The Advisory Absence Practice Leader is responsible for presenting and improving the service offering and value proposition of Guardian’s Absence Management offering, including a strong background in FMLA, Short- and Long-Term Disability, Americans with Disabilities Act, Paid Family and Medical Leave programs, and other leave types. You will have a proven record of taking the initiative to establish vendor relationships and strengthen them through repeated contact, generation of trust, and exchange of ideas and information. This role will collaborate with Sales, Client Management, Thought Leadership, Underwriting, and Product teams to increase profitability and drive sales growth. Additionally, this role places a strong emphasis on developing and maintaining advisory broker relationships to enhance service delivery and market reach.

You will

• Collaborate with internal partners to communicate Absence Management value and inspire change, positively impacting results and ensuring efficient service for customers.
• Build upon existing vendor relationships and identify new relationships. Act as an Absence Management subject matter authority for vendors and internal partners alike. Act as a trainer, mentor, and advisor to all levels in the organization.
• Proactively monitor the competitive landscape - identify issues, trends, and opportunities in the marketplace. Act as a liaison with internal partners to identify service gaps and recommend solutions; and serve as a subject matter expert on projects. The AAPL will also be an active member of industry groups.
• Work independently, with guidance in only the most complex situations, to develop internal and external relationships and sharing of knowledge and information.
• Implementing and/or leading complex or specialized projects with minimal guidance.
• Build and maintain Advisory Market broker relationships to improve service delivery and market reach.
• Work with customers in Advisory Market Distribution to create and support growth strategy in a specific broker segment.
• Actively participate in implementation of new business Absence plans to provide consultative support and contribute to successful go-live experience for Planholder.
• Drive partnerships with Group Products, Sales, Client Management, Marketing, and Thought Leadership to communicate the Absence Management Value Proposition within the Advisory Market space.
• Serve as a subject matter expert to drive the Absence Management product.
• Initiate and maintain advisory broker relationships and strengthen them through repeated contact, generating trust, and exchanging ideas and sharing information.
• Work with Product & Marketing to ensure external materials are updated based on market feedback and process changes to best demonstrate our Value Proposition.
• Attend finalist/broker presentations both virtually and onsite with broker/client.
• Assist with Sales & Client Management training.
• Respond to RFPs and provide expertise on RFP responses.
• Act as a liaison between Sales, Client Management, and Products for competitive intelligence and service gaps.
• Deliver internal and external presentations in conjunction with Thought Leadership team to highlight industry trends and standard methodologies.
• Help to build and support strategy for Advisory Market sales growth in Absence.
• Support relationship management strategy and roadmap for Absence Management products.
• Proactively work to best understand the service needs of brokers and clients and partner with internal resources to achieve quality and service expectations.
• Find opportunities to collaborate with Advisory Market broker partners and provide materials, trainings, presentations, etc., according to their needs.
• Research industry standard methodologies to suggest process and efficiency improvements that reduce service gaps and operational inefficiencies.
• Support projects or operational improvement initiatives with cross-functional teams and business areas. Apply in-depth business and technical knowledge to support the direction of project priorities.
• Identify training opportunities and provide input into the development of training programs to improve service and product knowledge.
• Act as a trainer, mentor, and advisor to the AAPL team, and where applicable to pertinent roles in all levels of the organization.
• Work independently, with guidance in only the most complex situations, to identify areas of internal opportunity and external growth. Develop plans and implement to achieve results.
• Independently apply a variety of complex methods/skills with significant autonomy to develop novel, customized solutions.
• Act as a trainer, mentor, and advisor to all levels in the organization.
• Provide back-up to Head of Absence and Disability Practices.
• Actively participate in industry events (DMEC, ICA, etc.) and conferences by presenting on relevant trends and topics, contributing to written materials, and expanding on professional relationships and network.

You have

• Bachelor’s or equivalent education/training (extensive experience would substitute).
• 5+ years of demonstrated success in a similar position involving offering advisory support to internal and external collaborators within the absence market.
• End-to-end knowledge of claims process and familiarity with all other major business processes that impact Absence Management.
• Proven track record to lead change, operational improvements, and projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Expertise with group life, absence, and disability benefit products.
• Experience in the FMLA and state leave landscape.

Location
This is a mobile position with up to 60% nationwide travel.

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 [email protected].

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