Employee Benefits Consultant

Health & Welfare Benefits ConsultantThe Health & Welfare Benefits Consultant supports the day-to-day operations of the Health & Welfare (H&W) team by providing ongoing administration and oversight of group benefit programs and vendors and serving as a primary contact for vendors and internal HR partners.The successful candidate has experience in benefit plan administration and vendor management, along with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. The role should be a confident communicator with a customer service focused mindset and the ability to work effectively and efficiently both independently and in a team environment.This position will be filled as a grade level 5 or 6 depending on relevant experience.JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIESBenefits AdministrationFacilitate implementation of new benefit plan design features and update plan documentation, procedures, and related materials to reflect plan design changesSupport compliance with legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements related to benefit plans and vendor administrationPartner with H&W leadership to develop and deliver benefit-related communicationsProvide support for complex benefit-related inquiries and escalated participant issues, as neededMaintain effective communication with internal stakeholders on benefits-related matters or requests for benefits and/or vendor support (e.g. presenting at business meetings)Coordinate resolution of member claims, appeals and escalated cases – partner with internal and external resources for timely executionVendor ManagementManage day-to-day relationships with vendors, monitoring trends, issues, and customer service levels, raising appropriate risks, opportunities, and enhancements to leadershipAnalyze vendor-related issues and recommend solutionsMonitor vendor service delivery and data interfaces; identify opportunities to improve operating efficiency using data and trends to inform recommendationsDevelop and maintain plan and vendor summariesCoordinate plan and vendor audits, identify trends or issues affecting participants and processes, and recommend or implement appropriate follow-up actionsActively monitor, evaluate and report on plan and vendor performance using established key performance indicatorsSupport new vendor selection and current vendor renewal activitiesCoordinate with vendors, as needed, to support Annual Enrollment processesSupport or lead assigned projects to improve customer experience, vendor efficiency, and cost effectivenessSupport vendor invoice review and coordination, as neededTotal Rewards AlignmentSupport execution of broader Total Rewards priorities by helping ensure Health & Welfare programs are competitive, sustainable, and aligned with business and workforce needs.Bring an enterprise Total Rewards perspective to day-to-day work by connecting Health & Welfare activities to employee experience, operational effectiveness, and long-term program success and value.Collaborate across Total Rewards, HR, vendors, and internal stakeholders to support integrated solutions and a consistent employee experience across rewards programs.Contribute to a One Team approach by collaborating on initiatives that integrate Health & Welfare, wellbeing, retirement, and other rewards programs where appropriate.JOB REQUIREMENTSEducationBachelor's degree in HR, business, finance, or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experienceExperienceMust have a minimum of 4 years of progressive experience in employee benefit plan administration, vendor management, or related benefits operations required.Knowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesEffective critical thinking and problem-solving skills: skilled at relating and comparing data from different sources, identifying issues, securing relevant information, critically evaluating situations, and presenting sound factual reportsConfident and skilled to work independently as well as in a team environmentFlexible and adaptable – able to learn new technologies and applications quicklyDemonstrates effective project management skills – able to multi-task seamlesslyExhibits the highest level of customer service focused on ownership, speed, responsiveness, and accuracyDemonstrates strong communication skills – ensures key stakeholders are updated and informed; experience developing successful working relationships to drive effectivenessDemonstrates behaviors consistent with the Southern Company culture: Safety First, Intentional Inclusion, Act with Integrity, Superior Performance