Howden Middle Market - Account Executive

DUAL North America, Inc.; Kansas; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Howden is seeking a strategic Employee Benefits Account Executive to lead and grow a portfolio of mid-market to large employee benefits clients. You will act as a trusted advisor on design, implementation and management of benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life and wellness initiatives.

The role requires a consultative, proactive approach and a strong ability to navigate complex benefit landscapes while delivering innovative solutions aligned with client goals and budget

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of employee benefits programs (medical, dental, vision, life, disability).
• Excellent client relationship management and communication skills.
• Ability to analyze benefits data and renewals and provide strategic recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead client strategy and relationship management for employee benefits accounts.
• Manage benefits renewals, cost analysis, and plan design benchmarking.
• Ensure compliance with ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA and related regulations.

Skills

Client relationships

Benefits design

Communication

Analytical skills

Tools

Agency management software

MS Office

Job description

Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years.

Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Role: Middle Market Health & Benefits Account Executive Location: Hybrid in Wichita, KS

Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mind-set, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 20,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

Our people are our biggest asset as well as our largest shareholder group and are everything that makes us unique; our inclusive culture, the quality service we offer our clients, and our continued growth, all come from our people-first approach.

There’s no such thing as individual success. We all need to play our part, contributing our skills and experience to make a true difference. That’s Howden.

Why work at Howden?

We have always been employee-owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we've focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time.

Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients. Always have, always will.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down disappointed head- hunters for years.

Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

What is the role?

Role Summary

We are seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Employee Benefits Account Executive to lead and grow a portfolio of clients across our Employee Benefits practice. In this role, you will serve as a trusted advisor to employers on the design, implementation, and management of employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, voluntary benefits, and wellness initiatives.

The ideal candidate is consultative, proactive, and experienced in navigating the complexities of employee benefits while delivering innovative solutions that support clients’ workforce strategies and business objectives.

What will you be doing?

Client Strategy & Relationship Leadership

Serve as the primary strategic advisor and point of contact for assigned employee benefits clients. Develop and maintain strong relationships with client leadership, human resources teams, and key stakeholders.

Gain a deep understanding of each client's workforce, organizational goals, benefits philosophy, and employee population to provide tailored recommendations.

Deliver ongoing strategic guidance related to benefits market trends, plan design, cost containment strategies, employee engagement, and workforce wellbeing.

Benefits Program Management & Renewals

Lead annual renewal strategy and planning, including carrier negotiations, plan design analysis, benchmarking, contribution modeling, and financial review.

Analyze renewal proposals and recommend plan strategies that align with client objectives and budget considerations.

Coordinate with carriers, vendors, and internal teams to ensure seamless implementation of benefit programs and enrollment processes.

Oversee the timely execution of plan changes, open enrollment activities, and ongoing benefits administration support.

Compliance, Documentation & Service Excellence

Support clients with employee benefits compliance matters, including ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other applicable regulations.

Ensure client records, documentation, and service deliverables are maintained accurately within agency management systems.

Maintain the highest standards of service quality, responsiveness, and accuracy across all client interactions.

Collaborate with compliance and subject matter experts to address evolving regulatory requirements.

Vendor Management & Client Advocacy

Serve as the primary advocate for clients in carrier and vendor discussions.

Facilitate resolution of escalated service, billing, eligibility, and claims-related issues.

Coordinate with insurance carriers, TPAs, wellness vendors, pharmacy benefit managers, and other service providers to deliver exceptional client outcomes.

Communicate market developments, carrier updates, and strategic recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders.

Growth & Cross-Functional Collaboration

Identify opportunities for cross-selling, account expansion, and additional consulting services.

Partner closely with producers, account managers, analytics teams, compliance specialists, and other internal subject matter experts.

Participate in client presentations, stewardship meetings, and strategic planning sessions.

Contribute to internal initiatives, process improvements, and professional development efforts that strengthen team performance and client outcomes.

What are we looking for?

Experience

Minimum 5+ years of experience in employee benefits consulting, account management, account executive, or client advisory roles within a brokerage, consulting, or carrier environment.

Demonstrated success managing employer-sponsored employee benefits programs and client relationships.

Experience working with middle market or large group employee benefits accounts preferred.

Licensing

Active Health and Life insurance license (state specific).

Skills

Strong knowledge of employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, voluntary benefits, and wellness offerings.

Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.

Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, including benefits financial analysis and renewal strategy development.

Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Proficiency with agency management systems and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

Preferred Qualifications

CEBS, GBA, RHU, REBC, SHRM, or similar professional designation.

Experience with self-funded health plans, captives, alternative funding arrangements, and population health strategies.

Familiarity with employee benefits compliance requirements, including ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, and COBRA.

Compensation and Benefits

This role is classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

In addition to a competitive base salary, employees are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus.

Howden also offers a variety of benefits and programs, subject to eligibility, including:

Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including healthcare savings and reimbursement accounts 401(k) retirement plan Flexible Paid Time Off and paid parental leave Life and Disability insurance

Our sustainability promise

We’re on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can.

Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world.

You can read more about our sustainability work here.

What do we offer in return?

Reasonable adjustments We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs.

• Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations.

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us: Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new.

We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges.

We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond.

Permanent

Howden began in 1994, as just three people and a dog. Now there are 23,000 of us, and we're a leading global insurance group, managing $37bn of premiums for our clients.

Our largest shareholder group is us – the people who work in the business – supported by three long-term, minority growth-equity partners who share our vision to build a business to last, one that will never be sold.

The owner's mindset is something that's embedded in our culture; our people readily take ownership of their decisions, their actions, and their outputs. They’re invested in every sense.

And we all know that by working together to drive the business forward, everyone will benefit from the extraordinary results we can achieve.