Director – TPA Relationship Management

Group 1001is a consumer-centric, technology-driven family of insurance companies on a mission to deliver outstanding value and operational performance by combining financial strength and stability with deep insurance expertise and a can-do culture. Group1001’s culture emphasizes the importance of collaboration, communication, core business focus, risk management, and striving for outcomes. This goal extends to how we hire and onboard our most valuable assets – our employees.

Company Overview:

Group 1001 Life and Annuity is a business unit comprised of brands offering life and annuity products through Independent Marketing Organizations, Banks, Broker Dealers, and Direct-to-Consumer distribution channels.

Why This Role Matters:

The Director, TPA Relationship Management, is responsible for overseeing and managing operational relationships with our Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) handling Life, Annuity, and Pension products. This role ensures seamless experience delivery, compliance with contractual obligations, and continuous process improvement to support business and company objectives. The relationship manager acts as the primary liaison between internal stakeholders and the TPAs, driving operational excellence and fostering strong, collaborative partnerships. 

This position will report to the Vice President, Next-Gen Operations. 

How You Will Contribute:

• Accountable and responsible for enhancing and sustaining a positive, collaborative and effective working relationship between Group 1001 and its TPA partners.
• Serve as the main point of contact for TPAs managing Group 1001’s annuity, life, and pension business, ensuring clear communication and alignment to service expectations.
• Monitor and evaluate TPA performance against service level agreements (SLAs), identifying and resolving operational issues promptly.
• Collaborate with other leaders in TPA Oversight to ensure incidents are handled according to TPA agreements and project delivery occurs on schedule and within budget. 
• Coordinate with internal teams (e.g., product, compliance, legal, IT, finance, operations) to support system enhancements, day-to-day operational escalations, and regulatory changes.
• Lead regular business reviews with TPAs, analyzing key metrics, identifying trends, and recommending process improvements.
• Oversee issue escalation and resolution processes, ensuring timely and effective outcomes.
• Ensure all operational activities comply with company policies, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
• Support audits, due diligence, and risk assessments related to TPA-managed annuity operations.
• Develop and maintain documentation, including process maps, procedures, and reporting templates.
• Drive initiatives to enhance customer experience, operational efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
• Manage the TPA budget in partnership with other leaders in TPA Oversight, ensuring adherence to team and company objectives. 
• Ensure all invoices from TPAs are submitted correctly; challenge items on invoices as necessary

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred. 
• 5+ years of experience in annuity operations and/or relationship management within the financial services industry.
• Prior experience working with TPAs preferred. 
• Strong understanding of annuity products, regulatory requirements, and operational best practices.
• Proven ability to manage external vendor relationships and drive performance improvements.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in data analysis, reporting, and process documentation.
• Ability to work collaboratively across functions and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Compensation:

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $135,000/year to $145,000/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on factors such as market location, job-related skills, and experience.

Benefits Highlights: 

Employees who meet benefit eligibility guidelines and work 30 hours or more weekly, have the ability to enroll in Group 1001’s benefits package. Employees (and their families) are eligible to participate in the Company’s comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plan options.  Employees are also eligible for Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance, Short and Long-Term Disability. All employees (regardless of hours worked) have immediate access to the Company’s Employee Assistance Program and wellness programs—no enrollment is required.  Employees may also participate in the Company’s 401K plan, with matching contributions by the Company.

Group 1001, and its affiliated companies, is strongly committed to providing a supportive work environment where employee differences are valued. Diversity is an essential ingredient in making Group 1001 a welcoming place to work and is fundamental in building a high-performance team. Diversity embodies all the differences that make us unique individuals.  All employees share the responsibility for maintaining a workplace culture of dignity, respect, understanding and appreciation of individual and group differences.