Assistant Director, Health & Welfare Benefits

We invite you to review our current business services professionals openings to learn about the opportunities available across the firm.

About Us

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP has forged a reputation as one of the most prestigious law firms in the world. Relying on innovation, intellect, teamwork and tenacity, our lawyers deliver the highest quality advice and novel solutions to our clients’ legal issues. We are known for handling the most complex transactions, litigation/controversy issues, and regulatory matters, as well as for the strong partnerships we build with clients and each other. Our attorneys, who reflect a broad range of experiences and perspectives, work together seamlessly across 50-plus practices and 21 offices in the world’s major financial centers.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an Assistant Director, Health & Welfare Benefits to join our Firm.  This position will be based in our New York office (hybrid).  This multifaceted position supports the Director, Health & Welfare Benefits to participate in all aspects of the global health and welfare benefit plans and programs Firm-wide for partners, retirees, and employees including but not limited to planning, development, designing, implementing, and administration.  Serves as the financial and data analyst subject matter expert for the benefit plans and programs by developing, maintaining and performing data analysis of the associated financial information. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for the planning and developing of various global benefit plans including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, life, and disability.  Ensures that the programs are current, competitive and comply with all related regulations.
  • Monitors, analyzes and researches utilization, experience and trends.  Develops recommendations for benefit plan enhancements consistent with the Firm’s benefits' objectives and strategies.
  • Work with Benefits Department staff members and global HR partners to implement changes to existing benefit plans as well as new benefit programs.
  • Develops performance standards; negotiates benefit contract terms, manages RFP process for new vendors/carriers and develops quality improvement plans as necessary
  • Responsible for health and welfare benefit plan performance reviews to control costs by managing claims data and identifying cost savings opportunities and making recommendations for appropriate changes.
  • Work closely with brokers in conducting benchmark analysis to identify trends in industry and with competitors. Researches benefits best practices using market surveys, networking, and other sources of industry information, to recommend competitive and cost effective benefit offerings.  Develops and presents benchmarking reports by gathering and analyzing benefits data.
  • Responsible for managing the financial costs and associated risks for the benefit plans.
  • Delivers timely, targeted, cost effective and coordinated benefit solutions.
  • Manages relationships with benefits' brokers, consultants, and vendors. 
• Responsible for the maintenance of current global benefit plans and the implementation of new programs and vendor management for the health and welfare benefit plans and programs. 
  • Collaborates with the Benefits Department staff and global HR business partners to ensure that the benefit plans are administered in accordance with contract provisions. 
  • Drives annual renewal processes for all global health and welfare benefit plans and programs including but not limited to: partnering with benefits' brokers to negotiate with benefit providers on annual renewals,  analyzing proposals and negotiating pricing and applicable contract terms and associated performance standards, developing associated budget and financial analysis spreadsheets. Works with internal HRIS partners to determine related HRIS system needs.
  • Manages third-party vendor relationships to ensure efficient and effective administration of all benefit plans.  Manages and leverages vendor relationships and platforms to ensure efficient, automated and cost effective administration of benefit programs.  Monitors vendor performance in accordance with service level agreements and develops quality improvement plans as needed.
  • Works with insurance carriers and counsel to update benefit plans’ related documents (e.g., Plan Document, Summary Plan Description, Benefit Outlines, booklets).
  • Collaborates with the applicable departmental staff on partners/employees communications.
• Responsible for the financial accounting and data analysis of all global health and welfare benefit plans and programs and the health and welfare departmental budget. 
  • Develops budgetary spreadsheets and maintains all related f