Why Join Guardian Life?

Guardian Life Insurance Company of America is a premier provider of group life, disability, dental, vision, and voluntary benefits solutions. For over 160 years, we've been committed to protecting and empowering American families and businesses. As a mutual company, we prioritize our policyholders, employees, and communities above all else. Join our innovative team in New York and be part of a culture that embodies our core values: We do the right thing, We believe people count, We courageously shape our future together, and We go above and beyond for the people we serve.

At Guardian, you'll enjoy unparalleled support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through comprehensive skill-building programs, leadership development opportunities, and philanthropic initiatives, we invest in your growth. Our hybrid work model offers the best of both worlds—collaboration in state-of-the-art offices and the freedom to work remotely. Plus, competitive compensation, generous benefits, and a focus on work-life balance make Guardian the employer of choice for top talent in financial services.

Role Description

Guardian Life is seeking a dynamic Strategic Projects Lead to translate priority strategies into data-driven plans and measurable outcomes. This execution-focused subject matter expert (SME) role owns high-impact initiatives end-to-end—from strategy conception and business-case development through flawless execution, stakeholder adoption, and rigorous post-implementation ROI and KPI tracking.

Partnering with a dedicated project manager for timeline and logistical support, you'll retain single-threaded accountability for strategy fidelity and results. This individual contributor position demands rigorous analysis, clear hypotheses, pragmatic solution design, and disciplined follow-through. Ideal for strategic thinkers passionate about driving business transformation in a regulated financial services environment.

Detailed Responsibilities

• Conceive & shape strategy: Frame complex problems, develop strategic options, and produce compelling business cases including financial impact, qualitative benefits, risks, and dependencies.
• Plan for execution: Translate high-level strategy into actionable delivery roadmaps with defined scope, success criteria, KPI baselines/targets, and comprehensive measurement plans.
• Lead functional workstreams: Facilitate cross-functional decisioning sessions; define precise requirements and acceptance criteria; ensure solution integrity across Operations, Technology, Risk, Compliance, and Finance.
• Partner with project manager: Leverage PM expertise for ceremonies, schedules, and RAID (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies) tracking while owning outcomes.
• Build measurement & insight: Design and implement KPI/ROI tracking mechanisms (dashboards, scorecards, adoption metrics); monitor leading/lagging indicators; recommend data-backed course corrections.
• Run pilots & validate value: Architect experiments, A/B tests, and post-implementation reviews; codify lessons learned and develop scalable rollout plans.
• Drive change & adoption: Develop playbooks, cutover plans, training outlines, and targeted communications to ensure seamless rollout and sustained usage.
• Guard the quality bar: Scrutinize analyses, financial models, and decision memos for accuracy, logical rigor, and completeness; maintain auditable documentation.
• Report concisely: Deliver executive-ready status dashboards and one-page updates emphasizing objectives, KPIs, risks, and key decisions required.

Required Skills

Excel as a Strategic Projects Lead with these essential skills:

• Hypothesis-driven problem-solving
• Financial modeling and ROI analysis
• Data visualization (Excel, Tableau)
• Cross-functional stakeholder influence
• Structured thinking (issue trees, sensitivity analysis)
• Change management and adoption strategies
• Agile project execution
• Executive communication and reporting
• Risk and compliance navigation
• KPI definition and tracking

Education & Experience

• 5–7 years in strategy, business analysis, management consulting, or equivalent, preferably in financial services or regulated industries.
• Proven track record translating strategy into measurable outcomes (e.g., KPI improvements, cost reductions, revenue uplift, enhanced client experiences).
• Strong analytical toolkit: Advanced Excel proficiency; Tableau or similar visualization tools preferred.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives with Operations, Technology, Risk/Compliance, and Finance partners.
• Demonstrated change-management success: Stakeholder preparation, adoption enablement, and post-launch performance sustainment.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Analytics, or related field; MBA or advanced certification a plus.
• This is an individual contributor role with no direct reports, emphasizing execution and results accountability.

Compensation Overview

Salary Range: $82,770.00 - $135,975.00 (USD, yearly)

This range reflects a good faith estimate for the primary location (New York, United States). Final salary determined by education, experience, knowledge, and abilities. Eligible for annual incentives, sales bonuses, or other performance-based compensation.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with generous company match
• Paid time off, parental leave, and flexible holidays
• Professional development stipend and tuition reimbursement
• Hybrid work model with modern office spaces
• Wellness programs, gym discounts, and mental health support
• Volunteer time off and charitable matching
• Employee stock purchase plan and financial planning services

Guardian Life is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Apply today to shape the future of financial protection at Guardian!