Deputy Executive Director

The Jacobson Group; Georgia; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Jacobson Group is assisting a government-related organization serving Georgia municipalities in filling a Deputy Executive Director for risk management and employee benefits services. This senior role oversees retirement plans, health and life insurance, workers’ compensation, property and liability risks, and defined contribution programs.

The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership, work with Boards of Trustees, and guide policy development while ensuring financial soundness

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in risk management, insurance, retirement, employee benefits, financial services or related fields.
• Broad experience across insurance, employee benefits, retirement programs, workers’ compensation, property and liability risk, underwriting, pricing, claims, and program funding.
• Experience overseeing financial performance and long-term sustainability of complex insurance, risk management, employee benefits, or retirement programs including budgeting, funding, reserves, actuarial analyses and financial reporting.
• Experience with institutional investments, asset allocation, investment managers and policies.
• Experience working with governing boards, supporting governance, policy development and decision making.
• Public entity, municipal, association, membership organization, insurance pool, retirement system or multi-employer program experience (strongly preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA, MPA or professional designation (preferred)

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the strategic direction for risk management and employee benefits programs, establishing priorities, policies, and long-term strategies to support financial health and member needs.
• Serve as a principal staff liaison and trusted advisor to the Boards of Trustees, preparing recommendations, meeting materials, and presenting program information.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with participating municipalities, local government leaders, trustees, and key stakeholders to promote engagement and collaboration.
• Oversee the financial performance and long-term sustainability of programs, including funding, reserves, claims trends, contributions, premiums, and investments.
• Monitor investment performance and ensure compliance with established policies, guiding the organization’s investment strategies and asset allocations.
• Provide executive oversight of retirement plans, employee benefits, workers’ compensation, property and liability risks, including underwriting, pricing, claims, and risk management.
• Lead, develop, and evaluate assigned staff, establishing clear performance expectations and fostering a culture of accountability and professional growth.
• Contribute as a member of the senior leadership team to support organization-wide strategy, organizational planning, and policy development.

Skills

Risk management

Employee benefits

Financial services

Governance

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA/MPA or professional designation (preferred)

Job description

Job Description: A government-related organization dedicated to serving municipalities across the state is seeking to fill the position of Deputy Executive Director for risk management and employee benefits services. This leadership role involves overseeing the organization’s retirement, employee benefits and risk management programs. The Deputy Executive Director will work closely with the CEO/Executive Director and serve as a principal staff liaison and trusted advisor to the Boards of Trustees, contributing to strategic planning, policy development, and long-term program priorities. The position requires ensuring the programs remain financially sound, well governed, compliant and capable of responding to member needs. Responsibilities include providing strategic and operational oversight of retirement plans, health and life insurance, workers’ compensation, property and liability risks, and defined contribution/deferred compensation programs. The role demands managing financial performance, investments, underwriting, claims, risk assessments and program administration while collaborating with actuaries, investment managers, attorneys, insurers, third-party administrators and other professionals. As a senior leader, the Deputy will influence the evolution of the organization’s risk and benefits programs, develop staff and build strong relationships with participating municipalities, elected officials, trustees and stakeholders. This is a retained search.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute the strategic direction for risk management and employee benefits programs, establishing priorities, policies, and long-term strategies to support financial health and member needs.

• Serve as a principal staff liaison and trusted advisor to the Boards of Trustees, preparing recommendations, meeting materials, and presenting program information.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with participating municipalities, local government leaders, trustees, and key stakeholders to promote engagement and collaboration.

• Oversee the financial performance and long-term sustainability of programs, including funding, reserves, claims trends, contributions, premiums, and investments.

• Monitor investment performance and ensure compliance with established policies, guiding the organization’s investment strategies and asset allocations.

• Provide executive oversight of retirement plans, employee benefits, workers’ compensation, property and liability risks, including underwriting, pricing, claims, and risk management.

• Lead, develop, and evaluate assigned staff, establishing clear performance expectations and fostering a culture of accountability and professional growth.

• Contribute as a member of the senior leadership team to support organization-wide strategy, organizational planning, and policy development.

Requirements:

• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in risk management, insurance, retirement, employee benefits, financial services or related fields

• Broad experience across insurance, employee benefits, retirement programs, workers’ compensation, property and liability risk, underwriting, pricing, claims, and program funding

• Experience overseeing the financial performance and long-term sustainability of complex insurance, risk management, employee benefits, or retirement programs including budgeting, funding, reserves, actuarial analyses and financial reporting

• Experience with institutional investments, asset allocation, investment managers and policies

• Experience working with governing boards, supporting governance, policy development and decision making

• Public entity, municipal, association, membership organization, insurance pool, retirement system or multi-employer program experience (strongly preferred)

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA, MPA or professional designation (preferred)