Service & Operations Strategy Leader (Hybrid)

We are seeking a strategic, collaborative, and innovative leader to drive Service & Operational Strategy for Financial Protection and Retirement Solutions (FPRS). In this role, you will report to the Head of Operational Solutions, and will help shape the roadmap and vision for new business and inforce service, across operations and contact center functions, with a focus on improving customer experience, scalability, and efficiency. This role will identify and advance opportunities across automation, digital and self-service capabilities, differentiated service models, AI-enabled operations, workforce optimization, process redesign, and potential outsourcing models.Key ResponsibilitiesAssess current-state operations, customer journeys, channel performance, service demand, and cost drivers to identify transformation opportunities.Lead the evaluation and prioritization of automation, digital containment, workflow optimization, and AI-enabled solutions that improve speed, quality, consistency, and customer experience.Partner with technology, customer experience, finance, and operational leaders to build business cases, roadmaps, and implementation plans.Evaluate potential outsourcing, managed service, nearshore/offshore, and hybrid delivery models, including service design, vendor capabilities, cost-benefit analysis, risk management, governance, and transition planning.Define operating model requirements, including roles, governance, workforce impacts, process ownership, controls, change management, and performance management routines.Establish KPIs and success measures for transformation initiativesLead cross-functional workshops and executive-level discussions to align stakeholders, resolve tradeoffs, and advance strategic decisions.Monitor market trends, emerging technologies, competitive practices, and customer behavior shifts to keep the operations strategy future-ready.You are:Transformative: Demonstrated experience developing long-term strategies, transformation roadmaps, operating models, and business cases for complex service organizations.Customer-focused: Experience identifying and implementing automation, self-service, digital service, workflow, or AI-enabled capabilities in an operational environment.Analytical: Ability to analyze operational, financial, workforce, and customer data to identify opportunities, quantify impact, and influence strategic decisions.Collaborative and able to influence: Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, manage ambiguity, and drive alignment across teams with competing priorities.Strong communicator: ability to simplify complex topics, develop compelling narratives, and present recommendations to senior leaders.Commercially oriented: Strong financial and commercial acumen, including cost modeling, ROI analysis, vendor evaluation, and benefits realization.You have:8+ years of experience in operations strategy, service transformation, management consulting, business process improvement, or a related field.Prior consulting experience is strongly preferred.Background in customer experience, service design, or enterprise transformation.Experience with contact center platforms, workforce optimization tools, conversational AI, virtual agents, automation solutions, etc.Experience designing outsourced, co-sourced, offshore, nearshore, or managed service operating models.Experience in regulated or high-complexity service environments where risk, compliance, privacy, and operational controls are critical.MBA is strongly preferred.Bachelors degree required.You will:Help shape the modernization of our service and operating modelDevelop deep understanding of FPRS businesses, workflows, and processesWill partner closely with operations leadership, contact center leaders, customer experience, workforce management, technology, procurement, and change management teamsBe coached and supported by experienced leaders while being empowered to drive new thinking and challenge the status quoSalary Range:$132,420.00 - $217,545.00The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.Our PromiseAt Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.Inspire Well-BeingAs part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at . Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.Equal Employment OpportunityGuardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.AccommodationsGuardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site.Visa SponsorshipGuardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment-based visas (e.g., such as an H-1B). In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.Notice Regarding Guardian’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in RecruitmentAs part of Guardian’s job application process, Guardian may use artificial intelligence tools (“AI Tools") to automate the sorting and filtering of information provided by applicants as part of its preliminary screening. This preliminary screening may be used to help identify applicant materials and resumes relative to their indication that the applicant meets the requirements for the specific job for which they are applying, as specified in the listing posted on Guardian’s jobs website (Careers at Guardian at ). At Guardian, we do not use AI Tools to substantially assist or replace human judgment or discretionary decision making in our hiring process. All hiring decisions will be made by Guardian colleagues.Please be aware that if you apply for a specific position with Guardian, you will have the choice of opting out of Guardian’s use of AI Tools during the job application process. If you would like to request an alternative process that does not utilize AI Tools or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, within ten business days of your position application, you must email your request to View email address on click.appcast.io, making sure to provide your name and job requisition identification number. Guardian will retain your applicant materials and resume and all information therefrom in accordance with Guardian’s document retention policy, a copy of which you may request via View email address on click.appcast.io, at applicable times, Guardian will make public the most recent bias audit results for such AI tools, which may be found here. Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.SummaryLocation: New York; Bethlehem; Boston; PittsfieldType: Full time