Senior Employee Benefits Strategy Lead

The Recruitment Council; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job description

Our client, a leading, highly respected national financial services and wealth management group, seeks an experienced Senior Employee Benefits Consultant to join its Corporate Benefits division. Known for their award-winning advisory services, our client partners with a diverse portfolio of enterprise businesses to deliver holistic, top-tier financial and employee benefit solutions.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a senior professional to step into a high-impact role, driving strategic consulting and complex negotiations within a premium brand, while mentoring a high-performing team.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the strategic design, restructuring, and ongoing management of comprehensive employee benefit programs (retirement, risk, health, and wellness) for key corporate accounts.
• Conduct annual strategic reviews to evaluate plan competitiveness, claims performance, and alignment with employer talent goals.
• Facilitate and direct client management committees, trustee meetings, and executive-level presentations.
• Spearhead complex market tenders, benchmarking analyses, and annual renewal negotiations across insurers and fund administrators.
• Negotiate optimal premium pricing, underwriting concessions, fee structures, and service level agreements (SLAs) on behalf of clients.
• Analyze claims loss ratios and fund investment returns to design bespoke risk-mitigation and cost-containment strategies.
• Ensure all client schemes strictly adhere to statutory regulations, tax laws, and industry governance codes.
• Review scheme rules and proactively advise clients on legislative amendments and compliance obligations.
• Mentor and review the technical work of junior and mid-level consultants, account managers, and support staff.
• Drive commercial growth by identifying organic expansion opportunities (e.g., executive risk, gap cover) and assisting in high-value new business pitches.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business, Actuarial Science, Human Resource Management, or a related discipline.
• Recognized regulatory licenses (e.g., FAIS RE5 and RE1) and active Continuous Professional Development (CPD) standing.
• 7 to 10+ years of progressive consulting experience within corporate employee benefits, institutional brokerage, or corporate underwriting.
• Proven track record of managing large, complex corporate client portfolios and leading high-value renewal and tender cycles.
• In-depth technical mastery of defined contribution/benefit retirement arrangements, corporate healthcare schemes, and group risk insurance products.
• Advanced financial numeracy with a proven ability to interpret actuarial valuations, claims ratios, and complex underwriting metrics.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and executive-level PowerPoint presentation design.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and confidently advise C-suite executives, HR Directors, and Boards of Trustees.
• Exceptional commercial negotiation skills with a proven history of securing favorable terms from product providers.
• Outstanding written communication and oral presentation skills, capable of translating complex concepts into actionable corporate strategies.
• Strong project management and organizational skills to deliver high-stakes renewals under tight deadlines.