VP of Employee Benefits

Location

New York State | United States

Job description

NewtekOne®, Your Business Solutions Company®, is a financial holding company, which along with its bank and non-bank consolidated subsidiaries, provides a wide range of business and financial solutions under the Newtek® brand to the small- and medium-sized business ("SMB") market. Since 1999, Newtek has provided state-of-the-art, cost-efficient products and services and efficient business strategies to SMB relationships across all 50 states to help them grow their sales, control their expenses, and reduce their risk.

Newtek's and its subsidiaries' business and financial solutions include banking (Newtek Bank, N.A.), Business Lending, Electronic Payment Processing, Technology Solutions (Cloud Computing, Data Backup, Storage and Retrieval, IT Consulting), eCommerce, Accounts Receivable Financing & Inventory Financing, Insurance Solutions, Web Services, and Payroll and Benefits Solutions.

Newtek Insurance Agency, is a retail and wholesale brokerage insurance agency licensed in all 50 states, specializing in the sale of commercial and health/benefits lines insurance products to the SMB market as well as various personal lines of insurance.

The VP of Employee Benefits will work with the new business and servicing team and agency management to achieve the overall agency growth and targeted sales goals. This position includes the day-to-day managing of the new business and the servicing teams, objective setting, coaching, performance monitoring, and internal and external product knowledge distribution and sales techniques. Utilize internal systems to research, assist, and document team member performance and report back to management. Assist team in achieving required cross-sell referrals for other Newtek solutions to new or existing client(s). Maintain a professional working relationship with internal customers and external clients.

Job Responsibilities include:

Management

• Lead benefits team to ensure that all work is completed according to scheduled deadlines with attention to quality standards, priorities and overall goals established.
• Enhance understanding and implementation of strategic goals established.
• Oversee the use of standard process workflows by the benefits team.
• Train and mentor team members and identify development needs across the team, working with senior management to coordinate additional training as needed.
• Foster open communication with employees by holding regular staff meetings with your team.
• Track various productivity and performance standards to ensure that established levels are achieved, especially during critical activity periods.
• Manage escalated issues and provide direction.
• Collaborate with peers to establish best practices.
• Analyze team statistics and prepare reports for senior management as necessary.
• Assist senior management in preparation of data for monthly management meetings.
• Evaluate team members on performance and complete both the mid-year and annual performance appraisals; submit to senior management then HR for review.
• Work in collaboration with team members to establish individual development plans.
• Partner with senior management and Human Resources to develop and administer corrective action and performance improvement plans.
• Partner with senior management and Human Resources in following established processes for staffing talent and terminating an employee.
• Provide training support to other Customer Service Representatives and to Business Services Specialists as needed.
• Evaluate skills, execution, and performance with all members of the team on an ongoing basis to ensure all members are on track for meeting new business, cross sell, up sell goals, etc.
• Manage the time and attendance for the team members (i.e., time off requests, edits, scheduling etc.)
• Ensure that Business Services Specialists are submitting new business emails with accurate information to ensure prompt and accurate set up with servicing.
• Work with accounting to ensure that Customer Service Representatives are accurately billing policies for renewals.
• Mentor and coach benefit support team, leading and managing various projects.
• May assist senior management with budgetary responsibility.
• Schedule, coordinate, and monitor key metrics for deliverables (project management).
• Assist in establishing, reviewing, and updating benefits operational policies and procedures.
• Function as a consultant and business partner to other groups within Newtek.
• Assume the Business Services Specialist and/or Customer Service Representative duties as business needs arise.

Customer Service

• Partner with sales team to understand customer expectations and help bind coverage by gathering pertinent paperwork and performing implementation of new customers with Newtek Insurance Agency.
• Work proactively with the President of Insurance Services to ensure seamless plan onboarding and employee benefit administration.
• Provide exceptional customer service to deliver a dynamic client experience.
• Conduct periodic internal audits of client accounts and identify areas of concern and improvement.
• Assist in implementation of new products for clients.
• Assist with new client onboarding.
• Answer calls from clients looking for individual or group health insurance coverage and provide answers to technical, and billing issues in a clear, friendly, and professional manner while adhering to established company guidelines.
• Verify each referral based on established procedures such as referral source, product need, and upsell/cross sell opportunity.
• Ask probing questions to determine the best way to assist clients with his/her issue and offer viable solutions.
• Route the customer to the appropriate team member for follow up and to complete the sales process.
• Handle inquiries regarding policy questions, client concerns or escalations.
• Note all telephone conversations in the Newtek system after completing each call for tracking purposes (Newtracker or BenefitPoint as appropriate).
• Ongoing customer support via email and phone includes monitoring a group email box to ensure customers are responded to professionally and in a timely fashion.
• Provide support and training to customers on employee benefit plans.
• Escalate customer service-related issues when necessary to President of Insurance Services.
• Provide timely feedback to President of Insurance Services regarding service/system failures, call trends and concerns.
• Update address and contract information when required in Newtek system and provide customer with complete procedures for other account changes.
• Collaborate with other departments to resolve issues as necessary. Qualifications include:
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience and a minimum of 5 yrs. of employee benefits insurance sales and service in a brokerage or insurance agency preferably.
• Valid New York State Life, Accident and Health License (L&H) required and provide copy for file.
• Prior work experience with a PEO a plus.
• Prior Business Services Specialist and/or Customer Service Representative position a plus.
• Proficient knowledge of Employee Benefit plan implementation, administration, and ACA rules and regulations.
• Good understanding of a Human Capital Management (HCM) system functionality and capabilities.
• Bilingual a plus or may be required based on company needs.
• Possess strong telephone customer service etiquette.
• Strong data entry skills and ability to navigate among multiple systems.
• Attention to accuracy and detail in processing information.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple priorities in a high-volume environment.
• Possess professional oral, written and presentation skills.
• Possess good active listening skills.
• Possess strong leadership skills with a participative management style.
• Ability to handle highly sensitive data with confidentiality and integrity.
• Good follow-through skills and ability to resolve issues in a timely manner.
• Good interpersonal skills and must possess a positive attitude.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
• Excellent work ethic with the desire to succeed.
• Passion and drive to build the client portfolio.
• Ability to manage multiple, high priority tasks and adjust to shifting priorities, while meeting deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with external vendors.
• Ability to assess team members' performance and provide motivational support.
• Ability to maintain cooperative working relationships with all levels of management.
• Excellent client relationship building skills.
• Competent in Windows based computer applications (Microsoft Office; Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and internal systems such as NewTracker, Benefit Point, etc.

Organizational "Fit" considerations: Newtek is seeking a team player who enjoys technical challenges within a fast-paced environment, applies sound judgment in successful task planning and execution, meet deadlines, and communicates the highest standards of professionalism in his/her appearance and work habits. If you have an interest in professional growth and joining a leading Business Solutions company, it is time to consider joining Newtek.

Newtek offers competitive salary and a performance-based bonus program to reward your results. We provide our employees with an excellent comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, supplemental benefits, and a 401(k) savings plan with an employer match. On-going training on sales techniques, industry, and competitive landscape to support your career growth.

Newtek is an Equal Opportunity Employer; M/F/D/V. We require all our employees to perform work in an ethical manner and always uphold our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.

Job tags

Salary

$100k - $125k