Director, Platform & Operations

New York Life; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 119,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

New York Life Ventures (NYLV) seeks a strategic, highly communicative Head of Platform to advance flagship initiatives and deepen ties with founders, portfolio companies, and internal partners. You will lead communications, brand strategy, and program design to scale engagement and impact.

You will translate data into actionable insights, build executive-ready reporting, and drive cross-functional programs while maintaining a relentlessly positive, proactive mindset.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years in strategy, venture capital, innovation, consulting, operations, chief of staff, communications, or platform roles.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication with the ability to produce executive memos, board decks, briefs, and founder-facing narratives.
• Proven ownership of complex cross-functional initiatives from framing through execution while managing competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Own NYL Ventures communications and brand strategy across social media, website, external communications, thought leadership, and events.
• Support internal engagement, communications, presentations, and events within New York Life.
• Design and scale platform strategy, programs, convenings, and engagement models with founders, portfolio companies, and internal partners.

Skills

Exceptional communication

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Storytelling

Data-driven decisions

Relationship building

Operational improvement

Technical fluency with data

Venture capital awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM

Content management tools

Job description

Location Designation: Hybrid - 3 days per week

Business Overview:

New York Life Ventures (NYLV) was founded in 2012 as New York Life's corporate venture capital platform, built to invest in and partner with leading startups and venture funds while accelerating the pace of innovation. Today, NYLV invests at institutional scale across direct and fund-of-funds strategies, operating with the speed and conviction of a venture firm and backed by the depth of one of the largest mutual life insurers in the country.

A proprietary network spanning top-tier founders, venture funds, and co-investors gives us privileged access to high-quality opportunities while generating the frontier and competitive intelligence that informs strategic decisions across New York Life. That network is also a community we actively build, and it is a meaningful part of why founders and investors treat NYLV as the front door to innovation for the insurance industry.

Role Overview:

Reporting to the Head of NYL Ventures, the [Head of Platform] plays a critical role supporting our firm and our large and growing community of start-ups and partners. An integral member of the team, you will have responsibility for advancing key strategic initiatives while proactively seeking to grow the impact of NYLV.

With direct oversight over execution, management and administration of our communications and community, you will serve as a central hub of information relating to our operations, goals, and results. This role requires attention to detail, exceptional communication skills, a marketing orientation and a relentlessly positive attitude. You will thrive in a dynamic team-oriented environment and draw energy from operating proactively to keep the group humming and growing. Strong candidates are organized, process oriented and excel at plan development and execution. Creativity, resourcefulness and follow-through are also critical to success.

What You’ll Do:

• Own the NYL Ventures communications and brand strategy, spanning social media, website management, external communications, thought leadership, and event strategy.
• Support NYL Ventures internal engagement, communications, presentation, and event within New York Life.
• Build, evolve, and scale the platform strategy, designing the programs, convenings, and engagement models that deepen relationships across founders, portfolio companies, internal business partners, and the broader innovation ecosystem, and convert those relationships into long-term strategic value.
• Develop executive-ready reporting, dashboards, thematic briefs and presentations that deliver meaningful insights and compelling narratives to our internal stakeholders.
• Provide operational support across NYLV, including oversight and project management of key strategic initiatives often with cross functional teams
• Anticipate organizational needs, identify opportunities for continuous improvement, and proactively implement scalable solutions that enhance efficiency, collaboration, and organizational effectiveness.

Who You Are:

• You move fluidly between detail and strategy, as comfortable owning the mechanics as shaping the direction
• You are a strong writer who thinks in narrative and can find the argument in a pile of raw inputs
• You are intellectually honest, quick to update your view, and comfortable being challenged in the room
• You act rather than wait, and you reprioritize without friction when the sequence changes, which it will
• You are independently accountable and collectively proud, with no interest in who gets credit and no task considered beneath you

What You'll Bring:

• 7 to 10 years in strategy, venture capital, innovation, consulting, operations, Chief of Staff, communications, or platform roles
• Exceptional written and verbal communication, with the range to move from an executive memo to a board deck to a thematic research brief to a founder-facing event narrative
• Demonstrated ownership of complex cross-functional initiatives from framing through execution while carrying multiple competing priorities
• Strong business acumen, with a track record of turning data into decision-ready insight through reporting, metrics, dashboards, and executive storytelling
• Proven ability to build relationships and influence at every level, internally and with external partners, without relying on formal authority
• Experience building or materially improving operational processes, governance models, and planning frameworks
• Technological fluency and genuine curiosity, with data management, data modeling, or design capability a plus
• Real interest in venture capital, emerging technology, and the startup ecosystem, not just a stated one
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Preferred Skills

• Prior experience as a Head of Platform, Chief of Staff, communications lead, or Strategy and Operations leader supporting senior executives
• Experience managing brand and external presence inside a large regulated organization, including partnering with corporate communications, legal, and compliance
• Familiarity with venture capital operations, portfolio reporting, fund mechanics, or corporate innovation programs.
• Experience designing founder, investor, or innovation events and running community engagement programs, including working knowledge of CRM and content management tools.
• Proficiency using AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) to accelerate research, synthesize and share information, and improve operational productivity

Pay Transparency

Salary Range: $119,000-$170,000

Overtime eligible: Exempt

Discretionary bonus eligible: Yes

Sales bonus eligible: No

Actual base salary will be determined based on several factors but not limited to individual’s experience, skills, qualifications, and job location. Additionally, employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition to base salary, employees may also be eligible to participate in an incentive program.

Company Overview

At New York Life, our 180-year legacy of purpose and integrity fuels our future. As we evolve into a more technology-, data-, and AI-enabled organization, we remain grounded in the values that drive lasting impact.

Our diverse business portfolio creates opportunities to make a difference across industries and communities—inviting bold thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and purpose-driven innovation. Here, you’ll find the rare balance of long-standing stability and forward momentum, supported by an inclusive team that honors tradition while embracing progress.

As a Fortune 100 mutual company, we offer a place to grow your skills, contribute to meaningful work, and deliver solutions that matter. Your ideas drive what’s next, and your growth powers it.

Recognized as one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, New York Life is committed to improving local communities through a culture of employee giving and volunteerism, supported by the Foundation. We're proud that due to our mutuality, we operate in the best interests of our policy owners. To learn more about career opportunities at New York Life, please visit the Careers page of www.NewYorkLife.com.

Visit our LinkedIn to see how our employees and agents are leading the industry and impacting communities.

Visit our Newsroom to learn more about how our company is constantly evolving to meet our clients' and employees’ needs.

Our Benefits

We provide a full package of benefits for employees – and have unique offerings for a modern workforce, including leave programs, adoption assistance, and student loan repayment programs. Based on feedback from our employees, we continue to refine and add benefits to our offering, so that you can flourish both inside and outside of work. Click here to discover more about our comprehensive benefit options or visit our NYL Benefits Site.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

At New York Life, fostering an inclusive workplace is fundamental to who we are and how we serve our communities. We have a longstanding commitment to creating an environment where individuals can contribute their best and succeed together. This foundation is rooted in our core values of humanity and integrity, ensuring that every employee feels valued and supported. By embracing a broad range of perspectives and experiences, we achieve greater success and fulfill our promise of providing financial security and peace of mind to families across all communities. Click here to learn more about New York Life’s leadership in this space.