Senior Strategy and Relationship Director, Group

Position: Senior Strategy and Relationship Director, Group Benefits
The Senior Strategy and Relationship Director will report to the Head of National Broker & General Agency Partners, Group Benefits. The successful hire will work to develop growth and retention strategies, determine new product placement opportunities, identify, and perform due diligence on potential new national or regional partners, collaborate across the Group Benefits organization, and seek opportunities to broaden and deepen national relationships across the Group Benefits organization.

The scope of the role focuses on national benefits brokers, and consultants, as well as alternative distribution channel partners such as general agencies, third party administrators and technology platforms.

You Will:

The Senior Strategy and Relationship Director will collaborate with key internal partners and Distribution leaders to create and execute strategic plans for assigned partners and drive results throughout the year. In addition, the role is responsible for strengthening and broadening existing partner relationships and identifying efficiency and technology alignment opportunities.

Specific

Responsibilities include:

• Act as point of contact for executive level relationships and demonstrate deep industry knowledge fostering confidence and trust.

• Create and manage business plans for assigned partners and successfully execute against agreed upon objectives.

• Active and ongoing collaboration with distribution leaders, sales professionals, and account management teams to drive success locally.

• Act as escalation point for internal and external partners.

• Represent Guardian at industry and partner events.

• Collaborate with distribution to design and implement growth strategies for targeted partners.

The Group Benefits Distribution organization relies on the Senior Strategy and Relationship Director’s diverse experience and skills, broad understanding of the employee benefits industry, and institutional knowledge of Guardian’s Group Benefits business to execute on business and engagement plans as well as other unique growth and retention initiatives designed to accelerate growth, strengthen relationships, retain business and improve profitability.

You Have:

Functional Skills

The success of the role will depend heavily upon building strong and trusted partnerships with all areas of the Group Benefits organization. The successful candidate must work with and influence peer groups and individuals with specific functional expertise. It will be necessary to build consensus through persuasive presentation of well-developed, rational business cases, complete with supporting information, impact analysis, and success metrics.

A key responsibility lies in the ability to influence and manage people over whom there is no direct authority. The successful candidate must develop a thorough understanding of distribution, operations, risk management, and applicable regulations for all market segments, including both industry practice standards and Guardian process and systems.

Sales & Customer Skills

• Partner Focus :
Dedicates themselves to learning the partners’ business model and needs at both a local and national level. Monitors satisfaction and champions resolution to systemic impediments to excellence.

• Relationship Development :
Fosters highly productive and respected business relationships with broad and unique audiences at national and local levels. Takes initiative to establish relationships and strengthen them through repeated contact and generating trust and respect through the exchange of ideas and sharing of information. Demonstrates a personal commitment to establishing an optimal working environment. Fosters a high level of teamwork through an understanding of how work is related across functional areas and contribute to organizational and partnership objectives.

Ability to manage multiple diverse internal customers (legal, sales, admin, underwriting, etc).

• Influence :
Ability to define and execute a plan in a compelling manner in order to foster consistent understanding across a wide group of individuals. Build consensus and enthusiasm for objectives.

• Balancing Interests :
Recognizes, manages, and…