Benefits Analyst Sr, Health & Welfare - remote ; reside in Florida

Overview

UF Health is seeking a Senior Benefits Analyst – Health & Welfare to join our Benefits team.

This role serves as the system-wide subject matter expert and program owner for all health and welfare benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, leave programs, and overall wellbeing strategy. Operating within the Benefits Center of Excellence, the Senior Analyst is responsible for plan design, governance, vendor strategy, and enterprise harmonization initiatives.

The individual in this role will partner closely with HR Operations, Finance, external vendors, consultants, and HR Business Partners to ensure benefit programs are competitive, compliant, data‑driven, and aligned with overall system strategy.

This position offers the opportunity to directly influence enterprise benefits strategy and play a key role in a multi‑market harmonization effort that will shape the future of health and welfare programs across the system. Please note, this role does not perform day‑to‑day transactional benefits administration.

Work Location:
Remote;
Southeast Region of the US, proximity to Jacksonville, FL is preferred.

• Lead health & welfare plan design initiatives with a focus on cost optimization, competitiveness and member experience.
• Develop business cases and present recommendations to Benefits leadership using data‑driven insights.
• Partner with HR Communications to develop year‑round benefits education strategies, not only OE.
• Identify emerging trends and innovations in H&W benefits (virtual care, wellbeing platforms, family‑building, navigation tools).
• Support the design, implementation and ongoing evolution & harmonization of system‑wide health and welfare benefits.
• Support annual renewals, financial modeling, and long‑term planning.

• Support transition planning to move markets to standardized system plans (implementation).
• Partner with market HR teams to ensure local readiness and align with enterprise timelines.
• Elevate risks, dependencies, and decision points to leadership.

• Serve as a strategic point of contact for health and welfare vendors, including benefit consultants.
• Own vendor stewardship meetings, oversee performance guarantees, and track SLAs.
• Partner with vendors and consultants on trend analysis, claims experience, and forecasting.
• Support enterprise‑level RFPs and contract terms evaluation.
• Support renewals and vendor transitions including implementations.
• Partner with HR Operations to identify and address systemic issues and trends.

• Apply system standards and benefits governance consistently.
• Support creation and maintenance of plan governance documentation, including plan design principles, standard operating procedures, and compliance checklists.
• Provide expert interpretation of plan provisions and policies to HR Operations and HR Business Partners.
• Participate in preparation of materials for executive overviews and briefings.
• Ensure all plans remain in compliance with applicable ERISA, DOL, IRS & ACA requirements.

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business, Finance, or a related field required.

• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive benefits and/or program management experience within a large, complex organization.
• Experience consolidating multiple benefit programs into a unified structure is highly preferred.

• Experience analyzing claims and utilization data (e.g., medical, prescription, short‑term disability).
• Strong financial acumen, particularly related to self‑funded health plans.
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and priorities.
• Advanced analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Proficiency in Benefits Administration (Ben Admin) software and HRIS systems.
• Advanced Excel and data analysis capabilities.
• Excellent communication and consultative skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Self‑starter with the ability to adapt in a dynamic, evolving environment.
• Comfortable presenting findings and recommendations to leadership and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Experience working within a Center of Excellence (COE) or shared services environment.

• Experience working in a unionized environment.
• Experience with in a large healthcare system.
• People Soft experience.
• Experience supporting or participating in a Workday migration.