Benefits Consultant

Help shape benefits programs that make a meaningful difference in the associate experience.

At Securian Financial, our Total Rewards programs play an important role in supporting the well-being, financial security, and overall experience of our associates. We're looking for an experienced Benefits Consultant who brings a combination of strategic thinking, analytical expertise, and hands-on benefits program management to our Total Rewards team.

In this role, you'll have the opportunity to take ownership of key health and welfare, paid time-off, and leave programs, helping shape how we deliver competitive, cost-effective, and meaningful benefits to our associates.

You'll serve as a trusted subject matter expert, working closely with benefit vendors, HR partners, and business stakeholders to evaluate program effectiveness, navigate complex challenges, and recommend improvements. This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys both the strategic and operational sides of benefits—connecting data, market insights, and associate needs to solutions that make an impact.

What you'll do

Own and optimize benefits programs

• Lead the ongoing management and administration of assigned health and welfare, paid time-off, and leave programs, ensuring they remain competitive, compliant, and aligned with our Total Rewards strategy.
• Evaluate benefit trends, plan performance, claims experience, utilization, and associate feedback to identify opportunities for innovation, cost management, and program enhancements.
• Develop thoughtful, data-informed recommendations for benefit plan design, policies, and process improvements.

Lead vendor relationships and strategic initiatives

• Manage key benefit vendor partnerships, driving accountability for service delivery, performance, issue resolution, and continuous improvement.
• Lead or contribute to vendor evaluations, contract renewals, RFPs, program implementations, and other Total Rewards initiatives.
• Partner across HR, Finance, Legal, Payroll, and other functions to support decisions and deliver effective benefit solutions.

Enhance the associate experience and operational effectiveness

• Serve as a subject matter expert and escalation point for complex benefits and claims matters, balancing associate needs with plan provisions and business considerations.
• Collaborate with HR technology partners to enhance benefits systems, integrations, and processes, including Workday Benefits and Absence.
• Support annual benefit cycles, including renewals, system updates, associate communications, and implementation of plan changes.
• Help ensure programs meet applicable regulatory requirements, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other federal and state regulations.

What we're looking for

We're seeking an experienced benefits professional who is comfortable owning complex programs, influencing decisions, and translating insights into meaningful improvements.

To be successful in this role, you'll bring:

• Progressive experience in employee benefits, Total Rewards, or a related HR discipline, with demonstrated expertise in health and welfare and/or time-off and leave programs.
• Experience independently managing benefit programs, vendor relationships, and complex initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret claims, utilization, financial, and market data to develop actionable recommendations.
• Working knowledge of employee benefit regulations and compliance requirements, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, and HIPAA.
• Strong project management, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to balance strategic initiatives and ongoing program responsibilities.
• The ability to communicate complex benefits information clearly and build effective partnerships across teams, with leaders, and with external vendors.
• A continuous improvement mindset, attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering a positive associate experience.

Experience that will help you stand out

• Five or more years of progressive experience in employee benefits, benefits consulting, or Total Rewards.
• Experience with self-insured health and welfare plans, including medical and prescription drug programs, claims analysis, and cost management.
• Experience managing a broad portfolio of benefits, such as dental, vision, life insurance, disability, supplemental health, paid time-off, and leave programs.
• Experience with Workday Benefits and/or Workday Absence, including system enhancements, testing, and issue resolution.
• Experience leading benefit vendor relationships, RFPs, contract renewals, and program implementations.
• Experience with ACA reporting and other benefit compliance activities.
• Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation or a comparable professional certification.

Why this opportunity?

This role offers the opportunity to combine strategic influence with meaningful program ownership. You'll work with a collaborative group of HR professionals, contribute to important Total Rewards decisions, and help ensure our benefits programs continue to evolve with the needs of our associates and business.

Securian Financial believes that meaningful in-person collaboration is an important part of our culture. Our hybrid work model gives associates the flexibility to work both remotely and in the office while fostering connection, learning, and innovation. Associates who live within a 90-minute commute of our Home Office in St. Paul, Minnesota spend 3 or more days each week working from the office.

Preferred Skills:

Paid time off:

• We want you to take time off for what matters most to you. Our PTO program provides flexibility for associates to take meaningful time away from work to relax, recharge and spend time doing what’s important to them. And Securian Financial rewards associates for their service by providing additional PTO the longer you stay at Securian. 
• Leave programs: Securian’s flexible leave programs allow time off from work for parental leave, caregiver leave for family members, bereavement and military leave.
• Holidays: Securian provides nine company paid holidays.

Company-funded pension plan and a 401(k) retirement plan: Share in the success of our company. Securian’s 401(k) company contribution is tied to our performance up to 10 percent of eligible earnings, with a target of 5 percent. The amount is based on company results compared to goals related to earnings, sales and service.

Health insurance: From the first day of employment, associates and their eligible family members – including spouses, domestic partners and children – are eligible for medical, dental and vision coverage.

Volunteer time: We know the importance of community. Through company-sponsored events, volunteer paid time off, a dollar-for-dollar matching gift program and more, we encourage you to support organizations important to you.

Associate Resource Groups: Build connections, be yourself and develop meaningful relationships at work through associate-led ARGs. Dedicated groups focus on a variety of interests and affinities, including:

• Environmental Health & Sustainability
• Mental Wellness and Disability
• Pride at Securian Financial
• Securian Young Professionals Network
• Securian Multicultural Network
• Securian Women and Allies Network
• Servicemember Associate Resource Group

For more information regarding Securian’s benefits, please review our Benefits page.

This information is not intended to explain all the provisions of coverage available under these plans. In all cases, the plan document dictates coverage and provisions.