Benefits Strategy Executive Advisor
Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAbout the role
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HHMI is focused on supporting and moving science forward in a variety of different ways ranging from conducting basic biomedical research, empowering educators, inspiring students, developing the next generation of scientists – even stretching into film and media production. Our Headquarters is in the greater Washington, DC metro area and is home to over 300 employees with expertise in investments, communications, digital production, biomedical sciences, and everything in between. The work housed here supports and augments the groundbreaking research conducted in HHMI labs across the nation. As HHMI scientists continue to push boundaries in laboratories and classrooms, you can be sure that your contributions while working here are making a difference.
Summary of the Role
Howard Hughes Medical Institute seeks a Benefits Strategy Executive Advisor to serve as the organization's internal subject matter expert through a multi-workstream benefits transformation. This is a limited-term engagement, structured as an independent contractor or consulting firm arrangement, focused on a defined and consequential body of project work rather than an ongoing administrative role. The advisor operates as a seat at the table with senior leadership, advising the Chief Operating Officer and Office of General Counsel with authority throughout the initiative. The initial engagement runs through early 2028 go-live and initial implementation, with extension considered based on the project roadmap.
Why This Role Matters
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is one of the nation's largest private biomedical research philanthropies, supporting a community of approximately 2,600 employees across three populations: headquarters in Chevy Chase, MD; the Janelia Research Campus in Ashburn, VA; and host site scientists and staff embedded at more than 100 universities nationwide.
HHMI's benefits program is a strategically important component of its ability to attract and retain world-class scientific talent. The Institute is now undertaking its most significant benefits modernization in years, and this engagement is central to that work. The Institute's goals for this work are clear: bend the long-term cost curve, improve the employee experience, and adopt modern benefit designs that are not limited by how the program has always been structured.
HHMI engages external benefits consultants and brokers to support its benefits work. The advisor serves as the internal counterpart to those relationships, ensuring HHMI’s priorities and independent judgment lead every engagement with external partners.
The advisor will report directly to the Chief of People & Culture and will work in close daily partnership with the Sr. Director of Total Rewards & Benefits and the broader Benefits team. This structure is intentional: the advisor brings specialized medical and pharmacy benefits expertise and strategic depth that this engagement requires, while the Sr. Director and Benefits team bring institutional knowledge, carrier relationships, and operational continuity. The advisor advises and leads on strategy; the team executes and owns ongoing administration. Success requires genuine collaboration between the two.
The advisor will also work closely with the Chief Operating Officer and Office of General Counsel throughout the engagement, serving as a trusted internal expert that HR, Legal, Finance, and leadership can all rely on for authoritative, independent guidance.
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