Senior Client Manager

Jobtailor; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking an experienced benefits client professional to manage end-to-end relationships for designated public sector clients in a highly collaborative, cross-functional environment. You will advise executives on plan design, funding, and compliance, while driving long-term partnership value.

The role requires 7+ years in employee benefits client services, strong executive presence, and the ability to lead complex implementations and open enrollment activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years in employee benefits client services, benefits consulting, brokerage, or senior client-facing roles.
• Proven success managing complex books of business with retention focus and strategic outcomes.
• Public sector client experience strongly preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, life, disability, and voluntary benefits.
• Strong understanding of public sector benefits environments and procurement considerations.
• Knowledge of benefits compliance and regulatory frameworks.
• Excellent communication and executive relationship skills.
• Experience guiding implementations, renewals, and open enrollment.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end client relationship for designated public sector clients, focused on retention and satisfaction.
• Advise executive leadership on plan design, funding, compliance risk, and workforce impact.
• Maintain senior-level client relationships through proactive communication and thought leadership.
• Serve as senior escalation point for complex or high-risk issues.
• Define and lead implementation strategy, timelines, governance, roles, success metrics, and risk mitigation.
• Facilitate implementation kickoffs and complex decision sessions with client leadership, carriers, and vendors.
• Lead multi-year benefits strategy discussions aligned with budgets and regulatory requirements.
• Own open enrollment strategy and execution.
• Manage carrier and vendor relationships and ensure SLA compliance.
• Partner with Analytics, Client Services, Sales, Compliance, and Operations teams.

Skills

Client Relationship Management

Employee Benefits Consulting

Public Sector Benefits Knowledge

Strategic Planning and Execution

Benefits Compliance Expertise

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Human Resources/Finance/Risk Management/Public Administration

Job description

• Own the end-to-end client relationship for a designated book of public sector clients, accountable for retention, client satisfaction, and long-term partnership value
• Advise executive leadership, benefit committees, and governing bodies on plan design, funding, compliance risk, and workforce impact
• Maintain senior-level client relationships through proactive communication, thought leadership, and follow-through
• Serve as the senior escalation point for complex or high-risk issues
• Define and lead implementation strategy, including timelines, governance, roles, success metrics, and risk mitigation
• Facilitate implementation kickoffs and complex decision-making sessions with client leadership, internal stakeholders, carriers, and vendors
• Lead multi-year benefits strategy discussions aligned with organizational goals, budgets, and regulatory requirements
• Anticipate risks, dependencies, and operational challenges and adjust strategies to ensure desired outcomes
• Own open enrollment strategy and execution
• Lead carrier and vendor relationship management and hold partners accountable to performance standards, service-level agreements, and contractual commitments
• Partner with Analytics, Client Services, Sales, Compliance, and Operations teams
• Translate data and insights into actionable recommendations
• Contribute to best practices, service models, and process improvements across Client Services
• Provide informal guidance and mentorship to client managers
• Foster team collaboration and seamless client engagement
• Perform primarily office-based work with regular travel of up to 50% to client meetings and worksites, sometimes outside standard business hours

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Finance, Risk Management, Public Administration, or related field, or equivalent experience
• 7+ years of experience in employee benefits client services, benefits consulting, brokerage, or a senior client-facing role
• Demonstrated success managing complex or high-value books of business with accountability for retention and strategic outcomes
• Prior experience serving public sector clients strongly preferred
• Advanced knowledge of employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, life, disability, and voluntary benefits
• Strong understanding of public sector benefits environments, governance structures, procurement considerations, and long decision-making cycles
• Deep working knowledge of benefits compliance and regulatory frameworks
• Exceptional client relationship management skills, executive presence, and credibility
• Strategic planning and execution capabilities across implementations, renewals, and open enrollment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to influence and guide decision-making among senior client leaders and cross-functional internal teams
• Ability to manage complexity, competing priorities, and high-impact escalations with sound judgment
• Demonstrated ability to proactively identify risks, opportunities, and improvement areas
• Valid Florida Life, Health & Variable Annuities 2-15 license or ability to obtain one within the first 90 days of employment is required
• Valid Florida driver’s license is required
• Professional certifications strongly preferred: CEBS, PHR/SPHR, SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in managing client relationships within the public sector, focusing on employee benefits strategy, compliance, and risk management. Proven ability to lead complex implementations and foster collaboration among cross-functional teams to achieve strategic outcomes.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Client Relationship Management
• Employee Benefits Consulting
• Public Sector Benefits Knowledge
• Strategic Planning and Execution
• Benefits Compliance Expertise

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Employee Benefits Programs
• Benefits Compliance
• Risk Management
• Data Analysis
• Implementation Strategy

Soft Skills

• Exceptional Communication Skills
• Influencing Decision-Making
• Proactive Problem-Solving
• Team Collaboration
• Client Engagement

Certifications & Qualifications

• Florida Life, Health & Variable Annuities License
• CEBS
• PHR/SPHR
• SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP

Industry Keywords

• Public Sector Clients
• Governance Structures
• Procurement Considerations
• Open Enrollment Strategy
• Service-Level Agreements