Founded in 2017, Alera Group is one of the nation's leading independent insurance and financial services firms. We combine the strength of a national organization with the personalized service of local experts to help clients succeed across Employee Benefits, Property & Casualty Insurance, Retirement Plan Services, Wealth Services, and Human Capital Solutions.
Why Join Alera Group?
• Collaborate with purpose – Work alongside colleagues who believe the best results come from strong partnerships, shared expertise, and supporting one another.
• Build your career – Expand your expertise through meaningful work, continuous learning, and opportunities to grow across a national organization.
• Make an impact – Help clients navigate complex challenges while contributing to solutions that make a difference for their businesses, employees, and communities.
The Opportunity
The Vice President, Employee Benefits Carrier & Vendor Partnerships is responsible for developing, managing, and optimizing Alera Group's Employee Benefits carrier and vendor relationships. This role provides strategic leadership to strengthen partnerships, align carrier and vendor resources with business and client needs, and maximize value through preferred national and regional carrier and vendor relationships. The position serves as a key liaison between carriers, vendors, and internal stakeholders, driving growth, enhancing support and service offerings, and identifying opportunities to expand partnerships that contribute to Alera Group's business objectives. Given the strategic importance of these relationships, the role maintains significant visibility with executive leadership.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Carrier and Vendor Partnership Strategy and Contract Management
• Develop and lead national Employee Benefits carrier and vendor partnership strategies, growth targets, and go-to-market plans.
• Establish mutually beneficial goals and performance expectations with national carrier partners.
• Oversee national carrier agreements, including contract negotiation, renewal, performance monitoring, and stakeholder communication.
Program Leadership and Performance Management
• Lead Alera Group’s Employee Benefits P1 program across group medical, ancillary, and stop-loss partnerships.
• Establish, evaluate, and communicate the annual P1 strategy and preferred carrier partnerships to regional and national stakeholders.
• Assess partnership performance and provide regional and senior leadership with recommendations regarding growth opportunities, emerging challenges, and corrective actions.
• Direct initiatives designed to strengthen carrier and vendor performance and advance partnership objectives.
Carrier and Vendor Relationship Management and Performance Reporting
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with carrier and vendor partners; conduct quarterly business reviews to evaluate partnership performance, opportunities, risks, and growth initiatives.
• Communicate carrier and vendor performance results and progress against established goals to regional, national, and senior leadership on a regular basis.
• Coordinate follow-up actions, resolve partnership issues, and escalate carrier and vendor related concerns as needed.
• Conduct a comprehensive carrier partnership market assessment, including a Request for Information (RFI), at least every three years to ensure competitiveness and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Represent Alera Group on national carrier advisory boards and serve as a key liaison with carrier and vendor partners.
• Maintain expertise in market trends, industry developments, carrier capabilities, and emerging opportunities affecting the Employee Benefits business.
• Represent Alera Group at carrier and vendor meetings, conferences, and industry events to strengthen partnerships and identify strategic opportunities.
Team Leadership, Offices Coming Together Integration, and Operational Support
• Provide leadership and direction to the Carrier Contracting Project Manager, aligning priorities and activities with national carrier and vendor partnership goals.
• Support carrier consolidation initiatives to facilitate the dissolution of legal entities by consolidating carrier relationships, transitioning policies and accounts, and ensuring accurate data and documentation throughout the process.
• Oversee carrier contracting, commission-tracking onboarding, and issue resolution for newly acquired firms.
• Coordinate carrier partner training, sales and marketing materials, firm events, forums, and continuing education programs.
• Support the resolution of operational challenges involving carrier contracts, commissions, products, or services.
Growth, Innovation, and Specialty Practice Collaboration
• Collaborate with national specialty practices to identify opportunities for enhanced carrier and vendor resources, funding, and client solutions.
• Pursue programs and resources related to technology, data, marketing, pharmacy, and other carrier-supported offerings.
• Partner with carrier and vendor organizations and internal stakeholders to develop solutions that enhance client satisfaction, account growth, and persistency.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required Qualifications
• 15+ years of progressive insurance industry experience ideally in a nationally positioned organization.
• Life and Health licensed professional
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred
• Experience driving and understanding multi-million-dollar contract relationships between brokerage and insurance carriers.
