Enterprise Strategy Leader

Guardian Life Insurance • New York, NY

4d

About The Position

We are seeking a strategic, collaborative, and entrepreneurial leader for Guardian’s Enterprise Strategy team. In the highly visible role of Enterprise Strategy Leader, you will help develop the long-range plans for Guardian and partner with senior leaders to identify, develop, evaluate, prioritize and deliver strategic initiatives across the organization. You will lead internal consulting engagements to solve critical strategic questions for the Guardian Leadership Team, working with senior sponsors, business units, and corporate functions, while partnering closely with Enterprise Strategy associates and analysts. A successful candidate will work across the Enterprise Strategy & Corporate Development team to provide strategic guidance and deliver on high-visibility strategy projects. You will utilize strategic frameworks to structure problem-solving, direct quantitative and qualitative analyses of operational and financial data, and oversee industry/ competitor research to continuously evaluate Guardian’s positioning. The role reports to Guardian’s Head of Strategic Growth & Planning. You will work with the Corporate Development Team, as well as the leaders of business units and corporate functions. You will also coach and develop our Enterprise Strategy analysts and associates where appropriate. Your work will span across: Enterprise-wide strategy development – Work to define the strategic direction, with both near-term and long-term priorities for Guardian. This will be supported by research, analytics, and logical problem solving and strategic frameworks. Internal strategy consulting – working with a senior sponsor, execute deep-dive strategy projects on high priority topics for the business units and corporate functions Growth initiatives and innovation – assess or develop business cases for new ideas driving innovation, partnerships, and other areas of investment outside of BAU. Identify, frame, and implement specific cross-cutting strategic initiatives that are critical to the success of Guardian’s overall strategy. Development and delivery of strategic content for senior leadership – In partnership with Chief Strategy Officer, develop agenda, content, and analysis for key strategic fora, including the annual Strategy Session of the Board and the annual Guardian Leadership Team Strategic Planning offsite Strategic engagement – connect with business unit leaders and functional leaders to conduct two-way dialogue regarding Guardian strategy – sharing identified plans and opportunities and listening for feedback and challenges. You will use both formal and informal channels to engage with leaders and Guardian colleagues. You are: A strategic problem-solver, with demonstrated experience in using frameworks and analysis to make data-driven decisions or recommendations for questions that don’t have easy answers. Experienced in executing strategy projects – including scoping, managing timelines, and conducting/ overseeing analyses in order to deliver actionable, impactful recommendations. An effective influencer with strong interpersonal skills, maturity, and judgment to influence senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams A confident communicator (both oral and written) with experience in presenting to senior audiences in highly visible roles Highly organized and efficient, with ability to prioritize across multiple projects and competing demands at any given time; focus on efficiency with your own time, team meetings, and senior stakeholder discussions Results-oriented and pragmatic; looking to make real, tangible impact and ensure that recommendations can be effectively operationalized Intellectually curious and innovation minded; always asking “what’s next?”

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a top institution with strong academic performance and demonstrated leadership ability; MBA from top-tier business school preferred, but not required
• 10+ years of experience in roles related to management and strategy consulting, business management or internal corporate strategy functions
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel
• A strategic problem-solver, with demonstrated experience in using frameworks and analysis to make data-driven decisions or recommendations for questions that don’t have easy answers.
• Experienced in executing strategy projects – including scoping, managing timelines, and conducting/ overseeing analyses in order to deliver actionable, impactful recommendations.
• An effective influencer with strong interpersonal skills, maturity, and judgment to influence senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams
• A confident communicator (both oral and written) with experience in presenting to senior audiences in highly visible roles
• Highly organized and efficient, with ability to prioritize across multiple projects and competing demands at any given time; focus on efficiency with your own time, team meetings, and senior stakeholder discussions
• Results-oriented and pragmatic; looking to make real, tangible impact and ensure that recommendations can be effectively operationalized
• Intellectually curious and innovation minded; always asking “what’s next?”
• In order to be a successful applicant. you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• MBA from top-tier business school preferred, but not required
• Experience in insurance and/ or financial services is preferred, but not required
• Experience at a top management consulting firm is preferred, but not required

Responsibilities

• Enterprise-wide strategy development – Work to define the strategic direction, with both near-term and long-term priorities for Guardian. This will be supported by research, analytics, and logical problem solving and strategic frameworks.
• Internal strategy consulting – working with a senior sponsor, execute deep-dive strategy projects on high priority topics for the business units and corporate functions
• Growth initiatives and innovation – assess or develop business cases for new ideas driving innovation, partnerships, and other areas of investment outside of BAU. Identify, frame, and implement specific cross-cutting strategic initiatives that are critical to the success of Guardian’s overall strategy.
• Development and delivery of strategic content for senior leadership – In partnership with Chief Strategy Officer, develop agenda, content, and analysis for key strategic fora, including the annual Strategy Session of the Board and the annual Guardian Leadership Team Strategic Planning offsite
• Strategic engagement – connect with business unit leaders and functional leaders to conduct two-way dialogue regarding Guardian strategy – sharing identified plans and opportunities and listening for feedback and challenges. You will use both formal and informal channels to engage with leaders and Guardian colleagues.

Benefits

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Visa Sponsorship: Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment visas.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees