Business Relationship Manager

Athene•West Des Moines, IA

About The Position

Responsible for managing the operational relationships between Athene and the back offices of our Key Distribution Partners (KDPs), which include Banks, Broker/Dealers, and Wirehouses. The candidate will collaborate closely with internal teams to deliver proactive operational support, fostering strong partnerships. The ideal candidate will exhibit accountability, teamwork, excellent relationship-building skills, creative solutioning, and a strong drive for excellence.

Requirements

5+ years of progressive professional experience in relationship management within the insurance or financial services industry, or relevant experience, including experience supporting customer service, operations, sales, or related functions.
Strong relationship management and communication skills, with the ability to build credibility, influence outcomes, and collaborate effectively with internal and external partners.
Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate moderately complex situations, develop creative solutions, take ownership, and drive issues through resolution.
Adaptability and a continuous improvement mindset, including the ability to work independently, navigate changing business needs, identify opportunities to improve processes, and appropriately leverage technology and AI-enabled tools.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of annuity and financial services operations, including annuity order-entry systems and DTCC feeds, preferred
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Relevant industry designations or FINRA licenses preferred.

Responsibilities

Acts as the KDPs primary point of contact for operational escalations, technology needs, and initiatives.
Collaborates closely with internal teams to provide proactive operational support and fosters strong partnerships.
Develops and maintains relationships with KDPs and key stakeholders in the annuity industry.
Ensures efficient and effective communication between internal teams and KDPs.
Identifies and drives opportunities to enhance operational processes, technology capabilities and improve service delivery.
Monitors and analyzes trends to inform strategic decision-making and operational improvements. Includes industry benchmarking as requested.
Addresses and resolves operational issues or concerns in a timely and effective manner.
Educates the KDPs of Athene's processes, procedures, and service level goals.
Possesses deep understanding of how the KDPs do business, including the operational technology used to conduct business together.
Assists with the implementation of operational technologies, product launches, & other projects, as needed.
Works closely with the Sales Team and Sales Key Account Managers on overall account management.
Provides support to other members of BRM team as needed.
Partner with the Onboarding team to ensure a seamless and effective onboarding experience for new KDPs, new product launches for existing KDPs, etc.
Travels to KDPs and/or industry conferences as needed (10% or less).