Sr Advisor I&FS Product Development

Job Description

Sr. Advisor, I&FS Product Development

NRECA is a unique national trade association providing advocacy, financial services and business support services to over 900 consumer owned electric cooperatives across the country.  NRECA employees are united by our mission, inclusive culture, collaborative workplace and commitment to service excellence.  As a “best place to work” employer, we operate with integrity, transparency and a spirit of innovation.

Are you ready to be part of a dynamic, inclusive, and mission-driven insurance and financial services team? At NRECA, we cultivate and reward a commitment to delivering service excellence to our members every day.  Our culture emphasizes a strong sense of diversity, integrity and belonging, driven by our core values of collaboration, communication, creative problem solving, and accountability. The work we do to develop and administer industry-leading employee benefit plans and services is diverse and intellectually challenging, and the results help improve the quality of life for hard working Americans all across the country.  If you are motivated by mission and values, as well as competitive pay and outstanding benefits, then this is the place for you.

Position Summary:

Monitors, oversees and manages Product Development and Management (PD&M) initiatives for highly integrated products and vendors.  Oversees programs, including the coordination of multiple resources, vendors and/or products that include a wide array of options and complex components (i.e., targeted clinical programs, group life program and local provider networks).

Responsible for day to day oversight and product development for the Tax Advantaged Account program, COBRA administration and other services supporting the NRECA Group Health plan.  This program currently includes the following products/programs:

• Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and Retiree HRA’s.

• Section 125 Plans (Health Flexible Savings Accounts, Dependent. Care Savings Accounts, Limited Use Health Savings Accounts and Premium only Plans).

• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).

• COBRA administration services.

• Post-65 retiree private exchange solution.

• * Tax Advantaged Account program refers to the following:

  • Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and Retiree HRA’s.

  • Section 125 Plans (Health Flexible Savings. Accounts, Dependent Care Savings Accounts, Limited Use Health Savings Accounts and Premium only Plans).

  • Health Savings Accounts (HSA's).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Product and Program Management:

• Guides the development of business cases to support benefits program enhancements and new initiatives. Analyzes program metrics and interprets the results. Recommends product/program changes needed to support the needs of member co-ops.

• Identifies and develops report criteria for reporting quality, financial, utilization, and product differentiation. Analyzes product performance metrics to identify trends. Interprets the results and recommends changes needed to support the member co-ops

• Serves as product leader and collaborates with relationship management, advisory groups, and member benefits services to gather market intelligence and conduct annual customer needs and competitive market intelligence assessment. Interprets and anticipates needs for product improvements or innovations. Proposes enhancements to assigned products and programs and ensures enhancements are in alignment with the multi-year product strategy. Leads the development of business cases for new benefits which includes return on investment analysis.

• Responsible for performing final business review of Summary Plan Description (SPD), Summary of Material Modifications (SMM) and Plan Document amendments and restatements for accuracy. Makes recommendations when changes are needed.

• Monitors customer requests for plan design exceptions, identifies when exception should be implemented across entire program, and presents recommendation including cost benefit analysis.

Vendor Management:

• Oversees vendor management for assigned initiatives. Assembles Requests for Information (RFI) and Requests for Proposal (RFP) for potential and existing vendor partner relationships. Collaborates with Strategic Sourcing &  Procurement (SS&P) in the design of vendor selection criteria and scoring the submissions.

• Serves as the business lead during contract negotiations between SS&P and the vendor partner. Develops and implements measurable and meaningful performance guarantees and service level objectives to be included in the contract (as applicable). Collaborates with SS&P in the development of the statement of work that will be used by the vendor when implementing new or enhanced services.

• Measures performance guarantees and certifies when guarantees are not being met. Serves as the business lead during the auditing of benefit programs.

• Accountable for ensuring that vendor invoices are paid accurately and timely according to the terms of the contract. Responsible for ensuring payments do not exceed department budget. Reports to manager when payment exceeds budget and justifies cause.

