[Hiring] AVP, Innovation & Strategic Initiatives @Security Benefit Business Services / Everly Life

Role Description

We are building the next generation of our retirement and financial solutions business — expanding how we serve distribution partners, reach customers, and use technology to create more scalable, integrated experiences. The AVP, Innovation & Strategic Initiatives works directly with the C-suite and senior leaders to translate high-priority strategic opportunities into operating capabilities, commercial partnerships, and launched solutions.

This is a strategy role with a strong execution mandate. You will help shape and implement an evolving operating model, lead the execution of strategic partnerships, develop technology and capability roadmaps, and advance opportunities from concept through launch. You will operate across strategy, technology, product, distribution, and partnerships. Success requires:

• The curiosity to reimagine what is possible
• The judgment to make sound decisions under ambiguity
• The ownership mindset to make it happen

A core part of this work is mapping the end-to-end customer and advisor experience — ensuring that strategy translates into a clear, coherent journey before technology and operations are asked to build it.

What You’ll Do

• Lead priority strategic growth and innovation initiatives from thesis and business-case development through solution design, execution, and launch.
• Frame decisions for C-suite and senior leaders, and own stakeholder alignment, dependencies, milestones, and outcomes.
• Drive and support complex strategic partnerships with distributors and technology providers — managing day-to-day relationships and coordinating work across external partners and internal teams, translating commercial objectives into clear requirements, workplans, and implemented solutions.
• Map end-to-end customer and advisor/agent journeys for strategic growth initiatives — defining the full experience from first touchpoint through post-sale — and translating those journey maps into clear experience requirements that connect commercial objectives to technology enablement, product design, and operational execution.
• Develop and oversee integrated roadmaps for the technology and business capabilities needed to support strategic growth initiatives; translate business priorities into sequenced product, technology, and operating requirements and implementation plans.
• Implement and continuously evolve the operating model that connects strategic growth initiatives with established product, distribution, technology, and operations functions — including clear decision rights, governance, handoffs, and cross-team accountability.
• Maximize the enterprise value of new capabilities by connecting them to broader business priorities and driving their adoption and reuse across channels and operations, coordinating the cross-functional dependencies required to realize that value.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in strategy, product innovation, technology-enabled transformation, or operating-model development within financial services — or in consulting/technology roles serving financial institutions.
• Demonstrated success moving complex initiatives from strategy through launch: business cases, operating and capability requirements, roadmaps, and coordinated implementation across business and technology teams.
• Experience structuring and executing strategic partnerships or platform integrations, translating commercial opportunities into clear product, technology, and operating requirements.
• Proven ability to engage credibly with C-suite and senior leaders, frame complex decisions, influence across organizational boundaries, and drive alignment without direct authority.
• Working knowledge of one or more relevant markets: wealth management, banking, retirement, digital distribution, direct-to-consumer financial services, or RIA/advisor platforms.
• Fluency using AI to improve analysis, decision-making, and execution.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience; MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Benefits

• Employees are eligible for an annual incentive bonus designed to reward for performance.
• The salary range for this job in most geographic locations in the US is $194,000 - $252,000.
• Flexible paid time off for PTO, plus paid holidays, Days of Significance, and a Volunteer Day.
• Paid parental leave eligible after 3 months of service.
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance.
• 401k with company match.
• Profit Sharing & Savings Plan.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Flexible spending account.
• Life insurance.
• Educational Assistance.
• Associate Assistance Programs and more!