Associate Consultant

Company:

Mercer

Description:

The Associate Consultant (AC) configures and consults on core DarwinTM functionality and configures simple-medium benefits including unit testing. They configure and schedule standard provider reports, perform simple branding and other simple-medium tasks. They are expected to understand basic concepts of benefits and how these are built on DarwinTM, starting to understand end-to-end benefit administration processes including interfacing. They are responsible for delivering project tasks given to them by more senior members of the team / Pod Leads. Will start to provide estimates of own deliverables. They may be asked to share knowledge and buddy new team members after 6-12 months experience.

The role will be based in Cluj-Napoca. This is a hybrid role that has a requirement of working at least three days a week in the office.

THE ROLE AND YOUR MISSION

Consulting skills:

It is expected that the Associate Consultant has a good understanding of Darwin capabilities and projects flow and makes sure the quality gates are met in order to assure the quality of the product delivered.

• Accountable for ensuring that delivery best practice is followed throughout the project
• Owns project work stream and make sure all stakeholders and Pod Lead are aware of progress in time
• Be able to manage own workload and shifting priorities
• Manage projects by following the internal methodology, using templates and the process flow described on Confluence
• Review the Scoping Document together with the Client Manager in order to make sure that all tasks are covered and understood
• Update internal project tools (eg. Jira, Zendeks, etc.) in line with the project timescales and budget
• Use the Project Management training to create a Project Toolkit. Keep the Project Toolkit updated on a constant frequency and share with all stakeholders as applicable
• Update project documentation and get Sign-Off from the client
• Actively lead the UAT phase of a project to ensure successful completion. Manage the UAT calls and UAT board with the client
• Review the checklists and coordinate all project activities up to transitioning the project back into Business As Usual
• Ensure the successful and timely delivery of projects/tasks assigned

Technical Skills:

Darwin Knowledge - It is expected that the Associate Consultant has basic Darwin skills and will spend half of their time configuring Darwin

• Be able to perform simple configuration tasks with no guidance or supervision
• Be able to perform medium or complex configuration tasks with support or supervision
• Be able to design, build and perform unit testing on simple or medium outbound and inbound interface (eg. Payroll report, provider report)
• Perform unit testing of all configuration assigned before going back to the client
• Perform peer review on projects
• Make the necessary changes on Darwin as agreed within the Scoping Document for projects

Quality Management at project level:

• Responsible for performing checks on in-flight projects to review statues / blockers / ensure quality gates are being fulfilled
• Take necessary measures to ensure no configuration incidents happen after Go Live. In case they do occur, proactively follow up and help restore service.
• Be able to explain and apply the delivery processes and methodologies within the project team as well as reinforcing it as best practice. Keep up to date with changes in the process and understand how the change impacts delivery
• Respect quality metrics targets according to Objectives
• Responsible and accountable for overall quality of own projects. Work closely together with QAG resource in order to assure quality standards as detailed by Confluence material

Communication management

• Input in meetings: Produces clear actions/minutes from meetings and circulates accordingly (where required)
• Owns communication on projects assigned: pro-actively informs project and internal stakeholders about status of work
• Relationship management: establish firm relationship internally with Client Management, Admin Tech, Helpdesk, Full Admin departments, or other internal Darwin teams, as applicable to the projects assigned
• Clients: developing Stakeholder management skills to improve relationships with a variety of client sponsors as well as direct project contacts
• Flag any capacity issues to the Pod Lead and project stakeholders and help provide an alternative solution in order to deliver on time

Growth/Development

• New topics: be able to perform basic research of any work related topics for projects or meetings using internal tools
• Prove responsibility for own development: keep objectives tracker updated, ask 360 feedback from colleagues as agreed with Line Manager, identify new areas of development
• Proactively seek opportunities to get involved in different complexity projects in order to demonstrate and develop new and existing skills
• Actively attend trainings: Darwin Enablement for New Joiners, Delivery Specific Trainings, Darwin and projects related knowledge sessions. Proactively flag training need to Pod Lead / Line Manager

Utilization:

• Client work utilization: 80%
• Remaining utilization: 20% to be used for internal meetings, trainings within Darwin, Line Management activities, knowledge sharing, providing ad hoc support for other colleagues

What makes you stand out? 

• Consulting skills
• Technical (Darwin) skills
• Quality Management at project level
• Communication management
• Relationship management
• Proactivity
• Responsibility

Why join our team: 

• We help you be your best through professional development opportunities, interesting work, and supportive leaders; 

• We foster a vibrant and inclusive culture where you can work with talented colleagues to create new solutions and have an impact for colleagues, clients, and communities; 

• Our scale enables us to provide a range of career opportunities, as well as benefits and rewards to enhance your well-being; 

• A yearly budget and the opportunity to build your flexible benefits package (up to 20% of your annual salary); 

• 30+ days off (including legal days, birthday, public holiday replacements, and benefits options); 

• Performance bonus scheme; 

• Matching charity contributions, charity days off, and the Pay it Forward charity challenge; 

• Core benefits: Pension, Life and Medical Insurance, Meal Vouchers, Travel Insurance. 

Mercer is a business of Marsh (NYSE: MRSH), a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of over $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information about Mercer, visit mercer.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Marsh is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people and embrace diversity of age, background, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, gender orientation or expression, marital status, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, sexual orientation or expression, skin color, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Marsh is committed to hybrid work, which includes the flexibility of working remotely and the collaboration, connections and professional development benefits of working together in the office. All Marsh colleagues are expected to be in their local office or working onsite with clients at least three days per week. Office-based teams will identify at least one “anchor day” per week on which their full team will be together in person.