Director, Business Solutions - Distribution Finance

National Life Insurance Company•Montpelier, VT

3d•$121,875 - $178,750•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Business Solutions leads National Life Group’s newly established Distribution Finance Business Solutions team. The team supports commissions, debt, sales, and incentives by clarifying business needs and developing data, reporting, analytics, process, and system-enabled solutions. Its work aims to improve and scale the selling customer experience through effective use of data and technology. The role also oversees support for a business-critical weekly agent payroll process averaging approximately $20 million in compensation, ensuring timely and accurate execution and mitigating operational, financial, and reputational risk. The director sets the team’s strategy, priorities, standards, and operating model, and leads and develops a team of six. Working across Distribution, Finance, IT, and other internal and external stakeholders, the role facilitates consensus and decision-making, aligns perspectives, and represents the business in solution development and delivery. The successful candidate brings people leadership, operational judgment, cross-functional partnership, business-technology acumen, and awareness of relevant industry practices and regulatory standards. The position currently requires onsite work four days per week on Monday through Thursday. The schedule type and core days may change with advance notification and manager discretion. National Life Group does not offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 14 or more years of related experience, an advanced degree and 11 or more years of related experience, or 18 or more years of total equivalent work experience.
Demonstrated people leadership experience, including responsibility for developing and managing team members.
Experience analyzing complex business information, clarifying requirements, and developing data, reporting, analytics, process, or system-enabled solutions.
Experience supporting business systems and partnering with technology teams to address business requirements and system needs.
Experience developing reporting, dashboards, or analytics solutions using Tableau.
Demonstrated ability to build effective cross-functional relationships and work with stakeholders to translate business needs into scalable solutions.
Use approved AI tools appropriately, remain open to AI-enabled ways of working, validate AI-generated content, and maintain accountability for work quality and integrity.
Use AI responsibly in accordance with company policies on confidentiality, data privacy, security, compliance, retention, and intellectual property.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Databricks.
Experience with Alteryx.
For AI-forward roles: identify practical AI opportunities, create effective prompts and workflows with controls and human-in-the-loop review, critically evaluate AI outputs, partner with relevant stakeholders on responsible adoption, and model responsible, human-centered AI use.

Responsibilities

Build, lead, and develop the Distribution Finance Business Solutions team responsible for data, reporting, analytics, and system-enabled business solutions.
Establish and execute the team’s strategy, priorities, standards, operating model, and scalable processes in alignment with Distribution Finance needs.
Lead analysis of complex business needs, processes, and data across commissions, debt, sales, and incentives to clarify requirements, identify issues and opportunities, and develop effective solutions.
Lead development of reporting, dashboards, self-service analytics, and AI-enabled capabilities that support Distribution Finance and its stakeholders.
Provide leadership oversight for the weekly agent payroll process, establishing clear accountability and ensuring the team has the processes, controls, and support needed for timely and accurate execution.
Partner with IT on business requirements, solution design, enhancements, production issue resolution, testing, release validation, and business approval of supported solutions.
Facilitate consensus and decision-making across internal and external stakeholders, align perspectives, and act as a business representative in the development and delivery of solutions.
Establish controls and support processes that promote the accuracy, consistency, reliability, and effective use of data and business solutions.
Consider relevant industry practices and maintain an understanding of relevant regulatory standards when setting priorities, evaluating solutions, and guiding the team’s work.
Hire, develop, coach, and manage team members, establishing clear expectations and accountability while building the capabilities of the newly established team.
Perform all other duties as assigned.