Head of Wellness Strategy & Offerings

We are seeking a Wellness Product Leader, you are responsible for developing and managing Guardian’s wellness solutions with the goal of delivering on the diverse and evolving physical, financial, and emotional well-being needs of our customers, members, and their families. This Product Leader will manage a specialized team that will be accountable to building and managing portfolio of wellness solutions through organic design and external partnerships. The alignment and integration between this wellness ecosystem and Guardian’s core non-medical group benefits products and services will be critical.

You are

• A highly motivated individual who is passionate about helping people through life’s challenges, thrives in a fast-paced environment, unafraid to roll up your sleeves, and has a track record of success in product management leadership roles.
• A savvy, strategic businessperson with an understanding of disability, absence, life, supplemental health and state paid leave products as well as the challenges that plan holders and employees face with regards to workplace benefit programs.
• Working closely with the Product Management Team to enhance Guardian’s core group insurance products by introducing fully integrated wellness solutions that meet the diverse and continuously evolving needs of our customers.
• Expected to have an up-to-date pulse on the wellness landscape and start-up community, engaging regularly with disruptive providers to ensure Guardian’s wellness portfolio is best-in-class.

• Able to collaborate cross-functionally with Product peers, Claims, Legal, Underwriting, Distribution, Finance, Service, Marketing, and Operations to inform system builds, go-to-market activities and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Able to work closely with Group Strategy and enterprise partners across Guardian on new and emerging solutions that meet the mind, body, and wallet needs of Guardian members.
• A seasoned leader who can inspire and influence others, building followership. Building strong relationships with key stakeholders and leaders across the company to promote product collaboration, solution identification, and program success.

• Skilled at developing innovative solutions that help solve those challenges and integrate seamlessly into the Guardian portfolio.
• A leader who acts as a talent multiplier and has a passion for helping employees grow to their fullest potential at Guardian. 

You have

• Bachelor’s degree in business or equivalent required.
• Minimum of 8+ years of product management experience in group insurance industry is preferred.
• Experience with well-being offerings/products.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, and ability to work in a matrix environment.
• Demonstrated experience working with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to drive business results.
• Proven ability to efficiently operationalize new offerings via partnership.
• Skilled in identifying and driving new opportunities for growth and development.
• Strong business and financial acumen, project management, and analytical skills.
• Exceptional executive presence and public speaking skills with senior leaders, the field, and marketplace.
• Ability to influence others and make decisions quickly and effectively.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

You will

• Own and refine the wellness product strategy, aligning to the portfolio and corporate strategies.
• Be accountable for product performance, using data and insights to make informed recommendations for enhancements or changes.
• Monitor the Voice of the Customer (VOC) program and product performance to inform areas of improvement throughout the member journey.
• Establish Guardian as a Wellness leader through thought leadership, webinars, and represent Guardian in industry forums, conferences, and broker presentations.
• Effectively and persuasively communicate with all levels of the organization, externally and in large public forums. Communicate effectively; articulate information in a manner that is easily understood.
• Own product management processes throughout the product lifecycle, including product development, roadmap planning, and launch activities -ensuring the team is adhering to and executing.
• Be accountable for and lead the go-to-market strategy development and capability prioritization for the development of new and enhancement of existing absence management offerings and capabilities.
• Stay abreast of trends and identify new opportunities for growth and development, monitoring macro environment and competitive environment, Voice of the Customer (VOC) program and internal performance.
• Effectively and persuasively communicate with all levels of the organization, externally and in large public forums. Communicate effectively; articulate information in a manner that is easily understood.
• Be accountable for performance of external suppliers and negotiate contracts and establish business terms to support Guardian’s outcomes.
• Responsible for exploring new and innovative ways to work with third party technology companies to augment the customer experience, including but not limited to pre-planning tools and resources, employer reporting, etc. 
• Create and deliver engaging presentations that clearly communicate new product ideas, offerings, benefits, and strategic rationale.
• Be responsible for extensive business case work to illustrate the value and opportunity of new concepts as well as influence senior leadership decision-making and capital investment.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders and leaders across the company to promote product collaboration, solution identification, and product success.
• Manage multiple related products and/or teams, sets departmental priorities and allocates resources to align business objectives and annual plan.
• Stay up to date on all regulatory requirements and ensure product offerings are compliant.

Reporting Relationships

As our Head of Wellness Strategy & Offerings, you will report to our Head of Disability, Absence, Life, Supplemental Health and Wellness Products, who reports to our Head of Product and Digital Offerings.

Location

• This is a hybrid role with flexibility to be in our Boston MA, Holmdel NJ, Bethlehem PA, or Hudson Yards NY office and a minimum of 3 days per week in a Guardian office. 

Travel

• Business travel is expected to occur approximately 10-15% of the time.

Salary Range:

$126,910.00 - $208,495.00

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]. Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site.

Visa Sponsorship

Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment-based visas (e.g., such as an H-1B). In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.

Notice Regarding Guardian’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

 

As part of Guardian’s job application process, Guardian may use artificial intelligence tools (“AI Tools") to automate the sorting and filtering of information provided by applicants as part of its preliminary screening. This preliminary screening may be used to help identify applicant materials and resumes relative to their indication that the applicant meets the requirements for the specific job for which they are applying, as specified in the listing posted on Guardian’s jobs website (Careers at Guardian at https://www.guardianlife.com/careers). At Guardian, we do not use AI Tools to substantially assist or replace human judgment or discretionary decision making in our hiring process. All hiring decisions will be made by Guardian colleagues.

 

Please be aware that if you apply for a specific position with Guardian, you will have the choice of opting out of Guardian’s use of AI Tools during the job application process. If you would like to request an alternative process that does not utilize AI Tools or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, within ten business days of your position application, you must email your request to [email protected], making sure to provide your name and job requisition identification number. Guardian will retain your applicant materials and resume and all information therefrom in accordance with Guardian’s document retention policy, a copy of which you may request via [email protected].

 

Additionally, at applicable times, Guardian will make public the most recent bias audit results for such AI tools, which may be found here. 

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