Employee Benefits Director, Relationship Management - East Region

Director, Relationship Management - SA06FE We’re determined to make a difference and are proud to be an insurance company that goes well beyond coverages and policies. Working here means having every opportunity to achieve your goals – and to help others accomplish theirs, too. Join our team as we help shape the future. The Hartford is seeking an Employee Benefits Director, Relationship Management to lead our East Region team. This role provides direct and indirect leadership to a team of Assistant Directors, Relationship Managers, and Client Relationship Executives, with responsibility for driving persistency, growth, customer satisfaction, and overall book-of-business performance. The Director will focus on talent development, operational excellence, and delivering a superior customer experience while partnering closely with the AVP and peer leaders to shape and execute segment strategy. This position offers either a hybrid or remote work arrangement. Candidates located near a Hartford office are expected to work in the office three days per week (Tuesday through Thursday). Candidates who do not live near an office may work remotely, with periodic travel to a Hartford office as business needs require. Leadership & Strategy Establish and execute a strategic vision for the Regional Accounts Relationship Management organization that aligns with business objectives, growth priorities, and operating plans. Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing team of Relationship Management leaders and professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, engagement, inclusion, and continuous development. Translate enterprise and segment strategies into clear priorities, measurable goals, and actionable plans that drive business results. Anticipate market dynamics, customer needs, and industry trends to influence strategic direction and identify opportunities for innovation, differentiation, and growth. Serve as a transformational leader and change champion, driving adoption of new operating models, capabilities, and organizational initiatives. Represent the voice of the customer, field, and marketplace in strategic planning, product development, and enterprise decision-making. Build strong partnerships across Sales, Underwriting, Claims, Operations, Product, and Service organizations to advance shared business objectives and deliver integrated solutions. Customer Experience & Portfolio Leadership Provide strategic oversight of the Regional Accounts book of business, ensuring execution of retention, growth, profitability, and customer experience objectives. Lead teams in developing and executing comprehensive account strategies that strengthen client relationships, improve persistency, and enhance risk performance. Establish a customer-centric culture that drives consistent delivery of exceptional service, advocacy, and value across the customer lifecycle. Influence resolution of complex customer, broker, and business issues by providing executive guidance, removing barriers, and aligning resources to achieve desired outcomes. Partner with Sales, Underwriting, Claims, Legal, Product, and Service leaders to deliver consultative solutions that address customer needs and support profitable growth. Drive disciplined renewal, add-issue, and cross-functional execution strategies to optimize customer outcomes and business performance. Cultivate and strengthen strategic relationships with key customers, brokers, consultants, and marketplace stakeholders to expand influence and market presence. Operational Excellence & Performance Management Establish and monitor performance expectations, business metrics, and operational standards to ensure achievement of customer, financial, and organizational goals. Leverage data, insights, and performance analytics to identify trends, inform decision-making, and drive continuous improvement across the organization. Ensure effective adoption and governance of critical tools, processes, and initiatives, including Salesforce, MAP, Customer Barometer, and other enterprise platforms. Optimize organizational capacity, resource allocation, and talent deployment to support business priorities and customer needs. Drive a culture of accountability through coaching, leadership development, succession planning, and performance management practices. Lead operational excellence initiatives that improve efficiency, scalability, compliance, risk management, and overall business effectiveness. Ensure adherence to regulatory, audit, and governance requirements while promoting disciplined execution and operational integrity. Qualifications 10+ years of Group Benefits experience, with at least five years in relationship management required At least five years’ experience successfully leading teams required; highly effective inspirational leader desired Depth of GB product knowledge and relationships required Demonstrated business acumen and strategic thinking skills Possesses critical thinking skills and is skilled at operational excellence including prioritization and execution Understands organizational processes, methods and systems with the ability to influence cross-functional resolution and outcomes Takes ownership – takes immediate and independent action, drives improvements, sets high standards for self and others Exceptional ability to drive employee engagement and build an inclusive environment and professional development opportunities for team members Understands external market dynamics and leverages best practices and data to tell the Hartford’s story to influence persistency and OAI Group Life & Health license required along with ongoing Continuing Education requirements in a timely manner to maintain license(s) Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience Able and willing to travel up to 30% of the time Compensation The listed annualized base pay range is primarily based on analysis of similar positions in the external market. Actual base pay could vary and may be above or below the listed range based on factors including but not limited to performance, proficiency and demonstration of competencies required for the role. The base pay is just one component of The Hartford’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include short-term or annual bonuses, long-term incentives, and on-the-spot recognition. The annualized base pay range for this role is: $142,400 - $213,600 Equal Opportunity Employer/Sex/Race/Color/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity or Expression/Religion/Age #J-18808-Ljbffr The Hartford