Health & Benefits Associate/Consultant

Mercer; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 69,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

Marsh People & Investments in Chicago is seeking a Health & Benefits Consultant to lead engagements with 500+ life employers, designing health, dental, life and disability benefit programs and negotiating with carriers.

The role partners with clients to develop strategies, oversee project delivery, analyze costs, and manage vendor relationships, while mentoring junior staff and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree.
• 2+ years of experience in health benefits consulting.
• Strong analytical, mathematical and strategic planning skills.
• Excellent communication and listening skills.
• Self-starter who can lead teams to deliver objectives.
• Proficient in Excel and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Participate or lead client engagements, manage service delivery and costs.
• Lead cost projections and vendor renewal evaluations.
• Provide analytical review of junior staff work.
• Analyze claims and utilization data to identify trends.
• Ensure compliance and client disclosures align with requirements.
• Manage day-to-day client contact and guide junior staff.

Job description

We are seeking a talented individual to join our Health & Benefits team at Marsh People & Investments. This role will be based in Chicago and offers a hybrid work arrangement, requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office.

As a Health & Benefits Consultant, you will work collaboratively to lead consulting engagements with 500+ life employers regarding their medical, dental, life and disability benefit plans and programs, and negotiate with benefits carriers and vendors to secure health and welfare plan coverage for these employers. You will have the opportunity to develop client strategies, interfacing directly with clients and developing vendor relationships.

We will count on you to:

• Participate or lead routine client engagements, including managing overall service delivery, strategy, financial evaluations, plan design, renewal, business placement, benchmarking and other projects associated with underwriting health and welfare insurance, brokering contracts or projecting health care related costs
• Lead developing cost projections and evaluation of vendor renewal workups
• Provide high level financial, contract and/or administrative analysis and review of the work of junior staff
• Perform data analysis (example includes but is not limited to reviewing claims and utilization data and look for trends and patterns); may involve use of the Mercer's internal financial tools to develop self-funded claims projections, set rates and model employee cost-sharing scenarios
• Review internal compliance and client disclosure requirements, external vendor contracts, summary plan documents (SPD's) and employee communications to ensure alignment with client expectations and legal requirements
• Handle day-to-day client contact/management to resolve project-related questions and challenges, and guide junior staff members in client interactions

What you need to have:

• BA/BS degree
• 2+ years of experience in identifying, designing, recommending and implementing efficient, innovative business solutions to clients' complex health care benefits challenges
• Renowned expertise and industry reputation in the health & benefits field
• Client facing experience in a consulting environment
• Excellent analytical and mathematical skills, and strategic planning
• Exceptional communication and listening skills
• Self-starter with the ability to collaborate and lead teams to deliver project objectives
• Proficient in Excel and working knowledge of the MS Office suite

What makes you stand out?

• Enthusiastic, innovative sales and marketing skills with the ability to market organizational strengths successfully
• Demonstrated ability to confidently present and communicate effectively to stakeholders
• Intellectual curiosity that challenges the status quo

Why join our team:

• We help you be your best through professional development opportunities, interesting work and supportive leaders.
• We foster a vibrant and inclusive culture where you can work with talented colleagues to create new solutions and have impact for colleagues, clients and communities.
• Our scale enables us to provide a range of career opportunities, as well as benefits and rewards to enhance your well-being.

The applicable base salary range for this role is $68,500 to $137,000.

The base pay offered will be determined on factors such as experience, skills, training, location, certifications, education, and any applicable minimum wage requirements. Decisions will be determined on a case-by-case basis. In addition to the base salary, this position may be eligible for performance-based incentives.

We are excited to offer a competitive total rewards package which includes health and welfare benefits, tuition assistance, 401K savings and other retirement programs as well as employee assistance programs.

Marsh (NYSE: MRSH) is a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of over $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit marsh.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Marsh is committed to embracing a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people and embrace diversity of age background, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, gender orientation or expression, marital status, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, sexual orientation or expression, skin color, veteran status (including protected veterans), or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you have a need that requires accommodation, please let us know by contacting [e-mail].

Marsh is committed to hybrid work, which includes the flexibility of working remotely and the collaboration, connections and professional development benefits of working together in the office. All Marsh colleagues are expected to be in their local office or working onsite with clients at least three days per week. Office-based teams will identify at least one “anchor day” per week on which their full team will be together in person.

R_365192