• Insurance program or partner management at the national level with either an insurance carrier and/or brokerage organization
• Excellent communication skills at all levels, but more specifically at the C-Suite level
• Demonstrated ability to drive growth, operational improvements, and cultural change
• Strong knowledge of employee benefits disciplines
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate
• Hands‑on leadership style with effective delegation
• Strong business and financial acumen
• Proficiency with MS Office and modern insurance technology platforms and strong AI understanding and application in the industry
• Domestic travel of approximately 35% will be expected
Key Performance Metrics
• Carrier Bonus Revenue vs. Budget
• Strategic Carrier Partnership Satisfaction Score
• Carrier Escalation Resolution Time
• Carrier Consolidation Completion Rate
• National Carrier Agreement Renewal Rate
• Office Satisfaction with Carrier Partnerships
• Offices Coming Together Integration Carrier Readiness Rate
• New Revenue or Program Opportunities Generated Through Carrier Partnerships
Eligible colleagues enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability coverage
• 401(k)
• Generous paid time off
• Professional development opportunities
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Work Arrangement:
This position is remote.
Travel Requirements:
Domestic travel of approximately 35% will be expected.
We're 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 or disability status, or any other protected class.
Alera Group is committed to protecting your privacy. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand what personal information we may collect and use as part of your application process.
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Location Type
Remote
Carrier and Vendor Partnership Strategy and Contract Management
• Develop and lead national Employee Benefits carrier and vendor partnership strategies, growth targets, and go-to-market plans.
• Establish mutually beneficial goals and performance expectations with national carrier partners.
• Oversee national carrier agreements, including contract negotiation, renewal, performance monitoring, and stakeholder communication.
Program Leadership and Performance Management
• Lead Alera Group's Employee Benefits P1 program across group medical, ancillary, and stop-loss partnerships.
• Establish, evaluate, and communicate the annual P1 strategy and preferred carrier partnerships to regional and national stakeholders.
• Assess partnership performance and provide regional and senior leadership with recommendations regarding growth opportunities, emerging challenges, and corrective actions.
• Direct initiatives designed to strengthen carrier and vendor performance and advance partnership objectives.
Carrier and Vendor Relationship Management and Performance Reporting
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with carrier and vendor partners; conduct quarterly business reviews to evaluate partnership performance, opportunities, risks, and growth initiatives.
• Communicate carrier and vendor performance results and progress against established goals to regional, national, and senior leadership on a regular basis.
• Coordinate follow-up actions, resolve partnership issues, and escalate carrier and vendor related concerns as needed.
• Conduct a comprehensive carrier partnership market assessment, including a Request for Information (RFI), at least every three years to ensure competitiveness and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Represent Alera Group on national carrier advisory boards and serve as a key liaison with carrier and vendor partners.
• Maintain expertise in market trends, industry developments, carrier capabilities, and emerging opportunities affecting the Employee Benefits business.
• Represent Alera Group at carrier and vendor meetings, conferences, and industry events to strengthen partnerships and identify strategic opportunities.
Team Leadership, Offices Coming Together Integration, and Operational Support
• Provide leadership and direction to the Carrier Contracting Project Manager, aligning priorities and activities with national carrier and vendor partnership goals.
• Support carrier consolidation initiatives to facilitate the dissolution of legal entities by consolidating carrier relationships, transitioning policies and accounts, and ensuring accurate data and documentation throughout the process.
• Oversee carrier contracting, commission-tracking onboarding, and issue resolution for newly acquired firms.
• Coordinate carrier partner training, sales and marketing materials, firm events, forums, and continuing education programs.
• Support the resolution of operational challenges involving carrier contracts, commissions, products, or services.
Growth, Innovation, and Specialty Practice Collaboration
• Collaborate with national specialty practices to identify opportunities for enhanced carrier and vendor resources, funding, and client solutions.
• Pursue programs and resources related to technology, data, marketing, pharmacy, and other carrier-supported offerings.
• Partner with carrier and vendor organizations and internal stakeholders to develop solutions that enhance client satisfaction, account growth, and persistency.
Required Qualifications
• 15+ years of progressive insurance industry experience ideally in a nationally positioned organization.
• Life and Health licensed professional
• Bachelor's degree required; MBA preferred
• Experience driving and understanding multi-million-dollar contract relationships between brokerage and insurance carriers.
• Insurance program or partner management at the national level with either an insurance carrier and/or brokerage organization
• Excellent communication skills at all levels, but more specifically at the C-Suite level
• Demonstrated ability to drive growth, operational improvements, and cultural change
• Strong knowledge of employee benefits disciplines
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate
• Hands‑on leadership style with effective delegation
• Strong business and financial acumen
• Proficiency with MS Office and modern insurance technology platforms and strong AI understanding and application in the industry
• Domestic travel of approximately 35% will be expected
Key Performance Metrics
• Carrier Bonus Revenue vs. Budget
• Strategic Carrier Partnership Satisfaction Score
• Carrier Escalation Resolution Time
• Carrier Consolidation Completion Rate
• National Carrier Agreement Renewal Rate
• Office Satisfaction with Carrier Partnerships
• Offices Coming Together Integration Carrier Readiness Rate
• New Revenue or Program Opportunities Generated Through Carrier Partnerships
