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.
As Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) and state-mandated disability programs continue to expand across the U.S., Protective’s Employee Benefits Business Line is expanding our team to drive growth and protect more members. To support this effort, we are seeking a dynamic and experienced strategic partnership and business development leader in the group benefits space to join our team as Vice President, Strategic Partnerships reporting directly to the SVP, Employee Benefits.
A successful VP, Strategic Partnerships, will lead a team and be responsible for building strategic frameworks, long-term business plans, and overall management of National Broker Firms, General Agencies (GAs), PEOs, Carrier Partners, Payroll Firms, and other trading partners nationally to accelerate growth and build deep long term strategic relationships. The role will heavily leverage data and analytics to for the business plans and frameworks, and then execute on those plans to enable highly impactful scalable solutions and partnerships.
As a key member of the Distribution Team, you will also contribute to cross-functional initiatives that enhance our business operations and support long-term strategic goals.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
- Identify large scale opportunities and then lead a strategic business development team to build relationships with these entities and nurture them so that the sales team can execute locally to grow and protect revenue with these partners, all with them viewing Protective’s EBD as their preferred carrier for state mandated disability and PFML insurance products.
- Build strategic repeatable frameworks backed by data that support growth with the executive presence to present to senior leaders.
- Execute annual business plans for our large-scale trading partners, holding team members accountable for performance.
Market Development & Trading Partner Engagement
- Cultivate and grow relationships with national leadership at GAs, National Broker Partners, Carrier Partners, PEOs, and Payroll Firms to develop mutual business plans that drive growth via large scale deals and enable stewardship.
- Source new and actionable large aggregators that allow our sales teams to distribute our product at scale and with efficiency.
Operational Excellence & Performance Management
- Building compensation programs for partners that align with driving the right behaviors trading partner behaviors and align with profit objectives.
- Provide full budget oversight for the Strategic Partnership and Business Development Team, ensuring financial discipline and resource optimization.
- Lead team that manages our largest trading partners and holds them accountable for results.
Talent Development & Organizational Leadership
- Lead recruitment and talent development efforts to build a high-performing team of Strategic Relationship Managers.
- Provide input on organizational structure to enhance performance, reinforce culture, and support succession planning.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Underwriting, Marketing, Product, Actuarial, and other departments to ensure financial and operational goals are met.
- Collaborate with Marketing and Product teams to ensure successful go-to-market execution in new markets.
- Contribute to enterprise decision-making by prioritizing key issues, gathering insights, and proposing strategic solutions.
Executive Reporting & Strategic Insight
- Regularly engage with SVP, Employee Benefits to report on financial performance and customer satisfaction.
- Provide strategic insights to executive leadership on market trends, product opportunities, and competitive positioning.
- Stay informed on industry developments and maintain deep knowledge of the competitive landscape.
Continuous Improvement
Champion initiatives that enhance customer satisfaction and drive continuous improvement across products and services.
Support additional projects and responsibilities as assigned by executive leadership.
#LI-EH1
Qualifications, Skills & Abilities
- Proven leadership and talent development skills with the ability to inspire and manage high-performing teams.
- Strong organizational, time management, and multitasking abilities in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment.
- Demonstrated success in launching and scaling strategic programs and initiatives that outpace growth in the industry.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with a data-driven approach to decision-making and business case development.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Copilot, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
- Experience leveraging technology and digital tools to enhance sales performance and operational efficiency.
- Deep understanding of large trading firms, executive level needs, forecasting, and performance reporting via dashboard tools.
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required. MBA preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in the insurance or employee benefits industry, including at least 3 years in a people leadership role.
$175,000 - $215,000 a year
Protective’s targeted total compensation for this position is $175,000 to $215,000. 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 offers additional incentive opportunities through an annual incentive and Long-Term Incentive (LTI) based on individual and Company performance.
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.
