Director, Sales Enablement

Athene; West Des Moines (IA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Athene, a leading retirement services company, is seeking a Director, Sales Enablement to shape how our Retail Sales organization learns, develops, and performs. You will lead onboarding, role-based learning, product training, and career development programs that accelerate proficiency and productivity across internal and external wholesalers.

Bring 7+ years in financial services or sales enablement, with 4+ years in leadership.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant experience in financial services, sales enablement, adult learning, or sales leadership.
• Strong understanding of annuity products, financial services distribution, and wholesaler sales practices.

Responsibilities

• Shape sales enablement strategy aligned with Retail Sales priorities.
• Drive onboarding, role-based learning, product training, and career development.
• Lead AI-enabled analytics adoption and coaching for field readiness.
• Establish meaningful success measures and drive program adoption and performance.

Skills

Sales enablement

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Influencing

Adult learning

Learning & development

AI analytics

CRM

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM (e.g., Salesforce)

Allego

Seismic

Job description

We are driven to do more. More for our customers and the financial professionals who offer our products. If you are driven to do more and love the challenge of pursuing more, Athene is your kind of company. You will find we offer more than the basics to create an inclusive and dynamic work environment at our various locations.

Purpose & Impact: At Athene, we're driven to do more. As a leading retirement services company supported by the strength and investment expertise of Apollo Global Management, we're focused on delivering innovative solutions, driving growth, and helping more Americans achieve financial security. Our collaborative, action-oriented culture empowers leaders to challenge convention, embrace new ideas, and make a meaningful impact.

As Director, Sales Enablement, you'll shape how our Retail Sales organization learns, develops, and performs. You'll lead the evolution of Sales Enablement from training delivery to measurable field effectiveness, equipping internal and external wholesalers to engage financial professionals with confidence, consistency, and skill. Partnering with Sales Leadership, you'll advance The Athene Way, accelerate wholesaler readiness, and drive adoption of AI-enabled analytics and sales technologies. You'll also develop and empower a high-performing team, creating a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous growth.

Key Deliverables:

• Shape sales enablement strategy: Develop and execute a scalable strategy aligned with Retail Sales priorities, partnering with senior sales leaders to strengthen wholesaler effectiveness, accelerate growth, and improve production outcomes.
• Drive The Athene Way and field readiness: Embed consistent sales practices across internal and external wholesaler teams while leading onboarding, role-based learning, product training, and career development programs that accelerate proficiency and time to productivity.
• Advance technology and AI adoption: Lead field upskilling for the Retail AI Analytics initiative and drive effective use of CRM, Allego, Seismic, and other enablement platforms. Translate data and AI-driven insights into practical coaching, targeted learning, and improved sales execution.
• Measure and elevate performance: Establish meaningful success measures, including onboarding ramp time, program adoption, skill development, and production impact. Use data, field feedback, and critical thinking to continuously improve enablement programs and respond to evolving business needs.
• Build strategic partnerships: Collaborate with Sales Leadership, Marketing, Product, Practice Management, Advanced Planning, and external partners to deliver relevant, engaging learning experiences and reinforce effective coaching and leadership practices.
• Lead and develop talent: Inspire, coach, and empower the Sales Enablement team through inclusive, people-centered leadership. Foster ownership, creativity, professional growth, and a risk-aware culture that supports strong business outcomes and Athene's BEAM values.

What You Need to Bring:

7+ years of relevant experience in financial services, sales enablement, adult learning, or sales leadership, including 4+ years of formal or informal leadership experience, preferred. Strong understanding of annuity products, financial services distribution, and wholesaler sales practices, with the ability to translate complex concepts into practical learning and performance solutions. Demonstrated success developing and executing scalable sales enablement strategies, onboarding programs, and learning initiatives that improve field effectiveness and measurable business results. Strong strategic thinking, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted partnerships with senior leaders, navigate competing priorities, and drive cross-functional alignment. People-centered leadership approach with a bias for action, adaptability, creativity, and sound judgment; ability to develop talent, lead change, and leverage data, technology, and AI-enabled tools to improve outcomes. Bachelor's degree in Business, Education, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Drive. Discipline. Confidence. Focus. Commitment.

Learn more about working at Athene.

Athene is a Military Friendly Employer! Learn more about how we support our Veterans.

Athene is committed to inclusion and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

We are driven to do more. More for our customers and the financial professionals who offer our products. If you are driven to do more and love the challenge of pursuing more, Athene is your kind of company. You will find we offer more than the basics to create an inclusive and dynamic work environment at our various locations.