DTC Product Implementation Specialist at Guardian in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Job Description:

Position Summary:
The Individual Direct to Consumer marketplace is a growth channel for Guardian. We allow consumers to shop, quote, enroll and pay for non-medical health benefits directly from us online and through partnerships with aggregators. The growth of this channel has been accelerated by the implementation of Healthcare Reform and the influx of new individual consumers shopping and purchasing their medical health benefits through the government exchanges.
The ideal candidate will be able to operate as a type of shared resource within the business to support leadership in identifying, initiating, planning, executing and controlling program level opportunities. The candidate will deliver tangible, operational solutions that reduce cost, improve operating efficiency, increase consumer engagement, and customer satisfaction. This person will lead and support multiple projects.
The DTC Product Delivery team member will be an active member of the Direct to Consumer Product Delivery & Digital Experience Team and support the Direct to Consumer Team strategy and technology initiatives.
Candidate Responsibilities:
Their primary focus will be the development and implementation of products and services on the Guardian Direct platform in support of all our distribution and partner channels:

• Develop business/product requirements to support the distribution and manufacturing partners to accelerate Guardian Direct's penetration into the direct to consumer market
• Evaluate potential impact of new capabilities against existing product and service offerings, infrastructure, and digital experience to develop new capabilities.
• Prioritize and execute implementation efforts amongst competing priorities across the Digital to consumer and Group Team for existing and new distribution channels and partners within those channel
• Ensure alignment of Product Delivery strategy with Marketing and Individual Exchanges
• Demonstrate Guardian Direct's compliance with regulatory requirements as well as the Guardian SDLC and SAFe Methodologies
• Serve as an interface for Internal IT Project Solutions & Business leadership teams
• Provide Program Level transparency of business metrics and information related to value delivery

You are:

• comfortable with ambiguity in strategic direction. Priorities will change as current uncertainties become new standards and shape the market. There must be constant balance between proactive and reactive strategy and execution.
• work well in a collaborative and diverse team environment, understanding and employing the approach and standard operating procedures of all functional areas across Guardian.

The success of the Digital to Consumer team will depend heavily upon building strong partnerships with all areas of the organization. Candidate must work with and influence peer groups and individuals with specific functional expertise. It will be necessary to build consensus on many issues through persuasive presentation of well-developed, rational business cases, complete with supporting information, impact analysis, and success metrics. A key challenge and opportunity lies in the ability to influence and manage people over whom there is no direct authority.
You must develop a thorough understanding of distribution, operations, risk management, and applicable regulations for all market segments, including both industry practice standards and Guardian process and systems.

• Define delivery: Quality product/process improvements that aim to make Guardian more productive and efficient in the various distribution channels with an ultimate positive impact on the insured end customer.
• Maintain balance: Profitable revenue growth, customer excellence, risk management, regulatory compliance, and prudent resource management.
• Ensure deliveries are monitored: Ongoing strategic fit with the Guardian's corporate vision and keystone corporate profit center goal - profitable non-medical revenue growth.

The above description includes most significant duties performed. However, other occasional work assignments not mentioned are assumed to be included. Management reserves the right to assign and/or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time
Functional Skills:
Candidate must demonstrate the following core competencies:

• Accountability - Follows through on commitments; takes accountability for achieving goals, while translating into a shared accountability for teams and peers when appropriate
• Communication - Open and honest; leads by example and through various modes of communication; promotes confliction resolution; seeks input
• Developing Self - Actively seeks and takes on additional challenges to grow and develop professionally; understands strengths, development needs, and aspirations of team
• Cross Functional Collaboration - Develops and leads dynamic and diverse teams across various functional areas; fosters a high level of teamwork through an understanding of how work is related across functional areas and contribute to organizational and partnership objectives; Ability to manage multiple diverse internal customers (legal, sales, admin, etc)
• Client Focus - Sets service metrics reflecting competition and external benchmarks; makes quick and thoughtful decisions to resolve issues while preventing recurrence; monitors satisfaction and champions resolution to systemic impediments to excellence
• Business Expertise - Intuitive problem solver; Applies a broad understanding of distribution, operations, risk management, and applicable regulations for all market segments, including both industry practice standards and Guardian process and systems, with particular focus on risk management and operational excellence; Institutional knowledge on Guardian risk evaluation process, tools, systems; Ensures evaluation and implementation teams have and maintain the technical and professional proficiencies to be successful; Utilizes internal and external sources to better understand trends, clients, competitors, and regulations; Promotes sharing of expertise to support development of others
• Results Oriented - Demonstrates sense of urgency and bias for action; supports internal and external teams by facilitating quick and decisive issue resolution; articulates clear and realistic goals, monitoring progress, and taking action to improve outcomes; effective communication of work plans, deadlines, and progress status; plans for potential impediments, soliciting support when appropriate

Position Qualifications:
Education/Certification:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or related discipline or 10 years experience working in the financial services/digital space.
• Scaled Agile Framework Certification (SPC certification preferred)
• Additional Agile/Scrum Certifications a plus (SCM, CSP, PMI-ACP, etc.)

Experience:

• 10 years of experience in managing multiple information systems projects
• 5 years of experience in an agile environment with a demonstrated appreciation for large enterprise standards
• Minimum of 5 years insurance experience desired with demonstrated experience in at least two of the core business areas in focus (product management, analysis /pricing, distribution, underwriting).
• Minimum of 5 years' experience of demonstrated activities developing core competencies (e.g. product management, product implementation, systems/procedural maintenance, project management)
• Proficient knowledge of Agile/DevOps/Program Mgmt. Lifecycle Methodologies & Standards
• Strong knowledge and experience with agile engineering practices and techniques such as User Stories, TDD, Continuous Integration, Continuous Deployment, Automated Testing, Agile Games
• Excellent written and verbal communication and analytical skills
• Experience working in a geographically distributed and culturally diverse work-group
• Advanced knowledge and experience using Jira, Confluence, MS Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Visio
• Able to communicate ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to prepare and deliver executive-level presentations

Location:
US remote

Travel:
Less than 20% of travel required for this role.

Our promise:

• 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

We offer:

• Meaningful and challenging work opportunities to accelerate innovation in a secure and compliant way.
• Competitive compensation package.
• Excellent medical, dental, supplemental health, life and vision coverage for you and your dependents with no wait period.
• Life and disability insurance.
• A great 401(k) with company match.
• Tuition assistance, paid parental leave and backup family care.
• Dynamic, modern work environments that promote collaboration and creativity to develop and empower talent.
• Flexible time off, dress code, and work location policies to balance your work and life in the ways that suit you best.
• Employee Resource Groups that advocate for inclusion and diversity in all that we do.
• Social responsibility in all aspects of our work. We volunteer within our local communities, create educational alliances with colleges, drive a variety of initiatives in sustainability.

About Guardian:
Guardian has been helping people protect their futures and secure their lives for 160 years. Every day, we serve approximately 29 million people through a range of insurance and financial products. We help people and their families pursue financial security and well-being in life, health, and wealth. We help companies take care of their employees. And we help people recover and thrive after unexpected loss.

From our founding in 1860, when a community of immigrants joined together to insure and protect their businesses and families, doing the right thing for our policyholders and customers has guided everything we do. Our dedication to customers has helped us remain one of the most highly rated in client satisfaction and
financial strength . And as one of the largest mutual insurance companies, we know what matters most: putting the needs of our customers first. Because everyone deserves a Guardian. Learn more about Guardian at www.GuardianLife.com .
#GuardianFinance
© Copyright 2021 The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY

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.

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