Senior Associate, Designation Program Operations

Senior Associate, Designation Program OperationsThe Senior Associate, Designation Program Operations is responsible for the day-to-day operational execution, field activation, and program coordination of professional designations supported by New York Life. This role translates strategy into action by driving communication cadence, cohort operations, recognition, and leader enablement, ensuring the program is executed consistently, at scale, and with measurable impact.This role is execution- and influence-focused, partnering closely with Agency Communications, Field Enablement, NYLIC University, the National Development Faculty (NDF) team, and Zone and GO leadership.Field Activation & Communication Execution· Build and run a comprehensive communications calendar for designations, including audience segmentation, timing, channel, sender, and recurring communication rhythms.· Own and deliver activation content packages for leaders, including clear calls-to-action, coaching talking points, and consistent program narratives across channels.· Partner closely with Agency Communications and Field Enablement to coordinate cadence and segmentation, reducing perceived email overload while maintaining strong field visibility and alignment.Cohort & Learner Operations· Run end-to-end study cohort operations, including scheduling, enrollment windows, participant management, reminders, and completion pacing across designations.· Implement accountability mechanisms to confirm cohort participation and course enrollment (e.g., surveys, workflows, or other structured confirmations).Near-Completer Conversion & Leader Enablement· Own near-completer execution, including follow-up cadence, nudges, and handoffs to leaders to drive designation completions.· Analyze data from internal databases and reports to identify designation target audiences and develop targeted prospect lists.Cross-Functional Partnership· Serve as a key operational partner to Agency Communications, Field Enablement, NYLIC University, the NDF team, and other key stakeholders to ensure aligned execution and consistent field experience.· Support leadership readiness by ensuring communications, cohorts, and recognition efforts are well-timed, clearly messaged, and easy for leaders to activate locally.What You'll Bring:· Experience supporting strategic initiatives and operational execution within a complex, matrixed organization.· Strong execution skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams, timelines, and stakeholders simultaneously.· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly in creating leader-ready and field-facing content.· Experience analyzing data from multiple sources to identify target audiences, segment populations, and support marketing and outreach initiatives.· Demonstrated ability to partner across teams and influence without formal authority.· High attention to detail, paired with a bias toward action and follow-through.Why This Role MattersDesignations are a core driver of advisor development, leadership credibility, and business impact at New York Life. This role ensures that strategy does not stop at planning but is activated consistently in the field through disciplined operations, strong communications, and effective cohort execution. By owning the operational engine behind these programs, this role directly supports increased completions, stronger engagement, and a scalable program model.