Associate Executive Director

The UFCW National Health & Welfare Fund (“Fund”), headquartered in Englewood, New Jersey, is seeking an Associate Executive Director (“AED”) to support the Executive Director in the comprehensive administration and oversight of the Fund. The Fund provides participants with a broad range of health benefits, including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and other benefit plans such as Defined Benefit Pension and 401(k) plans. The Associate Executive Director provides senior operational leadership, overseeing day to day Fund operations and ensuring full compliance with ERISA, HIPAA/HITECH, ACA, COBRA, and all applicable Taft Hartley requirements. This in office role requires a seasoned healthcare executive who is highly operational, self directed, and capable of performing at a senior level with minimal supervision. The successful candidate will bring substantial multiemployer experience, deep expertise in union health plans, and a proven ability to lead staff (most collectively bargained) and office operations while communicating effectively with Trustees, plan professionals, employers, participants, and vendors. The AED serves as the escalation point for matters pertaining to the benefit administration system, participant concerns, and inquiries regarding plan rules and policies.

In collaboration with the Executive Director and a team of professional staff, the Associate Executive Director is responsible for the administration of health and retirement benefits covering more than 18,000 participants and for ensuring compliance with all governing plan documents and applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations. The AED supports the UFCW Board of Trustees through executive reporting, meeting preparation, and policy implementation. The role also includes direct management of 35 staff, ongoing coordination with the Fund’s West Coast office and resources, oversight of the CMS Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS) Program, and leadership of new employer group onboarding initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• General: Oversees the daily operations of the Fund to ensure financial and operational accuracy and compliance. Provides supervision of 35 office staff located in the California and New Jersey offices. Serves as a trusted advisor to the Executive Director, internal managers and staff on fund policies, compliance, procedures, and best practices.
  
• Strategies, Policies and Procedures: Provides executive leadership in the design, implementation, and governance of Fund programs, policies, and procedures. Develops and executes strategies to enhance operational effectiveness and service delivery. Plays a key role in the Fund’s strategic and business planning processes, driving the successful execution of organizational goals and objectives.
  
• Leadership: Provides senior leadership to both bargained and non bargained staff, directing performance and accountability to ensure adherence to Fund standards, policies, and procedures. Coaches and mentors staff to drive high performance, productivity, and professional development. Maintains consistent executive level communication with staff to remain informed of operational priorities, workforce needs, and emerging issues.
  
• Relationships: Cultivates and maintains strong, effective relationships with Trustees, participants and their dependents, staff, employers, plan professionals, vendors, and other key stakeholders on behalf of the Fund. Collaborates with external professionals to address service matters, evaluates new employer and group opportunities, and manages annual contract renewals.
  
• Communication: Provides oversight of the development of educational materials, newsletters, and other Fund communications.
  
• Financial: Develops and monitors the budget for the Fund. Works with Fund Auditors and internal accountants/bookkeepers on financial audits and reporting. Establishes and ensures sound internal controls.
  
• Industry Knowledge: Brings deep executive expertise in Taft Hartley and multiemployer health and retirement benefit plan governance, regulatory compliance, and unionized environments. Demonstrates strategic command of collective bargaining relationships and the regulatory landscape affecting Taft-Hartley benefit funds. Provides informed leadership through continuous awareness of emerging industry trends, benefit innovations, and regulatory developments. Recognized for senior-level proficiency in health benefit design, fund operations, and administration, complemented by strong fiscal stewardship, project leadership, and budget oversight.
  
• Technology: Demonstrates strategic expertise in benefit administration systems, with a strong command of data warehouse report development and advanced data analytics to support operational performance, and informed decision making.
  
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensures compliance with government regulations, plan benefits are paid in accordance with plan documents, all government filings are completed as required, and documents and notices are distributed timely to plan participants.
  
• Privacy: Supports the HIPAA Privacy and Security Officer(s) and ensures compliance with HIPAA regulations.
  

Requirements

The ideal candidate will meet the following requirements:

• Work Experience: Minimum of ten (10) years of experience demonstrating in multiemployer Health & Welfare administration. Minimum of five (5) years senior management experience. Experience working in a labor environment preferred.
  
• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree or relevant multi-employer management experience required; CEBS certification or advanced degree preferred.
  
• Special Skills or Credentials:
  • Experience in Taft-Hartley or collective bargaining environment strongly preferred.
  • Knowledge of health plan administration and compliance is required, including familiarity with ERISA, DOL, IRC, HIPAA, ACA, and other government related/ legislative regulations.
  • Demonstrated experience managing a workforce with a high percentage of collectively bargained staff.
  • Strong decision-making and organizational skills with the ability to optimize the use of all available resources, execute process improvement measures and deliver on multiple priorities.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to interact with staff at all levels of the organization as well as Trustees, outside professionals and service providers.
  • Knowledgeable of current technology and benefits administration systems.

To Apply

In addition to a salary range of $185,000 - $205,000 commensurate with experience, the Fund offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid healthcare, defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plans, and generous paid leave. The Fund is an affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability.

To apply, please send your resume and salary requirements to [email protected]. Please include job reference code 426UFCWNJIF in the subject line or with your application.