Director - Placement Specialist Team Lead
Job Description
As a Director - Placement Specialist Lead, you will contribute to a client’s benefits strategy through managing and/or leading the entire vendor/carrier bid, procurement, and negotiation process. You will work across the full spectrum of employer health and group benefit programs including medical, dental, life, disability, voluntary benefits, etc. on complex projects for multi-faceted clients. You will interface with vendors and client teams, prepare client deliverables, and ensure quality standards are met.
Note: Employment-based non-immigrant visa sponsorship and/or assistance is not offered for this specific job opportunity.
The Role
- Leads complex clients/projects throughout the full placement process
- Links clients’ benefits, funding and placement strategies to deliver optimal results
- Has advanced knowledge of complex funding and carrier/vendor capabilities across all benefit programs, and may have specialized expertise in certain benefits
- Evaluates and leads delivery of new market innovation to clients, providing strategic expertise and recommendations
- Demonstrates excellent negotiation and relationship management skills to handle difficult external and internal conversations
- Leads complex carrier/vendor negotiations
- Fully understands clients’ needs, anticipates questions in advance and conveys solutions to meet needs
- Guides team (client, regional and Global Delivery Centers/GDCs) on deliverables based on client need
- Attends market account planning activities to understand potential placement activity
- Actively participates in new business and prospecting activities
- Conducts final excellence reviews on complex client deliverables in the placement process
- Maintains/cultivates strong carrier/vendor relationships to enhance WTW’s market position
- Provides leadership to more junior colleagues in delivery of placement work
- May have formal leadership role as a people manager, team or region lead, etc
Qualifications
The Requirements
- 7+ years’ experience in professional services, ideally gained in a benefit consulting/brokerage firm or health care vendor/carrier
- Advanced knowledge of fully-insured arrangements and understanding of self-funded funding arrangements, including stop loss contracts and provisions
- Strong familiarity with health & welfare vendor/carrier landscape
- Experience with negotiation tactics in the health & welfare environment
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and produce quality deliverables on time and within budget
- Strong client service orientation and ability to manage expectations and relationships both internally and with clients
- Proven ability to drive client strategic decisions by providing evidence-supported recommendations
- Polished written and verbal communication skills, along with analytical, creative and integrative skills
- Self-starter attitude and ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to manage less experienced colleagues in meeting objectives
- Excellent Microsoft Office skills, particularly in Excel and PowerPoint
- State Life and Health license required within 90 days of joining
- Relevant industry experience and/or Bachelor's degree in finance/math, risk management, human resources or business will be considered in lieu of industry experience
- Progress towards completion of CEBS designation
This position will remain posted for a minimum of three business days from the date posted or until a sufficient/appropriate candidate slate has been identified.
Company Benefits
WTW provides a competitive benefit package which includes the following (eligibility requirements apply):
- Health and Welfare Benefits: Medical (including prescription coverage), Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Commuter Account, Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Group Accident, Group Critical Illness, Life Insurance, AD&D, Group Legal, Identify Theft Protection, Wellbeing Program and Work/Life Resources (including Employee Assistance Program)
- Leave Benefits: Paid Holidays, Annual Paid Time Off (includes paid state/local paid leave where required), Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Other Leaves (e.g., Bereavement, FMLA, ADA, Jury Duty, Military Leave, and Parental and Adoption Leave),
- Retirement Benefits: Contributory Pension Plan and Savings Plan (401k). All Level 38 and more senior roles may also be eligible for non-qualified Deferred Compensation and Deferred Savings Plans.
EOE, including disability/vets
