Employee benefits claims team leader (hybrid or remote)

About the Role

At Equitable, we help clients secure their financial well-being so they can pursue long and fulfilling lives- a mission we’ve honed since 1859.

Equitable is seeking an experienced Employee Benefits Claims Team Leader, Claims Support to join our Disability and Absence Claims organization. This role will play a critical part in managing claims, fostering client relationships, and ensuring exceptional service delivery for one of our claim teams. Claims support will oversee internal team members who are designated/dedicated to specific customer groups that are high touch. We field inquiries and escalations from these customers. They work with internal partners to clarify and interpret policy information. They will be required to be customer-facing and take the lead on relationships with high profile customers.

What You’ll Be Doing

Responsibilities

• Claims Management: Oversees the end-to-end claims process for disability and/or leave of absence products. Ensures claims are processed accurately within regulatory and company guidelines.
• Liaison for Internal Partners: Collaborate closely with distribution and other internal partners to ensure client needs are met. Provide clarification on policy interpretation, assist with amendment requests and help resolve claim escalations.
• Client Relationships: Fosters strong relationships with clients to understand their needs and ensure high levels of satisfaction. Addresses and resolves any client issues or concerns promptly.
• Team Leadership: Builds and leads high-performing internal claims teams. Provide coaching, mentorship, and development opportunities for team members. Sets performance goals for the teams.
• Compliance: Ensures all claims processes comply with relevant laws and regulations. Stays current regarding updated changes in legislation and adjusts processes accordingly.
• Stakeholder Management: Collaborates with internal departments, external partners, and other key stakeholders to execute a market-leading claims management experience.
• Mentoring, Coaching and Support: This role will provide coaching and mentoring to the claims examiners as well as take referral tasks for complex items that require more tenured resources to administer (e.g. amendments, account management related actions, systems issues).
• Performs other duties as assigned.

This position offers a flexible work schedule: it may be fully remote/hybrid. If you are located near one of our offices (e.g., Charlotte, NC; New York, NY; Syracuse, NY), a hybrid schedule with 2–3 days on-site per week is expected to foster collaboration and connection.

The base salary range for this position is $68,000 - $92,000. Actual base salaries vary based on skills, experience, and geographical location. In addition to base pay, Equitable provides compensation to reward performance with base salary increases, spot bonuses, and short-term incentive compensation opportunities. Eligibility for these programs depends on level and functional area of responsibility.

For eligible employees, Equitable provides a full range of benefits. This includes medical, dental, vision, a 401(k) plan, and paid time off. For detailed descriptions of these benefits, please reference the link below.

Equitable Pay and Benefits: Equitable Total Rewards Program

What You Will Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional work experience
• 5+ years of client facing experience in Employee Benefits / Group Insurance Claims organization
• 3+ years of people leadership experience with excellent team management abilities
• Specific experience with Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability and/or Paid/Unpaid Leaves

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong understanding of technology and industry trends
• Excellent client relationship management skills
• Strong verbal, written communication, and presentation skills
• Comfortable dealing with complexity and ambiguity and able to explore multiple solutions
• Previous experience with FINEOS Claims software platform highly desired
• Previous experience with Salesforce platform a plus

Skills

• Claims Management: Expertise in delivering a positive claims experience for Disability and/or Leave of Absence products, such as Short Term Disability, Statutory Disability Coverages, Long Term Disability, or State Paid Leaves. Proficient in deploying strategies and techniques to ensure claims processing meets the highest standards of accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.
• Effective Communications: Proficient in effective communication concepts, tools, and techniques. Capable of transmitting, receiving, and accurately interpreting ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors. Essential for managing client relationships and team interactions.
• Leadership: In-depth knowledge of leadership practices and processes. Skilled in using strategies and techniques to inspire and guide internal claims teams towards achieving both short-term objectives and long-term goals.
• Data Analysis and Interpretation: Advanced proficiency in claims data analysis techniques and tools. Ability to interpret complex data sets to make informed decisions and drive continuous improvement initiatives. Skilled in using data to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for enhanced processes.

About Equitable

At Equitable, we’re a team committed to helping our clients secure their financial well-being so that they can pursue long and fulfilling lives.

We turn challenges into opportunities by thinking, working, and leading differently – where everyone is a leader. We encourage every employee to leverage their unique talents to become a force for good at Equitable and in their local communities.

We are continuously investing in our people by offering growth, internal mobility, comprehensive compensation and benefits to support overall well-being, flexibility, and a culture of collaboration and teamwork.

We are looking for talented, dedicated, purposeful people who want to make an impact. Join Equitable and pursue a career with purpose. Click Careers at Equitable to learn more.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equitable is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to our employees, applicants and candidates based on individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, mental or physical disabilities, sexual orientation, veteran status, genetic information or any other class protected by federal, state and local laws.

NOTE: Equitable participates in the E-Verify program.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process or to perform the essential job functions of this position, please contact Human Resources at (212) 314-2211 or email us at TalentAcquisition@equitable.com.