Project Management:

• Serves as the business lead during the implementation of new benefit programs, changes to existing programs, network arrangements and new vendor partnerships. Responsible for ensuring coordination of activity with systems implementation, IT, communications, CBA, vendor services, compliance and legal services and all other internal stakeholders. Assess and ensure seamless vendor integration activity. Leads the resolution of technical and design issues.

• Serves as subject matter expert for highly integrated products/programs. Drives the development of the project plan including defining the requirements and reviewing the final product for accuracy. Accountable for ensuring other stakeholders meet their deliverables on time and keeping key stakeholders informed on the status of the project.

Problem/Issue Resolution:

• Resolves highly complicated and/or controversial concerns and vendor issues. Leads the effort to find a resolution that meets the needs of our member co-ops. Drives problem resolution through partnership with NRECA departments, cooperatives and vendor partners. Keeps internal and external customers informed of the status of issue resolution.

• Analyzes root cause of service issue and recommends changes to products, programs and service delivery when necessary.

Communication and Education:

• Serves as the business lead regarding the definition of product description and key messages. Guides Communications in the development of the product identity strategy and execution of the communication plan. Responsible for approving the material developed by Communications to ensure the overall message is technically accurate.

• Provides Communications content and messaging ideas needed for webinars, conferences and task force presentations. Approves final presentations before they are presented to co-ops/participants.

Security and Disposal of Information:

• Responsible for the proper security and disposal of any confidential information that he or she may possess in the course of performing this position’s job duties, in accordance with NRECA’s Personnel & Administrative Policy and HIPAA Privacy and Security Policies & Procedures Manuals.

Direct Reports to this Position:

N/A

Qualifications

Formal Education Required:

Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
 

Experience and Certifications Required:

• 8 or more years of experience in program development and management related to employee benefits, health care, wellness and disease management.

• Applicable industry designation preferable (e.g., CEBS, CPC, PHR, R.N., SHRM-CP).

• Experience with delivery of medical plan designs using HRA, HSA and FSA accounts.

FLSA Status:  Exempt

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required (as demonstrated by prior work experience):

• Knowledge of the administration and management of employee benefit programs and related regulations and laws, including ERISA, FMLA, COBRA and other IRS/DOL regulations.

• Ability to manage competing deadlines and multiple projects at various stages of development using effective organization skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to lead people across different business areas and foster collaboration and consensus building among team members, while operating in a fast-moving environment.

• Ability to be persuasive, negotiate, and collaborate with individuals at all levels inside and outside of the organization.

• Ability to understand and discuss issues and developments related to product design, development and deployment.

• Ability to anticipate internal and or external business challenges and/or regulatory issues; recommends process, product or service improvements.

• Strong communication skills (written and verbal), including the ability to interpret difficult concepts (e.g., new product enhancements, regulatory requirements, etc.) and present them to internal business partners and our membership.

• Ability to travel.

• Ability to listen and interpret the customer’s needs, de-escalate difficult customer calls, while at the same time researching the issue and applying broad business and technical knowledge to meet the customer’s satisfaction. Ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing, with a diverse membership, employees and/or vendors in a clear and precise manner.

• Ability to use Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, Outlook, Power Point) and to operate various office equipment such as personal computer, copier, printer, fax machine or other job-related equipment.

• Ability to provide service excellence by building relationships, being resourceful, responsive and respectful.

• Ability to report to the office when required.

Essential Physical Requirements:

• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal and extensive reading.

• Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Disclaimer Statement: The preceding job description has been written to reflect management’s assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Additional Requirement:

The preceding job description has been written to reflect management’s assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

NRECA is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please e-mail [email protected] or call: 703-907-5992 - NRECA Arlington Human Resources. Please call 402-483-9275 - NRECA Lincoln Human Resources, for Lincoln, NE employment opportunities. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released the 'Know Your Rights' poster, which updates and replaces the previous "EEO is the Law" poster and "EEO Is the Law Poster Supplement". 

Pay Transparency Non-Discrimination. NRECA will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay. Please see the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision for more information.

E-Verify. As a Federal Contractor, NRECA is required to participate in the E-Verify Program to confirm eligibility to work in the United States. For information please click on the following link: E-Verify.

For more information about life at NRECA please visit www.Electric.coop.