National Director General Agents

About the role

The role of represents a pivotal leadership opportunity within the employee benefits ecosystem. This position owns the end-to-end strategy and execution of distribution growth through general agent and brokerage partnerships. You will architect the national approach to expanding our reach across key broker channels and digital ecosystems. The hire will cultivate executive-level relationships that transform strategic intent into scalable revenue streams. You will serve as the primary internal advocate for partnership effectiveness and market penetration. This position requires ownership of both the vision and the operational discipline necessary to sustain long-term distribution success. You will directly influence how Protective is positioned within the evolving employee benefits landscape.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect a comprehensive strategic plan to broaden the national reach of our distribution channels across diverse market segments.
• Pioneer the identification of novel distribution methods, advanced technology solutions, and high-potential market prospects that fuel durable growth.
• Engineer innovative partnership structures designed to convert strategic relationships into scalable revenue-generating distribution avenues.
• Forge and nurture relationships with leaders at major brokerage firms, progressive technology providers, influential general agents, and strategic carrier partners.
• Orchestrate key initiatives that position our company at the forefront of the evolving digital and employee benefits transformation.
• Formulate intricate partnership plans encompassing joint business objectives, binding distribution commitments, and aggressive growth targets.
• Function as the central internal expert on emerging distribution methods, cutting-edge technology-driven benefits systems, and high-impact partnership opportunities.
• Establish quantifiable performance metrics to rigorously assess the success of partnerships, focusing on revenue, market share, and distribution expansion KPIs.
• Synchronize closely with internal leadership to guarantee partnership initiatives are flawlessly aligned with overarching company strategy and ambitious sales goals.
• Continuously monitor partner performance metrics and proactively identify avenues to deepen relationships and maximize revenue potential.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of the employee benefits distribution market to uncover valuable partnership prospects and white-space opportunities.
• Formulate sophisticated partnership strategies aimed at expanding access to extensive broker networks, diverse employers, and modern technology-driven enrollment systems.
• Structure large-scale, complex partnership agreements that robustly support our long-term growth strategy and fortified market position.
• Drive dynamic cross-functional collaboration to ensure complete operational readiness for the launch and scaling of new distribution channels.
• Implement comprehensive systems for partner onboarding, immersive training programs, and sophisticated ongoing relationship management.
• Launch visionary initiatives designed to establish our company as an indispensable preferred partner within the competitive employee benefits arena.
• Institutionalize continuous assessment processes for partnership effectiveness, systematically identifying exponential growth opportunities.
• Cultivate strategic connections with national and regional General Agents (GAs) and wholesale distributors that exert significant influence over broker channels.
• Design structured GA partnership models with precise definitions of distribution commitments, incentive compensation structures, and aggressive growth targets.
• Identify high-performing GAs possessing the capability to extend our reach exponentially through dense broker populations and diverse regional markets.
• Collaborate strategically with sales leadership to align GA partnerships with critical field distribution priorities and dynamic broker engagement strategies.
• Lead initiatives to solidify our company's position as a preferred carrier within established GA distribution platforms and networks.
• General Agent partnerships will substantially expand our access to broker networks by fully leveraging established wholesale distribution channels. By forming alliances with high-producing GAs who manage large broker populations, we can unlock new employer opportunities and accelerate premium growth within key strategic markets. These strategic partnerships will generate substantial incremental premium by enhancing broker access, elevating product visibility, and reinforcing our dominant presence within GA-led distribution systems.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor's degree in business, finance, marketing, or a closely related academic area.
• Possess 8-12 years of cumulative experience specifically within employee benefits, group insurance, strategic partnerships, or distribution strategy domains.
• Demonstrate a proven track record in successfully creating, launching, and executing strategic partnerships within the highly regulated employee benefits or insurance sectors.
• Maintain a solid and current understanding of broker distribution models, intricate general agent networks, and sophisticated benefits technology platforms.
• Exhibit a proven ability to structure complex partnership agreements and consistently achieve measurable business results and financial objectives.
• Demonstrate extensive experience working collaboratively and effectively with sales, product management, and technology departments in matrixed environments.
• Master excellent skills in relationship management, high-stakes negotiation, and sophisticated executive-level communication.

Nice to have

• Hands-on experience with modern benefits administration platforms, integrated HRIS systems, leading payroll providers, or advanced rating and quoting tools.
• Deep familiarity with group disability insurance products, paid family and medical leave programs, or specialized supplemental insurance product suites.
• Direct experience supporting distribution models that leverage advanced technology and data-driven methodologies.
• Established, strong relationships within prominent national brokerage firms or influential general agent networks.
• Possession of an MBA or another advanced business degree that provides strategic leadership advantages.

Practical notes

• Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities during the application and recruitment process. Please email eric.hess@protective.com for assistance. This email is for accommodation requests only.