Primary Location: Michigan
Employee Status: Full-Time
Estimated Hours/Week: 38
Remote: No
% of Travel for the Position: Varies
About this position:Lake Michigan Insurance Agency (LMIA), owned by Lake Michigan Credit Union, is seeking an experienced and strategic Employee Benefits Practice Leader to lead the growth, operations, and overall direction of our employee benefits division. This leadership role is responsible for developing business strategy, driving revenue growth, strengthening carrier partnerships, and ensuring exceptional client service delivery. The ideal candidate brings deep employee benefits expertise, strong leadership capabilities, and a passion for building high-performing teams while helping clients design competitive and compliant benefits programs.
What You'll Do:Strategic Leadership & Business Growth- Develop and execute the long-term vision, strategic initiatives, and growth objectives for the employee benefits practice.
- Establish revenue goals, market positioning strategies, and business development plans to drive sustainable growth.
- Monitor industry trends, regulatory developments, and competitive benchmarks to identify opportunities and mitigate risk.
- Collaborate with agency leadership to support organizational goals and business performance.
Client & Consulting Excellence- Serve as a senior advisor on complex client matters and strategic employee benefits initiatives.
- Partner with consulting and service teams to deliver comprehensive employee benefits solutions.
- Maintain exceptional standards for client service, consulting delivery, and client retention.
- Act as an escalation resource for complex client, team, or operational issues.
Carrier & Vendor Relations- Develop and maintain strong relationships with insurance carriers, vendors, and strategic partners.
- Negotiate agreements and identify opportunities to expand partnerships and product offerings.
- Evaluate carrier performance and ensure clients receive competitive benefit solutions.
Team Leadership & Development- Lead, mentor, and support account managers, consultants, and sales producers.
- Assist with recruiting, onboarding, coaching, and employee development initiatives.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Compliance & Operational Excellence- Ensure employee benefits operations comply with agency policies, carrier standards, and applicable regulations.
- Monitor compliance requirements and communicate regulatory changes to internal teams and clients.
- Comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), USA PATRIOT Act, and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) requirements.
- Adhere to and champion LMCU's core values of Curious Minds, Collaborative Hearts and Continuous Excellence.
What You'll BringExperience- 8-10 years of employee benefits, insurance consulting, brokerage, or related experience, including leadership responsibilities.
Education & Licensing- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management, Finance, Accounting, Insurance & Risk Management, or a related field.
- Active Life & Health Insurance License required.
Skills & Attributes- Strong leadership, coaching, and team development capabilities.
- Exceptional client relationship management and consulting skills.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Ability to adapt to changing market conditions and business needs.
Technical Skills- Proficiency with agency management systems and business technology applications.
- Experience with benefits administration platforms and reporting tools preferred.
- Strong Microsoft Office skills, including Excel and PowerPoint.
What you'll get:- All Employees: weekly pay and retirement savings options.
- Full-Time Employees: comprehensive health coverage including medical (with prescription), dental, vision, HSA match, paid parental leave, and tuition reimbursement.
- To see a full list of our benefit offerings, check out this helpful guide!
If you lack access to the internet or require an accommodation in the application process, please send your resume via mail to: P.O. Box 2848, Grand Rapids, MI 49501.
