Benefits Consultant - Health & Welfare - Seattle or Portland

Health & Welfare Benefits Consultant

Rael & Letson is an independent employee benefits consulting and actuarial services firm. We serve as a trusted advisor to multiemployer and other retirement and health plans, helping bring high quality benefits to working people. We partner with our clients to design, implement, evaluate and communicate innovative and cost-effective benefit programs customized to their unique needs. Our clients rely on our deep industry expertise and experience to achieve their plans' goals.

Responsibilities:

The Health & Welfare Benefits Consultant develops and manages client relationships, leads consulting activities, coordinates with internal client teams to complete required work, and participates in the development of the firm. The role of the Benefits Consultant is to:

• Manage client relationships, including:
• Establishing rapport and building effective working relationships with clients and their organizations
• Understanding client issues, anticipating client needs, and identifying potential solutions
• Attending regularly scheduled client meetings
• Collaborating with other professional service providers (administrators, attorneys, auditors, etc.)
• Presenting complex information in terms that clients can act upon
• Direct consulting activities, including:
• Project management
• Coordinating and directing Rael & Letson client teams in ongoing consulting work and special projects
• Providing creative, innovative and strategic expertise to clients and colleagues around issues and emerging developments in the employee benefits industry
• Managing relationships with carriers, vendors and benefit providers, including negotiation of contracts and renewals
• Reviewing and directing underwriting and costing analysis for forecasting, benefit changes, and/or reserve setting
• Manage and grow book of business, including:
• Managing client revenue and profitability
• Collaborating with other Rael & Letson teams (e.g. PBM Consulting and Communications) as appropriate to address clients' needs through our full array of services
• Building and maintaining effective and influential client relationships and networks
• Leading and/or participating in new business development activities for existing and prospective clients
• Professional and firm development, including:
• Participating in training and professional development to further knowledge and expertise
• Attending and contributing to Health & Welfare Practice and Firm meetings
• Playing a proactive role in mentoring and training staff
• Contributing to special projects or assignments within the Practice

Necessary Skills and Attributes:

• Expertise overseeing creation of financial reports, renewal calculations and annual projections, and ability to conduct a high-level review and assess reasonableness of results
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong presentation skills, in-person and virtual, including the ability to effectively present complex information to clients
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities
• Willingness to travel as needed to meet with clients and prospects
• Demonstrated success as a relationship builder/collaborator
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team
• Computer / software skills: Strong proficiency with general Office software such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, Teams

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Work Experience: Minimum of 8 years of experience within an employee benefits consulting firm and/or related professional services environment involving exposure to health plan strategies, concepts/approaches, design and implementation, including working with multiemployer and/or public sector health and welfare benefit plans
• Education: Undergraduate degree, or equivalent work experience
• Actuarial credential strongly preferred
• Certificates and Licenses: Appropriate insurance licensing; CEBS credential a plus

Location and Travel:

• This Consultant position is based in the Pacific Northwest. Our physical office is located in Seattle, but Consultants have the ability to work remotely from anywhere in the region. The ability to attend client and team meetings in person is required. Travel for business may be required up to 15% of the time, including some overnight trips.

Company Culture:

We are a friendly, professional team and are open to flexible work arrangements (including some working from home and schedule flexibility), as long as business needs are covered.

At Rael & Letson, we are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusiveness, as demonstrated through our recruitment, retention, and employee development programs. We maintain an environment that respects and builds on the assets and talents of each person, valuing their unique backgrounds including - but not limited to - gender and gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status, age, and religion. Fostering a diverse and inclusive environment is critical to our success, allows us to attract and retain the best talent and enables us to support one another's professional success.

Total Comp and Benefits:

In addition to competitive base pay, this position is eligible for our annual bonus program, as well as our new business incentive bonus program for Consultants.

We are proud to offer excellent benefits including a 401k with a 5% company contribution, available medical, dental, vision, life and disability coverage, ESOP, generous paid time off, and more.