Strategic Partner Success Manager (Hybrid)

OpenKrill; United States; Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

National Life Group is seeking an ambitious Relationship Manager to strengthen partner confidence, onboard and manage a portfolio of Distribution partners, and drive measurable business results. You will coordinate onboarding, readiness, and ongoing operations between Distribution and the Customer Innovation Group.

The role requires deep knowledge of life insurance distribution, strong collaboration across functions, and a proactive approach to improve readiness, adoption, and outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 8 or more years of related work experience, OR an advanced degree and 5 or more years of related experience, OR 12 or more years of total equivalent work experience.
• Relevant experience in life insurance, annuities, financial services, relationship management, distribution support, Operations, business readiness, or a related field.
• Strong insurance industry and distribution acumen, including understanding of agency structures affecting onboarding, service, technology, training, and quality of business.
• Strong knowledge of life insurance and/or annuity distribution and the operational processes that support new business, underwriting, policy issuance, service, and field support.
• Knowledge of different distribution models, such as MLM, IMO, Direct, Brokerage, or comparable structures.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex partner relationships, onboarding, operational initiatives, or cross-functional problem solving.
• Demonstrated creative problem-solving skills and the ability to develop practical, scalable solutions for ambiguous or emerging business needs.
• Proven ability to work proactively, identify opportunities without waiting for formal direction, and move ideas from concept through execution and measurable results.
• Ability to independently evaluate ambiguous business issues, choose appropriate approaches, and influence outcomes without direct authority.
• Experience using operational metrics, partner insight, and business context to identify trends, explain what is driving performance, and recommend improvements.
• Experience developing business cases, recommendations, or initiatives that influenced operational or technology priorities.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills, including the ability to prepare briefing materials and communicate effectively with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and significant areas of accountability in a matrixed environment.
• Ability to travel as needed.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and relevant collaboration, CRM, workflow, and reporting tools.

Responsibilities

• Own the operational health, readiness, and experience of assigned Distribution partner relationships, acting as a primary connection between partners and the Customer Innovation Group, with a focus on strengthening relationships and retaining and growing business.
• Build a thorough understanding of each partner's structure, business practices, growth priorities, technology, service expectations, training needs, and quality-of-business considerations.
• Set relationship plans, short and mid-term objectives (one year or less), governance routines, and communication approaches that support Distribution and service and operations goals.
• Coordinate marketing, sales, and support services for assigned accounts so partners receive consistent, coordinated support across NLG.
• Anticipate new operational needs and bring in the right functional teams before they become significant partner or business issues.
• Lead the Operations experience for partner onboarding and for significant business, product, process, or technology changes, from planning through stabilization.
• Create readiness plans that bring together milestones, responsibilities, dependencies, education, communications, risks, and success measures.
• Represent the partner perspective in implementation planning, testing, communications, training, and post-implementation assessment for assigned relationships.
• Explain operational and technology changes to Distribution partners in terms of what they mean for the business and what to do next.
• Track adoption, early performance, and partner feedback, identify barriers, and drive adjustments when intended outcomes aren't met.
• Lead resolution of complex partner issues that span functions by defining the problem, clarifying who owns what, aligning stakeholders, and keeping work moving through closure.
• Use independent judgment to decide when established approaches are enough and when new solutions, escalation, or leadership decisions are needed.
• Balance advocacy for Distribution with customer, regulatory, risk, operational, financial, and enterprise considerations.
• Combine operational metrics, partner feedback, adoption results, service trends, and quality-of-business information into a single view of relationship performance.
• Separate isolated events from recurring patterns, and lead or support root-cause analysis and improvement efforts that reduce recurring friction.
• Prepare client presentations and briefing materials for senior management covering relationship health, key commitments, risks, and recommendations.
• All other duties as assigned.

Skills

Relationship management

Operations management

Partner onboarding

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Travel ability

CRM tools

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree

Total equivalent work experience

Tools

CRM software

Microsoft Office

Job description

National Life Group is seeking an ambitious Relationship Manager to strengthen partner confidence, onboard and manage a portfolio of Distribution partners, and drive measurable business results. You will coordinate onboarding, readiness, and ongoing operations between Distribution and the Customer Innovation Group.

The role requires deep knowledge of life insurance distribution, strong collaboration across functions, and a proactive approach to improve readiness, adoption, and outcomes.