Strategic Client Executive, Key Markets

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 168,000; Full time

Job summary

Guardian Life Insurance Company of America is seeking a Client Executive, Key Markets to act as a strategic advisor for PEO clients, driving retention, profitability, and long-term growth. You will build executive relationships, lead renewal initiatives, negotiate contracts, and deliver customized, risk-aware solutions across the client lifecycle.

This role requires strong strategic planning, financial analysis, and negotiation skills with deep knowledge of group benefits and HR services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Significant experience in PEO, employee benefits, insurance, HR services, or consultative account management.
• Strong strategic planning, financial analysis, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead complex client engagements.
• Strong analytical skills and data-driven decision making.
• Consultative selling mindset with cross-sell experience.
• Deep understanding of group benefits products and client lifecycle management.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; able to engage senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with broker partners, consultants, and PEO leadership teams to strengthen Guardian's market position and influence retention, growth, and renewal outcomes.
• Own portfolio health by balancing retention, growth, persistency, and profitability objectives while developing strategies to mitigate risk and improve financial outcomes.
• Identify and drive in-group growth opportunities through participation analysis, product penetration strategies, and cross-sell initiatives across existing PEO relationships.
• Own and achieve assigned business performance objectives, including sales growth, persistency, retention, renewal execution, profitability, and participation expansion across the PEO portfolio.
• Lead client strategy and stewardship meetings, sales strategy discussions, and annual planning sessions to align solutions with business objectives.
• Conduct financial, operational, and market analyses to identify opportunities for improved profitability, retention, and business performance.
• Develop and recommend innovative plan design and policy solutions tailored to client needs and long-term goals.
• Lead the policy renewal process, providing strategic guidance and expert consultation to clients and internal partners.
• Leverage industry expertise to address complex client inquiries and develop customized solutions across the client lifecycle.
• Review and negotiate client contracts, policy documents, and broker agreements to secure favorable terms and minimize organizational risk.
• Partner with internal teams, i.e. technology, operations, implementation, and product to execute account strategies, support growth initiatives, and deliver exceptional client outcomes.

Skills

Strategic planning

Financial analysis

Negotiation

Relationship management

Executive stakeholder influence

Consultative selling

Cross-functional collaboration

MS Office, Salesforce, Tableau

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Salesforce

Tableau

Job description

Guardian Life Insurance Company of America is seeking a Client Executive, Key Markets to act as a strategic advisor for PEO clients, driving retention, profitability, and long-term growth. You will build executive relationships, lead renewal initiatives, negotiate contracts, and deliver customized, risk-aware solutions across the client lifecycle.

This role requires strong strategic planning, financial analysis, and negotiation skills with deep knowledge of group benefits and HR services.