AVP, Third Party Administration and Supplier Management – Life, Health & Annuities

USAA•San Antonio, NC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

USAA Life Insurance Company is seeking an accomplished insurance operations leader to serve as AVP of Third Party Administration and Supplier Management for Life, Health, and Annuities. Reporting to the Vice President of LifeCo Operations, this executive owns the strategy, governance, performance, and continued evolution of USAA Life’s third-party administration and supplier management function. The role oversees a network of third-party administrators, operational service providers, technology partners, and strategic suppliers supporting capabilities such as new business issuance, policy administration and servicing, claims, and other member-facing operations. The AVP will shape how USAA builds, governs, and scales its third-party operating ecosystem as the company evolves its distribution and operating models. The executive will lead key external relationships, establish executive partnerships, drive provider accountability, resolve issues, and ensure member and partner experiences meet USAA standards. The role also evaluates where third parties can provide scale, specialization, technology enablement, and economic value, and where capabilities should remain internal. The position is accountable for selecting, overseeing, and optimizing third-party providers; operational excellence; regulatory compliance; service delivery; financial outcomes; and risk management. It partners across the association to drive innovation, improve member experiences, and deliver strategic and financial objectives. The role is based in San Antonio, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; or Phoenix, Arizona, and requires working in the office four days per week. Relocation assistance is available. USAA does not provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, or four additional years of related experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for a degree.
10+ years of progressive experience in supplier management, vendor management, third-party administration, strategic partnerships, and/or insurance operations, preferably in Life, Health, or Annuity businesses.
6+ years of people leadership experience building, leading, and developing high-performing teams in complex, highly matrixed organizations.
Experience leading large-scale third-party administration, outsourcing, and strategic supplier relationships, with accountability for service delivery, operational performance, member or customer outcomes, and financial results.
Expertise negotiating and governing complex contracts, service-level agreements, performance standards, commercial arrangements, and executive-level supplier relationships.
Experience establishing and overseeing third-party risk, compliance, audit, business continuity, operational resilience, and governance programs in a regulated insurance or financial services environment.
Success driving supplier transformation, process improvement, operating-model changes, and vendor optimization that improve service, quality, efficiency, and cost.
Strong understanding of Life, Health, and/or Annuity operations, ideally including new business issuance, policy administration and servicing, claims, and other outsourced operational capabilities.
Ability to serve as an executive escalation point for critical supplier relationships and resolve complex performance issues while maintaining strategic partnerships.
Experience partnering with senior leaders across Operations, Product, Distribution, Technology, Procurement, Legal, Compliance, Risk, and Finance to evaluate third-party capabilities and influence business decisions.
Strong knowledge of regulatory, operational, financial, and reputational risks associated with third-party service providers and outsourced insurance operations.
Executive-level business acumen and judgment to balance member experience, service quality, financial performance, operational scalability, and risk.

Nice To Haves

Deep experience within a prominent Life Insurance organization leading sophisticated third-party administration, outsourced operations, or strategic supplier relationships supporting Life, Annuity, and/or Health products.
Ownership of large-scale third-party administration relationships spanning new business, policy administration and servicing, claims, and other critical operational capabilities, with accountability for service and financial outcomes.
A track record of turning underperforming suppliers into high-performing strategic partners through performance management, executive escalation, contractual leverage, and continuous improvement.
Experience managing direct and third-party distribution operating models, with understanding of the needs of policyholders, agents, advisors, distributors, and external administrators.
Success designing and scaling outsourced operating models, including supplier selection, transitions, governance, risk management, service-level design, and vendor ecosystem optimization.
Executive-level experience managing relationships with senior leaders of critical strategic partners, challenging performance, driving accountability, resolving significant issues, and creating long-term value.

Responsibilities

Establish and execute the strategic vision, operating model, and long-term roadmap for third-party administration and supplier management supporting Life, Health, and Retirement Income businesses.
Align third-party servicing strategies with business growth, member experience priorities, operational performance goals, and enterprise initiatives.
Partner with senior business leaders to evaluate, prioritize, and implement third-party capabilities, operating models, and technology solutions.
Identify industry trends, market developments, regulatory changes, and innovation opportunities, and translate them into strategic recommendations.
Lead selection, due diligence, contract negotiation, onboarding, and ongoing management of third-party administrators, technology providers, operational service providers, and strategic suppliers.
Develop executive-level relationships with key partners, serve as the primary executive liaison, resolve escalations, and drive performance optimization and collaborative partnerships.
Oversee supplier and third-party administration operational performance, including service delivery, business outcomes, issue resolution, contractual obligations, and partner effectiveness.
Establish and govern performance frameworks, service-level agreements, operational metrics, and business review processes; monitor trends and drive corrective actions and continuous improvement.
Ensure providers deliver experiences aligned with USAA member service standards.
Oversee supplier financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, business case development, and contract governance.
Lead strategic sourcing, supplier optimization, and cost management initiatives; evaluate supplier investments, commercial arrangements, and service delivery models.
Establish governance frameworks, risk management practices, and controls for third-party administration and supplier management.
Oversee supplier due diligence, onboarding, business continuity planning, controls management, operational resilience, and regulatory compliance.
Ensure third-party risks are identified, assessed, mitigated, monitored, escalated, and reported in accordance with risk management standards.
Collaborate with Compliance, Legal, Procurement, Risk Management, and Business Controls partners on regulatory, contractual, and enterprise requirements.
Build and lead a high-performing organization through workforce planning, talent development, succession planning, coaching, and performance management.
Foster collaboration, innovation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement; develop organizational capabilities for evolving strategies and growth.
Lead change management and communications for supplier transformations, operating-model enhancements, and enterprise initiatives.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
401(k)
Pension
Life insurance
Parental benefits
Adoption assistance
Paid time off program
Paid holidays
16 paid volunteer hours
Wellness programs
Career path planning and continuing education
Performance-based pay incentives may be available at the discretion of the USAA Board of Directors
Long Term Incentive Plan cash payment for executive-level roles, based on time and performance