Howden Middle Market - Health & Benefits Account Executive (Wichita, KS)

Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It's what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities - work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering - you'll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Middle Market Health & Benefits Account Executive

Location: Hybrid in Wichita, KS

Who are we?

Howden is a collective - a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mind-set, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 20,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

Our people are our biggest asset as well as our largest shareholder group and are everything that makes us unique; our inclusive culture, the quality service we offer our clients, and our continued growth, all come from our people-first approach. There's no such thing as individual success. We all need to play our part, contributing our skills and experience to make a true difference. That's Howden.

Role Summary

We are seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Employee Benefits Account Executive to lead and grow a portfolio of clients across our Employee Benefits practice. In this role, you will serve as a trusted advisor to employers on the design, implementation, and management of employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, voluntary benefits, and wellness initiatives.

The ideal candidate is consultative, proactive, and experienced in navigating the complexities of employee benefits while delivering innovative solutions that support clients' workforce strategies and business objectives.

Client Strategy & Relationship Leadership

• Serve as the primary strategic advisor and point of contact for assigned employee benefits clients.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with client leadership, human resources teams, and key stakeholders.
• Gain a deep understanding of each client's workforce, organizational goals, benefits philosophy, and employee population to provide tailored recommendations.
• Deliver ongoing strategic guidance related to benefits market trends, plan design, cost containment strategies, employee engagement, and workforce wellbeing.

Benefits Program Management & Renewals

• Lead annual renewal strategy and planning, including carrier negotiations, plan design analysis, benchmarking, contribution modeling, and financial review.
• Analyze renewal proposals and recommend plan strategies that align with client objectives and budget considerations.
• Coordinate with carriers, vendors, and internal teams to ensure seamless implementation of benefit programs and enrollment processes.
• Oversee the timely execution of plan changes, open enrollment activities, and ongoing benefits administration support.

Compliance, Documentation & Service Excellence

• Support clients with employee benefits compliance matters, including ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other applicable regulations.
• Ensure client records, documentation, and service deliverables are maintained accurately within agency management systems.
• Maintain the highest standards of service quality, responsiveness, and accuracy across all client interactions.
• Collaborate with compliance and subject matter experts to address evolving regulatory requirements.

Vendor Management & Client Advocacy

• Serve as the primary advocate for clients in carrier and vendor discussions.
• Facilitate resolution of escalated service, billing, eligibility, and claims-related issues.
• Coordinate with insurance carriers, TPAs, wellness vendors, pharmacy benefit managers, and other service providers to deliver exceptional client outcomes.
• Communicate market developments, carrier updates, and strategic recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders.

Growth & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Identify opportunities for cross-selling, account expansion, and additional consulting services.
• Partner closely with producers, account managers, analytics teams, compliance specialists, and other internal subject matter experts.
• Participate in client presentations, stewardship meetings, and strategic planning sessions.
• Contribute to internal initiatives, process improvements, and professional development efforts that strengthen team performance and client outcomes.

Experience

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in employee benefits consulting, account management, account executive, or client advisory roles within a brokerage, consulting, or carrier environment.
• Demonstrated success managing employer-sponsored employee benefits programs and client relationships.
• Experience working with middle market or large group employee benefits accounts preferred.

Licensing

• Active Health and Life insurance license (state specific).

Skills

• Strong knowledge of employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, voluntary benefits, and wellness offerings.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, including benefits financial analysis and renewal strategy development.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proficiency with agency management systems and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

Preferred Qualifications

• CEBS, GBA, RHU, REBC, SHRM, or similar professional designation.
• Experience with self-funded health plans, captives, alternative funding arrangements, and population health strategies.
• Familiarity with employee benefits compliance requirements, including ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, and COBRA.

Compensation and Benefits

• This role is classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• In addition to a competitive base salary, employees are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus.
• Howden also offers a variety of benefits and programs, subject to eligibility, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including healthcare savings and reimbursement accounts
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Flexible Paid Time Off and paid parental leave
• Life and Disability insurance

Our sustainability promise

• We're on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group.
• It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can.
• Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world.
• You can read more about our sustainability work here.

What do we offer in return?

• A career that you define.
• At Howden, we value diversity - there is no one Howden type.
• Instead, we're looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new
• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges
• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it's the right fit for you, send us your application - if your profile fits the role's criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

• *Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.
• Permanent