Benefits Consultant

Role Overview

The Group Benefits Consultant is responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of clients while providing strategic advice across all aspects of their group benefits programs. The Consultant serves as a trusted advisor to clients, helping them manage costs, improve plan sustainability, enhance the employee experience, and make informed decisions based on financial analysis, market insights, and industry best practices. The role combines client relationship management, strategic consulting, financial and analytical expertise, renewal negotiation, plan design, business development, and client retention. The Consultant works closely with internal specialists, insurers, vendors, and other partners to deliver coordinated solutions and exceptional client experience.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and manage the overall relationship for an assigned portfolio of clients, acting as the primary strategic advisor on their group benefits programs. Develop a strong understanding of each client's business, workforce, objectives, challenges, and benefits strategy to provide relevant and proactive advice. Provide strategic consulting across plan design, funding arrangements, pricing, financial management, claims experience, employee experience, risk management, and cost-containment strategies. Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, including key decision-makers and senior stakeholders. Manage client expectations and proactively address service concerns, issues, and emerging needs. Identify risks within clients' group benefits programs and recommend appropriate plan design, funding, risk management, and cost mitigation strategies. Develop and maintain annual client plans that align consulting activities and deliverables with each client's goals and priorities. Ensure clients continue to recognize the value of the services and solutions provided by People Corporation. Lead the annual renewal process, including analysis of claims experience, insurer projections, pricing assumptions, market trends, and alternative strategies. Analyze financial and utilization trends to identify key cost drivers, emerging risks, and opportunities for plan optimization. Develop and present renewal recommendations and financial strategies that balance cost management, competitiveness, sustainability, and employee needs. Negotiate renewals and financial terms with insurers and other partners to achieve competitive and sustainable outcomes for clients. Use benchmarking, market intelligence, and financial analysis to support plan design and strategic recommendations. Partner with actuarial and analytical resources on more complex forecasting, claims analysis, funding, and financial modelling requirements. Monitor the ongoing financial performance of client plans and proactively identify issues or opportunities rather than waiting until renewal. Develop and execute strategies that support strong client satisfaction, retention, and long-term relationships. Identify opportunities to expand relationships by introducing additional products, services, and solutions that address clients' evolving needs. Collaborate with specialists across People Corporation to bring forward integrated solutions in areas such as wellness, disability management, retirement, actuarial services, HR solutions, technology, and employee communication, where appropriate. Assume responsibility for new clients transitioned from the sales team and establish strong relationships through an effective onboarding process. Maintain accountability for the revenue and profitability of assigned client relationships and consulting engagements. Contribute to the growth of the practice through referrals, networking, prospective client meetings, proposals, and competitive opportunities. Participate in prospect presentations and Requests for Proposal where subject-matter expertise or consulting support is required. Build and maintain a professional network that supports new business opportunities and strengthens People Corporation's presence in the marketplace. Represent People Corporation at industry events, conferences, seminars, and other professional forums. Act as a strong ambassador for the People Corporation brand and its full range of capabilities. Build strong relationships with colleagues, shared services, practice areas, and subject-matter experts across the organization to deliver integrated client solutions. Foster strong relationships with insurers, vendors, and other industry partners to support effective solutions and outcomes for clients. Maintain current knowledge of the Canadian group benefits marketplace, including insurer practices, funding arrangements, plan design, benefits taxation, legislative and regulatory developments, emerging benefits trends, and vendor solutions. Maintain strong knowledge of People Corporation's products, services, capabilities, and resources and connect clients with appropriate specialists when needs ari