Head of Benefits Planning

At MassMutual, we're passionate about helping millions of people find financial freedom and this passion has driven our approach to developing highly competitive benefits offerings for our employees and advisors. We are looking for a subject matter expert on health and wellness benefits to act as a key project manager, vendor manager and design resource for programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, EAP and leaves, among others.

To help us achieve our mission, we are hiring a Head of Benefits Planning to join our HR Total Rewards team.

What great looks like in this role:

The Head of Benefits Planning will build and execute a protocol for benefits development, project management and vendor management that aligns with and supports the enterprise talent and participant experience strategy. This individual will apply innovative thought to design, construct and maintain programing and establish measures to monitor and ensure vendor excellence, maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of various benefit and leave programs. This individual will also manage development projects, interact with consultants, ensure compliance with applicable regulations and plan provisions, contribute to and review communications to plan participants.

You will participate in the development of strategic direction, plans and operating policies for health and wellness benefits provided to employees, agents and retirees. You'll use your skills to ensure the efficient execution of projects and initiatives. You will be integral in identifying, analyzing and addressing service issues, whether they are individual or larger systemic ones. The ideal candidate has strong employee- and vendor-relationship skills, advanced project management skills, financial aptitude, and attention to detail, working on self- and fully-insured group benefits.

Objectives for this role:

• Manage large development and operational projects, both ad hoc and annual
• Manage vendor relationship and performance for various benefit and leave programs
• Work with internal and external resources to ensure compliance and risks are considered and managed appropriately
• Stay current with benefits knowledge, adapt to company and industry developments, share knowledge and provide guidance to colleagues
• Impact the efficient transition of work from design to implementation

Regular and ongoing responsibilities:

• Interact with internal and subsidiary HR teams, corporate business areas, vendors, consultants and plan participants
• Act as a key point of contact and subject matter expert in health and wellness benefits and initiatives on cross-functional projects
• Work closely with Communications, Finance, Legal, Operations and participant facing teams, among others, to provide subject matter content, review accuracy of product and respond to feedback
• Oversee project management and benefits development activities
• Provide input and advice relative to plan management and vendor capability issues
• Identify, analyze and address service issues; recommend and implement short- and long-term corrections to remediate them
• Develop and maintain a reporting dashboard that measures key metrics and vendor performance
• Oversight for adherence to contract terms and service level agreements
• Collect and disseminate best practices for enhancing employee engagement
• Consult internally within HR regarding health and welfare plan claims and population health analyses, financial preparedness, diversity and inclusion, employee experience, vendor issues and accountability
• Conduct research and analysis to ensure competitive, cost-effective benefits offerings
• Estimate cost impacts of benefit changes – familiarity with FAS and carrier rate setting practices

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and at least 8 years of benefits experience, primarily in health and wellness benefits
• Advanced project management skills
• Advanced vendor management skills
• Advanced benefits design and rules knowledge of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, EAP, FSA, HSA, well-being programs, child-care benefits, voluntary benefits and leave programs
• Strong oral and written communication skills

MassMutual is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer Minority/Female/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Individual with Disability/Protected Veteran. We welcome all persons to apply. Note: Veterans are welcome to apply, regardless of their discharge status.

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