Location(s)

Birmingham, Alabama, Chicago, Illinois, San Antonio, Texas, St. Louis, Missouri

Details

Kemper is one of the nation’s leading specialized insurers. Our success is a direct reflection of the talented and diverse people who make a positive difference in the lives of our customers every day. We believe a high-performing culture, valuable opportunities for personal development and professional challenge, and a healthy work-life balance can be highly motivating and productive. Kemper’s products and services are making a real difference to our customers, who have unique and evolving needs. By joining our team, you are helping to provide an experience to our stakeholders that delivers on our promises. 

As AVP, Strategy and Operations/Chief of Staff, you will report directly to EVP and President of Kemper Life and work with the Kemper Life senior leadership team, Kemper Life partners, and Kemper enterprise stakeholders to plan, communicate, and execute the organization’s strategy, transformation efforts, and operational initiatives.

You will focus on leading strategic planning, overseeing executive team operational routines, and enhancing the division’s efficiency and alignment with broader corporate strategic intent and objectives.

You will need to display a high degree of creativity, initiative, and latitude in working with the executive leaders. As a trusted partner to the Kemper Life President, you must be a highly resourceful individual with a strong business acumen, display emotional intelligence, be an influential collaborator, and exercise exceptional analytical skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategic Planning Leadership: Drives the development and execution of strategic initiatives. Leads the recurring cadence for Kemper Life’s strategy, collaborating with senior leadership to update, document, and communicate the strategy in alignment with corporate goals and objectives.
• Executive Operations Oversight: Streamlines activities across the executive team. Ensures that all executive operations, including meeting planning, communications, and program & project management, are conducted efficiently and effectively. Develops presentations and related documentation for board, C-level, and broader audiences.
• Communication and Alignment: Facilitates clear and effective communication between the executive team and other stakeholders. Ensures all parties are aligned with the division's goals and strategic plans. Develops presentations and related documentation for board, C-level, and broader audiences. Leads the Kemper Life employee and customer communications function in partnership with enterprise Marketing & Communications team.
• Comprehensive business priority alignment with major strategic initiatives: Establishes long-term roadmaps and sequencing of individual projects. Coordinates with Finance partners to develop business cases and related analyses. Provides sponsorship and/or program management of individual projects, as needed. Supports day-to-day project team decision-making, including executive escalations.
• Provide governance oversight of planned and in-flight initiatives: Identifies and tracks key performance indicators for strategic initiatives to maintain alignment with business strategy. Oversees third-party firms providing support for major initiatives. Helps identify and plan allocation of critical resources.
• Marketing Strategy Direction: Leads the division’s marketing department and oversees the efforts to ensure they are aligned with strategic initiatives and effectively communicate the brand's value proposition in partnership with enterprise Marketing & Communications team.
• Team Leadership and Development: Leads a team responsible for marketing and internal communications and executive administrative personnel. Mentors team members, fostering a culture of growth, efficiency, and high performance.

               

QUALIFICATIONS

• 7+ years relevant experience in working with executive teams in similar capacity.
• 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in program management, strategy, or executive operations management, ideally within the Life insurance or financial services sectors.
• Proven track record of leading multidisciplinary and matrix teams in a program management capacity, including the management of cross-functional teams and complex projects.
• Experience with executive management and board-level presentations and decision-making processes.
• Strong analytical and decision-making capabilities with a thorough understanding of market dynamics and strong financial acumen.
• Ability to effectively manage and encourage professional development of direct reports.
• Superior communication skills, adept at building relationships and influencing at all organizational levels.
• Experience in a consumer-focused business such as insurance, banking, or retail that has a distributed sales force is preferred.
• Advanced practical experience with Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, and Excel).
• This is a hybrid position working at the local Kemper office.
• Must be able to travel up to 25%.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

Kemper is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability status or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We are committed to supporting diversity and equality across our organization and we work diligently to maintain a workplace free from discrimination.  
 

Kemper does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Kemper and Kemper will not be obligated to pay a placement fee. 

Kemper will never request personal information, such as your social security number or banking information, via text or email.  Additionally, Kemper does not use external messaging applications like WireApp or Skype to communicate with candidates.  If you receive such a message, delete it.  

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