Benefits Analyst II

Position Summary:

Employee Benefits Analyst II plays a critical role in managing the RFP process for both prospective and current clients by requesting and evaluating proposals from benefit carriers. This role involves ensuring the timely delivery of competitive proposals, conducting detailed analysis of carrier options, and preparing reports and presentations. The Analyst works closely with the director of marketing, sales, and account management teams to select the best benefit offerings, negotiate with carriers, and support proposal responses that meet client and prospect needs.

Key Responsibilities:

Requesting Proposals:

• Proactively request and manage RFPs from insurance carriers for health, dental, vision, life, disability, and voluntary benefits programs.
• Ensure timely submission of proposals by working with carriers to track and follow up on deadlines.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with insurance carriers to ensure competitive pricing and product offerings.

Proposal Analysis and Selection:

• Analyze and spread proposal data in Excel, including reviewing plan designs, contribution strategies, premiums, and network options.
• Compare and evaluate proposals based on cost, coverage, benefits, and competitive options. Select the most appropriate carrier options to recommend to clients.

Employee \& Employer Contribution Analysis:

• Prepare detailed contribution analysis for employees and employers, ensuring alignment with client goals and budget constraints.

Presentations and Reporting:

• Prepare clear and compelling PowerPoint presentations for internal sales meetings, client presentations, and renewal discussions.
• Create customized proposals and reports that summarize benefits options, pricing, and recommendations.

Collaboration with Sales and Client Teams:

• Work closely with the sales team to understand prospect requirements and assist in proposal preparation.
• Support client meetings, renewals, and open enrollment activities by providing analysis and presenting competitive benefit options.
• Participate in strategic discussions to ensure the benefits program aligns with client needs.

Carrier Negotiations:

• Negotiate with carriers to obtain the best possible rates and terms for clients, ensuring competitive advantage and cost-effectiveness.
• Ensure that negotiated rates and terms are properly documented and reflected in proposals.

Process and Timeline Management:

• Ensure the timely and accurate delivery of RFP responses, proposals, and reports to clients and prospects.
• Track all proposal requests and monitor the progress of submissions to ensure adherence to deadlines.
• Continuously improve the proposal process for greater efficiency and accuracy.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, or related field (or equivalent experience in lieu of college education).
• Experience: 3–5 years of experience in employee benefits analysis, RFP management, or benefits marketing.
• Experience working with insurance carriers, brokers, or benefit administration platforms.
• Strong knowledge of group insurance plans, employee benefits, and pricing structures.

Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data analysis and proposal comparison (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, etc.).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for creating reports, presentations, and client-facing materials.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple proposals and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to negotiate and collaborate effectively with carriers, sales teams, and clients.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with benefits plan design and contribution analysis.
• Knowledge of compliance regulations related to employee benefits (e.g., ACA, ERISA, HIPAA).