Job Description
The work we do has an impact on millions of lives, and you can be a part of it.
We help protect our customers against life’s uncertainties. Regardless of where you work within the company, you’ll be helping provide protection and peace of mind when our customers need it most.
The National Account Manager, Affinity Partnerships serves as the executive relationship leader responsible for the overall success, growth, profitability and strategic management of the affinity partnership between the American Dental Association (ADA) and Protective, and also oversees the sales and marketing distribution relationship with Alliant Insurance Services.
This position owns the strategic and operational relationship between both organizations, ensuring alignment of business objectives, group benefits strategy, marketing initiatives, sales performance, and member engagement. Acting as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, the Account Manager drives profitable program growth through strategic planning, business analysis, and cross-functional collaboration while influencing stakeholders across multiple organizations.
The role requires a solid understanding of group employee benefits, insurance distribution to individual consumers, affinity marketing, and account management , along with the ability to develop business strategies that increase participation, revenue, profitability and long-term partnership value. While this position does not directly manage underwriting or sales teams, it is accountable for overall program performance through leadership, influence, and disciplined business management.
Essential Responsibilities
Strategic Relationship Management
- Serve as the primary relationship owner between the American Dental Association and Protective
- Serve as the primary relationship owner between Protective and Alliant Insurance Services.
- Serve as the primary relationship owner for the ADA and Alliant to internal teams
- Build and maintain trusted executive relationships with key stakeholders across both organizations.
- Align strategic priorities, business objectives, and growth initiatives.
- Identify emerging opportunities and proactively resolve business challenges.
- Represent the partnership during executive meetings, planning sessions, and strategic business reviews both internally and with the ADA.
Business Growth & Sales Strategy
- Monitor market trends, competitive activity, and ADA member needs to inform business strategy.
- Communicate and collaborate with ADA on business strategy at regular meetings with ADA Staff in Chicago dedicated to the programs and bi-annual meetings with the ADA Council of Members Insurance and Retirement programs (CMIRP).
- Facilitate cross-functional teams to develop an integrated annual business plan, focused on profitable growth, expense management and increased member participation.
- Establish annual sales objectives for Alliant
- Serve as a strategic internal advisor on ADA offerings and insurance programs. Recommend and champion new products, services, and initiatives that strengthen the partnership and enhance member value.
Financial & Business Performance
Maintain accountability for the overall financial health and performance of the ADA business, partnering with Product, Actuarial and Finance.
Monitor and analyze:
- Sales performance
- Policyholder retention and experience trends
- Product competitiveness
- Distribution effectiveness (Alliant)
- Operational expense efficiency
- Profitability & surplus
Develop executive dashboards and business performance reports
Partner with finance and leadership on forecasting, budgeting, and long-range planning.
Provide recommendations that improve profitability, operational effectiveness, and long-term business performance.
Executive Governance & Program Management
- Facilitate quarterly business reviews and annual strategic planning sessions externally and internally
- Prepare executive presentations, scorecards, and strategic updates.
- Track initiatives, action plans, and organizational commitments.
- Drive accountability across multiple departments and partner organizations.
- Ensure execution of strategic priorities through effective project management and influence.
- Communicate program results to the ADA at bi-annual CMIRP meetings, regular ADA Staff meetings and through a formal annual Report of Administrators.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor’s degree required. Preferably in Business Administration or a related field (Insurance)
Experience
Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in strategic account management, affinity program management, insurance consulting, broker relationship management, or executive client management.
Experience managing large, complex client or association relationships.
Demonstrated success driving revenue growth, member engagement, and business profitability.
Experience collaborating with insurance carriers, brokers, consultants, and employer-sponsored benefit programs.
Experience leading executive-level business reviews and strategic planning initiatives.
Exceptional executive communication and presentation skills.
Strong business and financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and profit-and-loss management.
Working knowledge of group benefits underwriting, renewal strategies, employee benefits funding arrangements, and insurance marketplace dynamics preferred.
#LI-SB1
$100,000 - $150,000 a year
Protective’s targeted compensation for this position is $100-150k. Actual salaries may vary depending on factors, including but not limited to, job location, skills, and experience. The range listed is just one component of Protective’s total compensation package for employees.
This position also includes cash compensation as a part of a sales incentive plan (SIP).
Employee Benefits:
We aim to protect the wellbeing of our employees and their families with a broad benefits offering. In addition to offering comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance, we support emotional wellbeing through mental health benefits and an employee assistance program. Work/life balance is important and Protective offers a variety of paid time away benefits (e.g., paid time off, paid parental leave, short-term disability, and a cultural observance day). The financial health of our employees is just as important as physical and emotional health. Some of the financial wellbeing benefits include contributions to healthcare accounts, a pension plan, and a 401(k) plan with Company matching. All employees are encouraged to protect their overall wellbeing by engaging in ProHealth Rewards, Protective’s platform to improve wellbeing while earning cash rewards.
Eligibility for certain benefits may vary by position in accordance with the terms of the Company’s benefit plans.
Accommodations for Applicants with a Disability:
If you require an accommodation to complete the application and recruitment process due to a disability, please email [email protected]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application and recruitment process.
Please note that the above email is solely for individuals with disabilities requesting an accommodation. General employment questions should not be sent through this process.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to being inclusive and attracting, retaining, and growing an inclusive workforce.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
