Manager Employee Benefit Services

NRECA•Lincoln, NE

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Lead the strategy and delivery of employee benefit services that truly support cooperatives and their employees. At NRECA—one of Lincoln’s Best Places to Work—you’ll manage a high‑impact team and play a key role in shaping the employee experience through thoughtful, well‑designed benefit services. Leadership role Strategic and people‑focused Trusted, mission‑driven organization Apply to join a workplace where your expertise matters and help us continue delivering excellence to our members! About NRECA NRECA is a unique national trade association providing advocacy, financial services, and business support services to over 900 consumer owned electric cooperatives across the country. NRECA employees are united by our mission, inclusive culture, collaborative workplace, and commitment to service excellence. As a “best place to work” employer, we operate with integrity, transparency, and a spirit of innovation. About the Insurance & Financial Services Team Join a dynamic and inclusive team that administers industry-leading employee benefit plans. Our work is diverse, intellectually engaging, and deeply impactful. We foster a culture of belonging, driven by values like communication, creative problem-solving, and accountability. If you’re motivated by purpose, enjoy variety, and care about people and outcomes, this is the team for you. Job Summary Leads and manages the Employee Benefit Services team, overseeing daily operations, staffing, and performance to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant benefit transactions and billing. Partners closely with Lincoln‑based leadership to drive continuous improvement, support a high‑performing team environment, and deliver excellent service to cooperative members. Eligible for NRECA’s hybrid work schedule, offering flexibility to work from home up to two days per week.

Requirements

High School diploma or GED required
Associate degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience, including seven years of progressively complex benefits processing experience with exposure to: Leading teams or workgroups, Group insurance plans, Service providers and vendors
Minimum of two years of experience in a senior specialist, project lead, supervisory, or people management role
Experience with benefit plan eligibility, enrollment, billing, or comparable transactional benefit operations
Experience reviewing and analyzing operational metrics, error trends, and workflow volumes
Experience using a benefit administration or processing system (preferred)
Ability to report to the Lincoln office when required, consistent with the hybrid work schedule
Ability to exercise sound judgment when reviewing complex cases, ensuring accuracy and adherence to standards
Ability to set expectations, monitor productivity, and foster accountability across a team
Ability to build team capability through effective training, cross‑training, and knowledge sharing
Ability to identify root causes, manage escalations, and make well‑reasoned decisions
Skill in prioritizing work and managing staffing resources to consistently meet service‑level expectations
Strong, professional communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with individuals at all levels inside and outside the organization

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary subject matter expert for complex employee benefits issues, providing guidance to staff and support to cooperative members
Oversee benefit transactions and billing, including insurance, pension, and group billing, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely execution
Resolve escalations, interpret policies and procedures, and guide staff through complex or non‑routine cases
Analyze operational metrics, error trends, and workload changes to recommend process improvements and staffing adjustments
Collaborate with leadership and peers on system updates, operational initiatives, and project work affecting benefit services
Coach and support team members through real‑time guidance, training, and knowledge sharing