AVP Strategy & Innovation

We are driven to do more. More for our customers and the financial professionals who offer our products. If you are driven to do more and love the challenge of pursuing more, Athene is your kind of company. You will find we offer more than the basics to create an inclusive and dynamic work environment at our various locations.

Purpose & Impact:

Athene is building the next generation of its retirement solutions business, expanding how we serve distribution partners and reach new markets through innovative products, strategic partnerships, and technology.

Based in Athene and Apollo’s Austin strategic growth hub, the AVP, Strategy & Innovation will bridge commercial strategy and technical execution, working across internal teams and external partners to translate growth opportunities into actionable plans and drive initiatives from concept through implementation.

The ideal candidate is a commercially minded, hands-on leader who combines strategic judgment with strong execution discipline. This individual will take ownership of cross-functional initiatives, manage stakeholders and dependencies, and drive results in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Key Deliverables:

• Strategic Initiative Execution: Lead execution of priority growth initiatives, translating strategic objectives into integrated workplans, milestones, and deliverables. Drive progress across teams, proactively resolve dependencies, and maintain accountability for outcomes.

• Commercial Partnerships: Work directly with external partners to advance commercial opportunities, translate partnership objectives into business requirements, and coordinate execution across participating organizations.

• Product & Technology Execution: Bridge commercial priorities and technical delivery, working closely with product, technology, operations, and other functional leaders to define requirements, align priorities, and deliver new capabilities and solutions.

• Stakeholder Engagement & Communications: Manage engagement across Athene, Apollo, and external partners. Develop executive materials, communicate progress, frame decisions, and escalate issues requiring leadership attention.

• Operating Model Development: Help establish and refine the governance, processes, decision rights, and cross-functional ways of working required to build and scale Austin's growth initiatives.

What You Need to Bring:

• 8+ years of relevant experience in strategy, product innovation, technology-enabled transformation or operating model development within financial services or in consulting or technology roles serving financial institutions or relevant experience, preferred. 

• Demonstrated success moving complex initiatives from strategy through launch, including developing business cases, defining operating and capability requirements, establishing roadmaps and coordinating implementation across business and technology teams. 

• Experience structuring and executing strategic partnerships or platform integrations, with the ability to translate commercial opportunities into clear product, technology and operating requirements. 

• Demonstrated ability to engage credibly with C-suite and senior leaders, frame complex decisions, influence across organizational boundaries and drive alignment without direct authority. 

• Working knowledge of one or more relevant markets, such as wealth management, banking, retirement, digital distribution, direct-to-consumer financial services or RIA and advisor platforms.

• Fluency in using AI to improve analysis, decision-making and execution.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience required; MBA or other advanced degree preferred.

Drive. Discipline. Confidence. Focus. Commitment.  Learn more about working at Athene.

Athene is a Military Friendly Employer!  Learn more about how we support our Veterans.

Athene is committed to inclusion and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.