Head of Individual Life Business Development & Specialty Markets

Guardian Life Insurance Company•Boston, NY

About The Position

Head of Individual Life Business Development & Specialty Markets Role purpose: This role is an Executive leadership position accountable for setting and significantly influencing the strategic direction of Guardian’s Individual Life Insurance business growth. Reporting to the Head of the Life Insurance Business, the Head of Life Business Development & Specialty Markets is responsible for Strategic Growth of the Life Insurance business including expanding into new markets, and ensuring the Life business remains the earnings and revenue powerhouse of Guardian . The role operates with high autonomy , leads through senior leaders, and makes decisions in ambiguous, complex, and highly regulated environments with material impact on Guardian’s long‑term performance and value. You will: Set and Drive Growth Strategy Set and execute Guardian’s Life Insurance business development and specialty markets strategy , shaping where and how the Life business grows Drive growth into new strategic markets that strengthen Guardian’s reach, impact and long‑term economic power Make strategic tradeoffs balancing growth, profitability, risk, capital deployment, and brand impact across the Life business Own Go‑to‑Market Strategy & Enterprise Alignment Lead the new marketplace go‑to‑market strategy with strong alignment across all functions within the Life Insurance business Resolve cross‑functional conflicts and competing priorities to ensure execution at scale Serve as a senior integrator across functions, ensuring strategies translate into measurable commercial outcomes Maintain Product Positioning, Brand, and Franchise Value Ensure Life products maintain strong competitive positioning and client‑centricity , supported by Guardian’s brand and reputation Influence the evolution of the Life portfolio, leading with Whole Life Insurance and a competitive dividend , while supporting innovation and disciplined portfolio evolution Partner with Product Management, Underwriting, and Actuarial leaders to ensure long‑term sustainability and value creation Expand Strategic Markets & Accelerate Growth Beyond the Core Lead expansion into strategic and specialty markets to supplement core growth and drive Life sales Grow Bank‑Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) and the flexible premium (UL/VUL) product lines Expand into new strategic markets, including hybrid/LTC and variable solutions , where Guardian can win through differentiation Enable Transformation & Future-Ready Growth Leverage transformational enablement (technology, data, distribution capabilities, and operating model evolution) to build forward‑looking Life solutions Champion paradigm‑shifting Life solutions for emerging generations , including Gen Z, ensuring Guardian’s relevance over the long term Anticipate external market, demographic, and regulatory shifts and proactively reposition Guardian’s Life growth strategy accordingly Lead Teams & Drive a High-Performance Culture Operate with enterprise mindset , shaping decisions beyond immediate functional boundaries Own growth outcomes, investment prioritization, and resource allocation tied to Life Business Development and Specialty Markets Leading through subordinate leaders, developing executive‑level talent and strengthening organizational capability Serve as a trusted advisor to senior executives on Life growth strategy and market expansion decisions You are: An experienced commercial executive with deep Life Insurance expertise, recognized for generating new and innovative solutions to complex problems , leading in ambiguity, and delivering sustained growth at scale. You are known for: Setting strategic direction rather than executing predefined plans Making high‑impact decisions with incomplete information Influencing outcomes through leadership, not authority alone Building durable capabilities that outlast individual initiatives. Having an external mindset, with a deep awareness of market dynamics and evolving trends in distribution, product, solutions, and the end client

Requirements

10+ years of experience in Life Insurance, business development, distribution strategy, or specialty markets, including 5+ years in executive or senior enterprise leadership roles
Deep expertise in Life Insurance products, underwriting and pricing dynamics, dividends, and regulatory frameworks.
Demonstrated success driving growth, market expansion, and distribution productivity
Experience leading through senior leaders in highly matrixed organizations
Strong strategic and financial judgment grounded in long‑term enterprise performance
Bachelor’s degree required

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Responsibilities

Set and execute Guardian’s Life Insurance business development and specialty markets strategy , shaping where and how the Life business grows
Drive growth into new strategic markets that strengthen Guardian’s reach, impact and long‑term economic power
Make strategic tradeoffs balancing growth, profitability, risk, capital deployment, and brand impact across the Life business
Lead the new marketplace go‑to‑market strategy with strong alignment across all functions within the Life Insurance business
Resolve cross‑functional conflicts and competing priorities to ensure execution at scale
Serve as a senior integrator across functions, ensuring strategies translate into measurable commercial outcomes
Ensure Life products maintain strong competitive positioning and client‑centricity , supported by Guardian’s brand and reputation
Influence the evolution of the Life portfolio, leading with Whole Life Insurance and a competitive dividend , while supporting innovation and disciplined portfolio evolution
Partner with Product Management, Underwriting, and Actuarial leaders to ensure long‑term sustainability and value creation
Lead expansion into strategic and specialty markets to supplement core growth and drive Life sales
Grow Bank‑Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) and the flexible premium (UL/VUL) product lines
Expand into new strategic markets, including hybrid/LTC and variable solutions , where Guardian can win through differentiation
Leverage transformational enablement (technology, data, distribution capabilities, and operating model evolution) to build forward‑looking Life solutions
Champion paradigm‑shifting Life solutions for emerging generations , including Gen Z, ensuring Guardian’s relevance over the long term
Anticipate external market, demographic, and regulatory shifts and proactively reposition Guardian’s Life growth strategy accordingly
Operate with enterprise mindset , shaping decisions beyond immediate functional boundaries
Own growth outcomes, investment prioritization, and resource allocation tied to Life Business Development and Specialty Markets
Leading through subordinate leaders, developing executive‑level talent and strengthening organizational capability
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior executives on Life growth strategy and market expansion decisions

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 .
Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees.

Stand Out From the Crowd

Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.

Upload and Match Resume