Account Executive

Empowered Staffing; Skokie (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Empowered Staffing is seeking an experienced Account Executive to lead and own relationships with a portfolio of mid-market employee benefits clients. You will guide executive-level conversations, develop creative solutions, and oversee the account team to ensure high-quality service and client satisfaction.

You will manage renewals, RFPs, and plan-design evaluations, while staying abreast of regulatory developments and industry best practices to deliver measurable results for clients and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Extensive experience in employee benefits consulting, brokerage, or account management.
• Strong knowledge of medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and ancillary plans.
• Experience leading client renewals, carrier negotiations, RFPs, and plan-design evaluations.
• Ability to analyze benefit programs and craft cost-effective solutions.
• Experience managing mid-market or complex client relationships.
• Proven ability to lead and develop Account Managers and teams.
• Understanding of employee benefits regulations and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Build trusted relationships with clients, executives, and vendors.
• Lead client strategy meetings, renewal discussions, and executive presentations.
• Design competitive, cost-effective benefit programs across medical, dental, vision, life.
• Guide annual renewals and RFP processes from strategy to implementation.
• Oversee implementation of new benefit plans and carrier relationships.
• Stay current on benefits trends and regulatory developments.

Skills

Relationship management

Renewals & negotiations

Strategic client leadership

Executive communication

Regulatory compliance knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Empowered Staffing is partnered with a growing employee benefits and insurance advisory firm known for delivering highly personalized, consultative service. The company is seeking an experienced Account Executive to serve as the strategic leader and primary relationship owner for a portfolio of mid-market employee benefits clients. You will lead executive-level conversations, develop creative solutions, oversee the supporting account team, and ensure every client receives a high standard of service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build trusted relationships with clients, executives, key decision-makers, insurance carriers, brokers, and vendor partners.
• Develop a thorough understanding of each client’s business, workforce, financial objectives, challenges, and employee benefits strategy.
• Provide proactive, consultative guidance throughout the year—not only during renewal periods.
• Lead regular client strategy meetings, stewardship reviews, renewal discussions, and executive presentations.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen client satisfaction, improve service delivery, and increase account retention.
• Design competitive and cost-effective employee benefit programs across medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and ancillary coverage.
• Create customized solutions for clients experiencing rising benefit costs, plan-design challenges, compliance concerns, or employee-communication issues.
• Evaluate alternative funding arrangements, benefit structures, carrier options, vendor solutions, and cost-containment strategies.
• Clearly explain complex insurance concepts, financial considerations, and plan recommendations to executives and other stakeholders.
• Stay current on employee benefits trends, regulatory developments, compliance requirements, and emerging strategies, introducing relevant ideas to clients.
• Lead the annual renewal and request-for-proposal process from initial strategy through final implementation.
• Guide clients through key benefit decisions while balancing cost, coverage, employee experience, and organizational goals.
• Lead finalist presentations, renewal meetings, employee rollout sessions, and open-enrollment activities.
• Oversee the implementation of new benefit plans, insurance products, carrier relationships, vendor services, and technology platforms.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Significant experience in employee benefits consulting, brokerage, account management, or a related insurance environment.
• Strong knowledge of medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and ancillary employee benefit plans.
• Demonstrated experience leading client renewals, carrier negotiations, RFPs, plan-design evaluations, and benefit implementations.
• Ability to analyze benefit programs and develop creative, cost-effective solutions based on each client’s specific needs.
• Experience managing mid-market or similarly complex client relationships.
• Proven ability to lead and develop Account Managers or other supporting team members.
• Strong understanding of employee benefits regulations, compliance considerations, and industry practices.
• Active state insurance license or the ability to obtain one within the required timeframe.