Client Manager Associate, Premier

Job Description
The Client Manager Associate, Premier Market will assume overall responsibility for leading a client book of business in the 2-99 life space. They will be responsible for persistency, growth and profitability of this book through relationship development with clients, brokers, and key Guardian internal partners. These partners include Underwriting, Sales Support, Service and Claims. This position will also directly work with Sales Representatives to uncover opportunities to add additional lines of coverage to existing business. This position requires the individual to be an ambassador to the business!
The Client Manager Associate is directly and/or indirectly accountable for activities associated with renewing plans (plan retention) and adding new lines of coverage ("add issue") including, but not limited to, generating plan options and quotes for additional lines of coverage. The individual will proactively evaluate their existing book of business for add issue opportunities, as well as handle incoming renewal and negotiation requests. A successful candidate must demonstrate strong customer service competence, strong consulting/negotiation skills, deep ancillary product knowledge (dental, vision, life, accident, disability, statutory, supplemental health, voluntary benefits, and leave management) with a high degree of operational effectiveness.
You will:

• Form relationships with brokers/producers/plan holders for groups with less than 100 enrolled lives.
• Interpret, deliver, and clearly communicate renewals, alternative plan options, and add issue quotes to the broker/producer/client.
• Review experience and utilization reports with Sales Reps for groups with under 100 lives; Package and deliver appropriate reports based on group size and availability.
• Proactively identify add issue opportunities for groups under 100 lives by using Salesforce Reports and other strategies developed in collaboration with Sales Reps and generating quotes. Follow up with broker/producer regarding status of renewals and add issue quotes while also engaging the Sales Rep, as needed, to help close the renewal or sale.
• Provide renewal rate relief for groups under 100 lives through negotiations with underwriting, as well as determining and generating plan alternative options.
• Serve as subject matter authority on various Guardian systems, capabilities, products, and workflow procedures.

You have:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent customer service soft skills
• Very strong mathematical competence and analytical skills
• Strong consultative, negotiation, persuasion, and influencing skills with a sales orientation
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative working relationships at all levels
• A client-focused approach
• Personal accountability
• Strong planning and organizational skills with ability to multi-task
• Ability to easily adapt to change
• Ability to work independently and in a group setting
• Motivation to meet goals: meet persistency goals, renewal target goals, cross-sell goals (add issue), etc.
• Computer proficiency in Outlook, Skype, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Salesforce, GCRS, Siebel, CPS, Phoenix, Business Objects, etc.
• Ability to represent Guardian in a professional manner

Knowledge

• Solid knowledge of group insurance products, contracts, and services. Group insurance products include dental (PPO, DHMO, fully insured and ASO), vision, life, accident, short- and long-term disability (fully insured and ASO), statutory disability, supplemental health, voluntary benefits, and leave management (federal, state, and local).
• Solid knowledge of financing methodologies and strategies (fully insured and alternate funding)
• Solid knowledge of group insurance underwriting principles, methodologies, and practices

Education

• BA or BS Degree is preferred. Will consider work experience equivalent.

Experience

• 3 to 5 years of insurance industry experience, preferably in a sales environment
• Demonstrated success in servicing brokers/producers/customers

Location:

• Preferred location for this position is hybrid out of the Plano TX office

Other:

• Variable compensation for persistency and renewal target bonus and cross-sell/add-issue bonus, according to the current-year Group Sales Incentive Compensation Plan for Client Manager Associates.
• Must achieve required industry licensing within 90 days of date of hire and maintain license through completing Continuing Education requirements.

Salary Range
$43,700 - $71,785
The 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 Promise
At 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-Being
As 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.
Health Care

• Choice of (high deductible/copay) medical plans* with prescription drugs, including coverage for fertility and transgender inclusive benefits
• Dental plan
• Vision plan
• Health care accounts - flexible spending, health reimbursement, and health savings accounts
• Critical illness insurance

Life and Disability Insurance

• Company-paid Life and Disability insurance plus voluntary supplemental coverage
• Accident insurance

Retirement and Financial

• 401(k) retirement plan with a company match, plus an annual age/service-based Company contribution and an annual profit-sharing contribution, if applicable
• Complimentary 1:1 financial guidance with a licensed Fidelity representative

Time Off and Remote Work

• Flexible work arrangements (part in-person/part remote)
• Unlimited paid time off for most roles plus time off for volunteering, jury duty, voting, and bereavement
• Personal holidays for colleagues to use in recognition of religious, cultural, or civic days
• Paid parental leave and paid family and medical leave policies

Emotional Well-being and Work-Life

• Emotional well-being, mental health, and work/life resources powered by Spring Health
• Wellness programs, including fitness program and equipment reimbursement
• Child, adult, and elder back-up care support through Bright Horizons
• Adoption assistance
• College planning
• Tuition reimbursement
• Student loan assistance
• Commuter benefits in select metropolitan areas

Equity & Inclusion
Opportunities to build inclusive and meaningful connections through involvement in colleague-led affinity groups:

• Employee Resource Groups:
• Colleague Connection Committees
• Community Involvement Committees

A culture that encourages colleagues to bring their authentic selves to work

• Voluntary self-ID
• Pronunciation and phonetic spelling of names

Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Guardian 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.
Accommodations
Guardian 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
Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday