AVP, Corporate Strategy

Location options: 

Chattanooga, TN

Portland, ME

Columbia, SC 

General Summary:

The person in the AVP, Corporate Strategy position is will play a key role in the development and execution of Unum Group growth strategy, working closely with the senior executive team and business owners across the organization. This role will have three main responsibilities, in varying degrees: 1) draw upon a thorough understanding of the marketplace, data-driven analysis, an “outside-in” perspective, and competitive dynamics to identify areas above and beyond existing core businesses where Unum could expand into to enable the corporation to achieve their long term financial objectives 3) Manage the portfolio of strategic projects across the entire corporation, including our main business units. Monitor performance of these project against pre-set goals and metrics and prepare reports to update executive team on these projects.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for driving the development of Unum Group strategy, working closely with the senior executive team to set our financial and business long term goals and aspirations, and to determine areas to expand into
• Identify, size and evaluate global growth opportunities, including advancement of potential employer and/or consumer segments, new markets, partnership opportunities, and technology options for the Unum Group business
• Prioritize new growth initiatives based on strategic fit, financial fit and fit with Unum’s capabilities. Assess likely revenue and profit impacts of ideas
• Develop execution plans to drive the growth strategy and to implement opportunities necessary to achieve goals and aspirations across existing and new markets
• Assess strategic potential for Unum in markets outside the US and UK, develop product and market strategies, identify distribution channels and partners and execute implementation
• Continuously monitor and evaluate efficacy of growth strategy against the backdrop of significant change in the financial services sector and the success of initial investments
• Develop a detailed understanding of the market dynamics and competitors and how those affect Unum Group strategy
• Leverage research, analysis, external market perspectives, and internal data to build thorough analysis to inform strategy development
• Develop, oversee, and drive robust portfolio governance process for the portfolio of strategic projects around the business. Keep track of what the business is investing on from a strategic perspective, including Group and Business Units initiatives; Monitor progress against cost/benefit analysis/business case for each investment and provide Status reports on projects underway;
• Support the management of team’s activities, including weekly meetings agendas, action lists and follow ups, and organize team offsites, such as development meetings, etc.
• Assess and identify Unum’s current competitive advantages, how can these be deployed in adjacent markets, and what other capabilities are needed to win in these markets
• Drive thinking and recommendations for current and future organic and inorganic investments required to built capabilities needed for the future
• Effective member of a negotiating team helping to drive and assist in business integration strategies.
• Build credibility and establish effective working relationships with internal constituents throughout the organization, and be seen as a team player, trusted advisor and business partner to the lines of business and to corporate who can build consensus and influence outcomes, while challenging thinking.