Lead Associate - Group Benefits Product Management

We are seeking a strategic and execution-driven product management leader to serve as Lead Associate, Group Benefits Product Management within our Employee Benefits (EB) business. This role will be responsible for the successful design, development, implementation, and maintenance of Group Benefits products, including Group Life and AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (STD/LTD), and Statutory Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML).

The Lead Associate will oversee the full product lifecycle across active and emerging markets and play a critical role in advancing Protective's Employee Benefits growth, with a strong focus on building out and scaling our Disability and Life offerings alongside our PFML portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end product lifecycle for Group Life and AD&D, Disability (STD/LTD), and Statutory PFML products, including market entry and expansion, product enhancements, renewals, and ongoing optimization.
• Drive the development, launch, and scaling of Group Life and AD&D products, including product design, competitive positioning, and go-to-market strategy.
• Ensure timely and accurate implementation of new state programs and legislative changes, translating regulatory requirements into actionable product, operational, and system strategies.
• Work with compliance and filing teams to develop and execute product filings and filing strategy, in partnership with Legal.
• Drive product design, standardization, scalability, and governance across the Employee Benefits portfolio, ensuring consistency while maintaining flexibility to meet regulatory and market requirements.
• Monitor product performance using financial, operational, and market intelligence metrics, including profitability, growth, and competitive positioning, and recommend enhancements to improve outcomes.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales to inform product positioning, value proposition, group benefits best practices go-to-market strategy, and market expansion efforts.
• Partner with Actuarial and Underwriting to support pricing strategy, rate development, forecasting, and loss ratio performance.
• Lead cross-functional alignment and governance across Legal, Claims, Operations, Underwriting, Actuarial, Finance, and Technology, throughout the product development process.
• Serve as the central product authority and subject matter expert for Group Benefits products driving alignment on strategy, regulatory interpretation, and execution, and supporting internal training and business enablement.
• Leverage data, analytics, and AI tools to support product research, development, and performance insights.
• Oversee operational readiness for product launches and enhancements, including systems, processes, and cross-functional training.
• Mentor and guide junior members of the team
• Represent Product, in partnership with Legal and Compliance, in engagement with industry groups and trade associations.
• Support and lead broader product strategy initiatives as assigned by EB management.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Proven leadership skills and the ability to succeed in a highly matrixed, cross-functional environment, building alignment among diverse stakeholders and delivering results.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex strategic initiatives from concept through implementation, driving progress and accountability without direct authority.
• Strategic mindset; consistently contributes thoughtful continuous improvement perspectives and new ideas.
• Deep analytical, problem-solving, and data interpretation skills.
• Strong project management skills, with advanced knowledge of agile methodologies and project management / collaboration tools.
• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively to develop solutions and achieve objectives under limited oversight.
• Executive-level communication and presentation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel as needed (~10-15%).

Education and Experience

• 15+ years of experience in product management within the insurance or employee benefits industry, with expertise across Group Benefits products including Group Life and AD&D, Disability (STD/LTD), and Statutory PFML, and multi-state regulatory environments.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field (MS / MBA preferred).
• In-depth knowledge of Group insurance products and best practices.
• Experience with product filings, legislative interpretation, and regulatory compliance.
• Expertise in effectively engaging external partners, including consultants, research firms, and third-party service providers, to advance product initiatives and deliver business outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience launching products on new administrative or digital platforms, including requirements definition, testing, and go-live support.