Head of Distribution Economics

Guardian Life

. Create and lead Guardian’s total Distribution expense and partner investment strategy .

Posted 11/10/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesLead💰 $158,480 - $260,360 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in Distribution Expense Management, Financial Planning and Analysis, and Compensation Strategy, with a strong focus on economic modeling and strategic decision-making. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence enterprise-level decisions in a matrixed organization.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Distribution EconomicsFinancial Planning And AnalysisCompensation StrategyEconomic ModelingCross-Functional Leadership

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Financial AcumenROI FrameworksScenario ModelingCompensation Plan DesignAdvanced ExcelFinancial ModelingPowerPoint Presentation SkillsData AnalyticsInvestment ManagementPortfolio Management

Soft Skills

Strong Communication SkillsProject ManagementJudgmentAbility To Deal With Ambiguity

Industry Keywords

Group BenefitsInsurance IndustryBroker Fee StructuresPartner Fee ProgramsComplianceMarket-Access Economics

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Create and lead Guardian’s total Distribution expense and partner investment strategy
Own the Sales Planning Process and Distribution Compensation Strategy
Execute compensation and planning operations and oversee total Distribution expense spend
Determine where Distribution investment dollars should be placed, governed, measured, reallocated, redesigned, or sunset
Provide strategic leadership for Total Distribution Expense across Group Benefits
Lead portfolio management of Distribution investments, including trade-offs, prioritization, investment recommendations, economic guardrails, and renewal, redesign, and sunset recommendations
Build and run governance for material Distribution investment decisions
Evaluate strategic partner fee programs, BenAdmin administrative fee programs, enrollment firms, and broker platforms
Connect Finance compensation analytics with partnership management, pricing, funding, profitability, persistency, and market-access economics
Establish scorecard accountability and reallocate underperforming spend toward higher-value opportunities
Build economic models, scenario analyses, and ROI frameworks
Deliver executive recommendations and facilitate leadership conversations on funding trade-offs and investment priorities
Lead the Compensation Operations sub-function, including compensation plan design, implementation, calculation, administration, sales credit, commission and override payments, compliance, and payment integrity
Build relationships across Distribution, Finance, Pricing, Legal, and Partnership Management
Lead, hire, develop, and manage the Distribution Economics team
Ensure alignment with legal, regulatory, market, and corporate policy requirements

Requirements

What you’ll need

A Bachelors degree in finance, economics, business, or a related field is required
MBA or advanced degree in a related field highly desirable
Minimum 10 years progressively responsible experience in distribution economics, financial planning and analysis, corporate strategy, portfolio or investment management, or sales and distribution compensation
Experience with external broker, general agency, and partner fee structures
Enterprise investment strategy and portfolio management experience
Strong financial acumen and economic modeling skills, including ROI, profitability, persistency, pricing, and scenario modeling
Proven executive governance and decision leadership
Demonstrated cross-functional enterprise influence in a large, matrixed company
Ability to turn data, analytics, and multiple data sources into strategic insights and clear executive recommendations
Strong knowledge of compensation practices, commission and override structures, and supplemental compensation programs
Experience leading or overseeing compensation operations, administration, and payment integrity
Group Benefits or insurance industry experience strongly preferred
Strong communication skills
Strong project management and planning skills
Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills
Strong PowerPoint skills and ability to build audience-specific, decision-ready presentations
Judgment and courage to recommend redesigning, reallocating, or sunsetting spend when economics do not hold
Ability to deal with ambiguity and develop a course of action
Legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship

Benefits

Comp & perks

Support and flexibility to achieve professional and personal goals
Skill-building opportunities
Leadership development
Philanthropic opportunities
Contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources
Company benefits for full-time eligible employees