Health and Benefits - Lead Associate

As a Health and Benefits Lead Associate you will contribute to a wide variety of complex projects involving the design, financing and ongoing management of the full spectrum of health and benefit programs. You will serve as the project manager on select projects, interface with vendors and key clients internally and externally, create client deliverables, and ensure quality standards are met. You will have the opportunity to significantly grow your health and benefits business acumen as well as your financial, project management and client relationship skills by working on cutting edge projects alongside leaders in the industry.Materially contribute to core health and benefits projects involving the design and management of group medical, dental, wellbeing, life, disability and absence management benefits for clients.Responsibilities include:

Partnering with client service team leader to deliver superior project management

Proactively advising clients and providing superior client service in response to day to day service issues and questions (eligibility, carrier coverage and claims issues, compliance, etc.)

Preparing for and facilitating client meetings (prepare agendas and materials, coordinate resources, etc.)

Contributing to benefit plan analysis, design, cost savings and funding strategies

Engaging subject matter experts to address client needs

Contributing to benefit plan analysis, design, cost savings and funding strategies

Engaging subject matter experts to address client needs

Conducting review of client deliverables to ensure alignment to client objectives, leverage of optimal WTW services and solutions, and adherence to WTW professional excellence standards

Conducting benchmarking studies and other research; provide value added analyses and summaries

Analyzing and comparing vendor products, services and contracts

Building relationships internally and collaborating effectively on cross-functional teams

Reviewing work and contributing to the development of junior staff

The Requirements:

4+ years’ experience dealing with health and welfare plans, ideally gained in a benefit consulting/brokerage firm or health underwriting / actuarial function of an insurance company

Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and produce quality deliverables on time and within budget

Strong client service orientation and ability to respond to all communications effectively and in a timely manner

Proven ability to identify and resolve issues

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Self-starter attitude and ability to work independently and as part of a team

Strong analytical, creative and integrative skills

Excellent Microsoft Office skills, particularly in Excel and PowerPoint

State Life and Health license required within 90 days of joining

Pursuit of CEBS designation, or health and welfare actuarial / underwriting training encouraged