Sr. Labor Liaison Rep

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan seeks a seasoned professional to build and maintain solid relationships with major unions that influence group health insurance decisions. You will gather market data, provide consultative support, and coordinate with corporate marketing to advance strategy.

Responsibilities include advising on sales, retention, and upgrading of groups, developing educational programs, and ensuring unified marketing efforts with field teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or Business Administration preferred.
• Five+ years of related experience in group health insurance or union relations preferred.
• Sales experience with emphasis on customer relations and collective bargaining.
• Licenses in health insurance and a valid driver’s license within 90 days.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain communication with union leadership and their staffs purchasing group health insurance.
• Serve as a resource on group health insurance to encourage unions to seek advice.
• Gather information on potential groups and support strategy with marketing.
• Respond to information requests from union leadership and corporate management.
• Advise on sale, retention, and upgrading of groups and coordinate with internal teams.
• Develop and deliver educational programs on health care issues for union personnel.
• Plan sales strategy and tools to market health care products with Field Sales.
• Promote unified marketing efforts across sales and marketing teams.

Skills

Communication skills

Sales experience

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Marketing or Business Administration

Two years of college

Tools

PC applications

Job description

This position is accountable to establish and maintain effective lines of communication and build effective working relationships with key union leadership that purchase and/or influence the purchase of group health insurance, which will enhance BCBSM ability to penetrate, retain and upgrade groups within our markets.

• Establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with top level leadership of major unions and their staffs that purchase and/or influence the purchase of group health care insurance.
  
• Establish self as a resource on group health insurance, which will encourage union leaders to seek advice and counsel.
  
• Gather information on potential groups, assess the situation and provide this information to the appropriate corporate marketing representative followed by consultative support on strategy and problem resolution.
  
• Respond to requests for advice and/or information on group health insurance needed by top level leadership of major unions in the collective bargaining or decision‑making process regarding their short and long‑range objectives.
  
• Respond to the requests for information and assistance from corporate management and representatives on the sale, retention and upgrading of groups.
  
• Assess changes and trends with union leaders and keep management advised of potential problems and opportunities.
  
• Coordinate activities and share information with others in similar positions, which will enhance both areas’ ability to meet their accountabilities.
• Provide consulting assistance and staff support to the BCBSM association and to other BCBSM plans on their meeting efforts when major corporations or industry wide council bargaining is involved.
  
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with appropriate BCBSM internal department management, external enrollment management, federal and state mediators, consultants and attorneys, in addition to top level union leadership.
  
• Plan and conduct educational programs on health care issues for union organization personnel.
  
• Develop sales strategy and related sales tools needed to effectively market new health care products and promote current corporate policies.
  
• Initiate use and acceptance of sales strategy and marketing tools by Field Sales representatives, agents and Marketing Training personnel in order to ensure unified marketing efforts.
  

• Perform other related duties as assigned.
  

Qualifications

• Two (2) years of college. Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing or Business Administration preferred.
  
• Five (5) or more years related experience in the specific knowledge requirement areas described below.
  
• Sales experience with emphasis on customer relations and collective bargaining preferred.
  

• If an employee is selling/negotiating a price as part of the duties and responsibilities of this job, the following licenses are required within 90 days of the employee's start date or 90 days from license expiration date.

  1. Valid Michigan Accident and Health Insurance License.

  2. Valid and unrestricted driver's license is required.

• Position requires highly developed interpersonal and communication skills with analytical, planning, organizing and problem‑solving skills in a leadership capacity.
  
• Must have demonstrated self‑starter qualities along with tact and resourcefulness in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
  
• Ability to plan and conduct educational programs on healthcare issues.
  
• Knowledge of the industrial relations field, major unions’ organization structure, philosophy, internal operation and the collective bargaining process.
  
• Must be able to write health care specifications for negotiations and contracts and be knowledgeable of BCBSM and the account policies, procedures and products.
  
• Must possess knowledge of BCBSM contracts, benefits and Underwriting requirements.
  
• Knowledge of BCBSM internal organization, professional/facility reimbursement and health care economics.
  
• Skilled in discussion and conference techniques.
  
• Working knowledge of PC applications including keyboarding to use automated on-line systems.
  
• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
  
• Other related skills and/or abilities may be required to perform this job.
  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other grounds, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability. Candidates are hired on an "at will" basis. Nothing herein is intended to create a contract.