Regional Absence Practice Leader - Central Region

Position Summary

The Regional Absence Practice Leader is responsible for presenting and enhancing 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. The Regional Absence Practice Leader will take the initiative to establish and maintain vendor relationships and strengthen them through repeated contact, generating trust, and exchanging ideas and sharing information. This role will collaborate with Sales, Client Management, Thought Leadership, Underwriting, and Product teams to increase profitability and drive sales growth.

You Will:

Partner with internal stakeholders to communicate the Absence Management capabilities and value proposition and identify business opportunities that will drive change, positively affect the bottom line, and deliver optimal service performance to our customers.

Initiate and maintain vendor relationships and strengthen them through repeated contact, generating trust, and exchanging ideas and sharing information.

Proactively monitor the competitive landscape - identifies issues, trends, and opportunities in the marketplace. Acts as a liaison with internal partners to identify service gaps and recommend solutions; and serve as a subject matter expert on projects. Is an active member of industry groups.

Communicate Value Proposition to drive sales growth:

• Drive partnerships with Group Products, Sales, Client Management, Marketing, and Thought Leadership to communicate the Absence Management Value Proposition.
• Serve as a subject matter expert to drive the Absence Management product.
• Initiate and maintain 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 best practices.

Relationship Management:

• Help to create and support strategy for regional 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.
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert for Field and Underwriting inquiries (i.e.: calls & emails).

Process Improvement:

• Research industry best practices to recommend process and productivity improvements that eliminate/minimize service gaps and operational inefficiencies.
• Responsible for supporting projects or process improvement initiatives with cross functional teams and business processes. Applies in depth business and technical knowledge to establish direction and project priorities.

Training:

• Identify training opportunities and provide input into the development of training programs to improve service and product knowledge.

You Have:

Competencies/Skills:

• Adapt to Change
• Personal Growth
• Influence & Persuasion
• Effective Communication
• Collaboration with Others
• Business Acumen
• Results Driven
• Customer Focus/Relationship Building

Knowledge:

• Expertise with group life, absence, and disability benefit products.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in the FMLA and state leave landscape. 

Education:

• Bachelor’s or equivalent education/training (extensive experience would substitute)

Experience:

• 5+ years business experience in life and disability claims.
• End-to-end knowledge of claims process and familiarity with all other major business processes that impact Absence Management.
• Proven ability to lead change, process improvements and projects in fast- paced environment.

Location and Work Arrangement:

• Mobile work arrangement
• Up to 60% travel within the assigned territory (Central Region).