Strong client service orientation
  • Proven experience successfully managing projects and producing quality deliverables on time and within budget
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Proven ability to diagnose and resolve issues, work in teams, and leverage the resources of other related practices to address client challenges.