Head of Life & Annuity Product Illustrations

As the Head of Life & Annuity Product Illustrations, you will be responsible for directing, coordinating, and monitoring all phases of life & annuity product illustration systems implementation, maintenance, & support, while leading a team of business analysts & quality assurance testers. 

You Are

• A seasoned people leader and business systems project manager with 10+ years’ experience in the individual life insurance and annuity space

• Highly analytical with strong problem-solving skills

• Able to manage multiple, concurrent projects and deliverables

• Highly customer-focused with the ability to think strategically and provide a clear vision that promotes team collaboration

• Adept at excelling in a fast-paced environment with changing business priorities and technological needs

You Will

• Act as a primary contact between Life Product Development, Product Support, Life Actuarial, IT, Compliance, the Advanced Planning department, Life Operations, and our software vendor, iPipeline (WELIS).

• Play a lead role in developing and managing the implementation of new life & annuity products, features, and user enhancements in a vendor developed, web-based and disconnected desktop illustration system.

• Provide the expertise to strategize & prioritize multiple project & product implementation deadline driven deliverables to ensure products/projects are designed to meet the needs of our customers.

• Be responsible for ensuring that all ongoing system and product maintenance needs (e.g., rate updates; compliance mandates; etc.) are identified, scheduled, and performed as necessary.

• Provide leadership and project management expertise to cross-functional teams implementing new products, in force policy support, and interfaces between the illustration system software and various 3rd-party applications (e-App, e-Issue, e-Delivery, Living Balance Sheet (LBS), SmartOffice, etc.).

• Develop and sustain strong relationships with all business, IT, and software vendor colleagues.

• Establish and communicate project priorities and schedules to the illustration software vendor on a weekly, quarterly, and annual basis, while holding them accountable for the quality and timeliness of the requested deliverables.

• Use your prior experience and information at hand, to independently make thoughtful & impactful decisions.

• Direct a team of business systems analysts and quality assurance testers to ensure the timely and quality delivery of all illustration system projects, by leading, supporting, and participating in the following:

  • Project intake, recommendation, prioritization, and scheduling

  • Cost/benefit analysis (user perspective)

  • Workflow and system navigation design

  • Business & software analysis

  • Project implementation planning

  • Resource allocation planning

  • Weekly team and software vendor status meetings

  • Monitoring and continuously improving testing processes

  • Post-project assessment

  • Monitoring and enhancing system usage metrics

  • Production support/end-user support

Reporting Relationship

• As Head of Life & Annuity Product Illustrations you will report to the Head of Life Product Management.

You Have

• Strong project management skills (10+ years previous experience)

• Comprehensive understanding of the life insurance industry and individual life products, including Whole Life, UL, VUL, Term, and Annuities with a strong focus on product illustration systems development work

• Experience collaborating with technical business partners, including actuaries and software engineers

• Strong people management skills (10+ years previous experience)

• Experience leading teams, coaching individual colleagues, and conducting formal performance appraisals

• Excellent verbal and written skills with the ability to communicate complex material in a clear & concise manner

• High level of competency working with Microsoft Office 365

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Information Technology, or equivalent related business experience

Location Requirements  

• Hybrid Schedule: 3 days in office & 2 days work from home

• Office Locations: Bethlehem, PA - Holmdel, NJ - Hudson Yards (NYC)

Salary Range:

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise

At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals.  Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being

As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits.Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact applicant_accommodation@glic.com.

Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.