Vice President, Head of Operations

Summary

Join Protective as the Vice President, Head of Employee Benefits Division (EBD) Operations, a senior leadership role driving strategic and financial performance. You will oversee administration, Solutions Center, Risk Underwriting, Policy Issue, Policy Service, and Claims, contributing to corporate strategy development. This position requires extensive senior-level operations management experience with a proven track record of success in a high-growth environment. You will lead and develop a team of 130+ employees, manage a significant budget, and ensure operational excellence. The role involves stakeholder engagement and performance management, aligning operational goals with market demands and ensuring compliance. Protective offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent applied experience
• 15+ years of experience leading operational teams
• Demonstrates a continuous improvement mindset
• Experience with optimization and identification of process change to streamline and create efficiencies
• Proven leader who has led teams through significant change
• Experience managing large development teams on complex projects
• Experience managing multiple teams of direct, indirect reports & shared services

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a market-aligned strategic vision; ensure the strategic vision for Employee Benefits Operations organization aligns with the broader Divisional and Enterprise strategies
• Drive innovation and competitive advantage: Leverage advanced digital tools, process reengineering, and insightful analytics to enhance operational agility and drive continuous improvement in service delivery
• Optimize resource allocation: Influence resource allocation across multiple functions to maximize financial performance, operational efficiency, and competitive fitness
• Oversee the management and execution of critical operational functions, ensuring services are tailored to meet the specific needs of customers and distribution partners
• Design and implement an organizational structure to support a potential increase of 50% in work volume as a result of proposed increased disability benefit increase in the state of New York
• Manage a significant budget, ensuring financial discipline and accountability across all operational activities while driving cost efficiencies and supporting long-term growth
• Monitor financial performance while identifying opportunities for cost optimization and earnings growth that align with customer and distribution partner needs while ensuring competitive advantage of the organization
• Provide senior leadership and direction to 130+ employees in alignment with Protective's talent management philosophy, fostering a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, innovation, and accountability responsive to market demands
• Mentor and develop senior managers, preparing them for future leadership roles and ensuring a robust succession pipeline that supports the organization's strategic goals
• Promote a continuous learning and professional development culture, aligning team goals with organizational objectives and market needs
• Serve as the primary point of contact for key internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment of operational goals with the specific needs of customers and distribution partners
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, advocating for the interests of the Operations organization while aligning with the broader enterprise strategy
• Represent the organization in external meetings with distribution partners, ensuring the Operations organization contributes to the company's overall competitive positioning
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) that measure operational success in alignment with market demands, identify improvement areas, and drive accountability across all functions
• Ensure that all operations comply with applicable laws, regulations, and corporate policies while leading efforts to remain contemporary with industry best practices and competitive benchmarks
• Position the organization as an industry leader by continually refining processes and integrating market insights into operational strategies

Preferred Qualifications

Background in financial services industries preferred

Benefits

• Health, dental and vision insurance
• Mental health benefits and an employee assistance program
• Paid time off, paid parental leave, short-term disability, and a cultural observance day
• Contributions to healthcare accounts, a pension plan, and a 401(k) plan with Company matching
• ProHealth Rewards, Protective’s platform to improve wellbeing while earning cash rewards
• Annual incentive and long-term incentive (LTI) based on individual and Company performance