Executive Director - Health Plan Administration

Job Description

The UFCW National Health and Welfare Fund, located in Englewood, New Jersey, is seeking an experienced Executive Director to provide strategic, operational, and administrative leadership for a complex multiemployer health and welfare plan serving active members, retirees, beneficiaries, and their eligible dependents. The Fund administers health benefits, including payment of medical and hospital claims, for approximately 8,384 active members and eligible dependents and approximately 463 retirees and beneficiaries. A satellite office is maintained in Stockton, California.

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Reporting to and taking direction from the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director translates Trustee initiatives into actionable plans. The successful candidate will bring sound judgment, critical thinking and the ability to navigate complex operational and regulatory issues, while building strong, collaborative relationships with staff, Trustees, unions, employers, and professional advisors in service of the Fund’s participants and beneficiaries. The Executive Director oversees an Associate Executive Director and approximately 30 collectively bargained staff members. This position requires full-time onsite presence and periodic travel.

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This role is accountable for the Fund’s overall administrative performance, including day-to-day operations, service delivery, compliance, accuracy, timeliness, and continuous process improvement. The Executive Director leads by setting clear priorities, using data to inform decisions, managing risk proactively, and aligning people, processes, and vendors with Trustee-established goals.

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As the senior leader of the Fund Office, the Executive Director helps ensure effective plan implementation, strong compliance, excellent participant service, while fostering a respectful, accountable, and high-performing culture across staff and stakeholders.

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Responsibilities

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In addition to the above, key goals and responsibilities include:

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• Own day-to-day operations, set performance standards, align resources, and drive process improvements that support the Fund’s goals.
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• Lead and develop the staff; build strong working relationships grounded in trust, accountability, and transparent communication.
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• Deliver accurate, timely, and consistent plan administration and member service, supported by clear performance standards and continuous improvement.
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• Implement and support multiple health plan design variations negotiated by the Board of Trustees for individual employers or groups of employers.
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• Support Board of Trustees decision making through clear data analysis, reporting, options, recommendations, and timely communication on project status.
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• Direct financial stewardship for the Fund’s administrative budget, ensuring strong controls, clear reporting, and transparency.
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• Provide governance support by coordinating Board and committee agendas and materials, documenting decisions, and ensuring completion of deliverables, including coordinating the completion of all projects as directed by the Board with counsel, other professional advisors and any and all service providers.
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• Represent the Fund professionally with unions, employers, advisors, vendors, and government agencies as appropriate.
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Qualifications

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The ideal candidate brings:

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• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in health plan administration and compliance; 10+ years in senior leadership, including executive-level decision making with Trustees or governing boards.
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• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree, such as an MBA, and/or CEBS preferred.
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• Experience managing collectively bargained staff preferred.
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• Direct experience with self-administered health plan administration and medical claims operations.
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• Demonstrated ability to lead staff and build relationships with boards, staff, unions, employers, and external advisors—balancing differing perspectives with professionalism and diplomacy. Experience managing collectively bargained staff a plus.
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• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, including the ability to interpret multiple health plan designs and financial, operational, audit, and regulatory information and translate it into clear recommendations or requirements.
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• Strategic mindset with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
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• Proven ability to take direction and implement initiatives efficiently.
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• Sound judgment in using available resources effectively and appropriately.
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• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence presenting recommendations, options, tradeoffs, and outcomes to diverse audiences.
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• Ability to travel up to 25%.
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To Apply

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In addition to a salary range of $250,000 - $300,000 commensurate with experience, the Fund offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid healthcare, defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plans, and generous paid leave. The Fund is an affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability.

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To apply, please send your resume and salary requirements to View email address on ziprecruiter.com . Please include job reference code UFCWHWED20926LI in the subject line or with your application.