Professional Development Program Associate

Unum; Portland, Northern (TN, KY); Hybrid; USD 64,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

Short & Long-Term Disability

Generous PTO

Job summary

Unum offers a three- to four-year rotational program designed to build leadership capabilities across Benefits, Underwriting, Customer Services, Enrollment and more. Associates rotate 12–18 months per role at multiple locations and receive robust leadership training, mentoring, and dedicated development plans to prepare for a senior leadership path.

The program emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and enterprise-wide impact, with structured feedback and ongoing mentorship to accelerate growth

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics or Math.
• 3.0 cumulative GPA.
• Demonstrated leadership outside work or in campus activities.
• Comfort with ambiguity across rotations and roles.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Complete 3–4 cross-functional rotations with training and projects.
• Demonstrate outstanding performance in each role.
• Partner with management to understand functions and interconnections.
• Develop a personal development plan with a mentor.
• Lead special projects requiring analysis and operational review.
• Communicate issues and resolutions effectively to senior leaders.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

When you join the team at Unum, you become part of an organization committed to helping you thrive. Here, we work to provide the employee benefits and service solutions that enable employees at our client companies to thrive throughout life’s moments. And this starts with ensuring that every one of our team members enjoys opportunities to succeed both professionally and personally. To enable this, we provide: Award-winning culture Inclusion and diversity as a priority Performance Based Incentive Plans Competitive benefits package that includes: Health, Vision, Dental, Short & Long-Term Disability Generous PTO (including paid time to volunteer!) Up to 9.5% 401(k) employer contribution Mental health support Career advancement opportunities Student loan repayment options Tuition reimbursement Flexible work environments *All the benefits listed above are subject to the terms of their individual Plans. And that’s just the beginning… With 10,000 employees helping more than 39 million people worldwide, every role at Unum is meaningful and impacts the lives of our customers. Whether you’re directly supporting a growing family, or developing online tools to help navigate a difficult loss, customers are counting on the combined talents of our entire team. Help us help others, and join Team Unum today!

General Summary

This three- to four-year rotational program is designed to give participants experience in a wide variety of roles. Each experience is unique, allowing the flexibility to pursue individual interests, develop strengths, and prepare for a successful leadership career. Associates are highly motivated inclusive leaders with the intellectual curiosity to keep up with the fast-paced, ever-changing business environment and they are empowered to deliver upon our purpose and create a differentiated experience for our customers around the globe.

• Three- to four-year rotational program with each rotation lasting 12-18 months depending on role, complexity, and business needs
• Rotations may include (but are not limited to): Benefits, Underwriting, Customer Services, Enrollment, Finance, and Digital Transformation
• Work locations may include: Chattanooga, TN; Portland, ME and Columbia, SC. Associates are strongly encouraged to work at two locations during their time in the program.
• Stretch and grow in an environment that encourages curiosity, celebrates innovative thinking
• Experience robust leadership training and skill development through outside vendors, leadership summits, and presentations from our senior leaders
• Interact with senior leaders through an assigned mentor, as well as networking, coaching, and personalized development plan opportunities

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Successfully complete 3-4 cross-functional job rotations, including all required training development courses, assignments, and projects, while incorporating this knowledge into daily work to drive results for enterprise
• Demonstrate outstanding performance during assigned roles
• Partner with functional management team during business rotations to gain deeper knowledge of each function, the day-to-day operations and how the business unit interconnects with other areas of the business
• Work with assigned mentor and develop personal development plan
• Develop and maintain a strong and specialized working knowledge of Unum’s products, services, and business processes
• Openness to serve as an informal leader/mentor to junior level peers, including interns preparing for a transition into the Professional Development Program
• May manage a team
• Work on and/or lead special projects, as assigned, that require research, analysis, and operational effectiveness evaluations.
• Possess strong communication skills to present all issues and resolutions identified to leadership.
• Lead and collaborate with others on highly visible, enterprise-wide projects and initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned

Job Specifications

• Bachelor’s degree (Business, Finance, Economics or Math is preferred)
• 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Ability to demonstrate leadership (on campus, in your community, or from past work - we love to see examples in your application!)
• Comfort with ambiguity necessary as you will be placed in various roles, encounter diverse leadership styles, and develop new business processes as part of your rotational experience
• Creative problem solving and strong analytical skills
• Motivation to complete quality work by established deadlines
• Demonstrate ability to handle multiple priorities at one time
• Capability to lead and collaborate with others on highly visible, enterprise-wide projects and initiatives
• Strong ability to influence, persuade, and negotiate with others

Company: Unum

Unum and Colonial Life are part of Unum Group, a Fortune 500 company and leading provider of employee benefits to companies worldwide. Headquartered in Chattanooga, TN, with international offices in Ireland, Poland and the UK, Unum also has significant operations in Portland, ME, and Baton Rouge, LA - plus over 35 US field offices. Colonial Life is headquartered in Columbia, SC, with over 40 field offices nationwide.

Unum is an equal opportunity employer, considering all qualified applicants and employees for hiring, placement, and advancement, without regard to a person's race, color, religion, national origin, age, genetic information, military status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or protected veteran status.

The base salary range for applicants for this position is listed below. Unless actual salary is indicated above in the job description, actual pay will be based on skill, geographical location and experience. $63,500.00-$120,000.00

Additionally, Unum offers a portfolio of benefits and rewards that are competitive and comprehensive including healthcare benefits (health, vision, dental), insurance benefits (short & long-term disability), performance-based incentive plans, paid time off, and a 401(k) retirement plan with an employer match up to 5% and an additional 4.5% contribution whether you contribute to the plan or not. All benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of individual Plans.

Unum Group is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations for any applicant with a disability. If you are disabled and need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or hiring process, please contact us by submitting a request here.