Vice President, National Key Accounts (Business Development)

Reporting directly to the Head of National Key Accounts, the Vice President, Business Development will be responsible for strategically managing several national key distribution partnerships for the Core Retirement division of Ascensus, to increase our visibility in the marketplace, drive revenue, and achieve stated goals.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Strategic Planning and Execution: Responsible for creating and driving the execution of strategic business plans in alignment with Ascensus’ organizational goals.

• Partnership Management: Build and maintain strong, consultative, and mutually beneficial professional alliances with our key distribution partners, striving to keep a balance between Ascensus’ objectives and those of our partners.

• Product Placement and Expansion: Drive opportunities to expand product placement, develop new products, and execute launch strategies in collaboration with marketing and sales to increase top line revenue.

• Industry Event Representation: Represent Ascensus at industry and/or advisor events, including as a featured speaker or panelist, to promote Ascensus’ proficiency in our chosen markets, enhance brand awareness, garner industry intel, make advisor connections, and source opportunity leads for the sales team.

Strategic Planning and Execution: Responsible for creating and driving the execution of strategic business plans in alignment with Ascensus’ organizational goals.

• Maintain and expand key partner relationships in alignment with strategic business plans, ensuring objectives and key performance indicators are met for each assigned partner
• Balance Ascensus objectives with those of our distribution partners, creating mutually beneficial and growth-focused strategies
• Manage partner initiatives and product solution projects to completion, ensuring our products and services align with our partners' strategic growth needs
• Engage in the evaluation and development of new partner relationships, coordinating appropriate communication strategies
• Collaborate with sales leadership and the sales team to identify opportunities to leverage partner firm intelligence, target advisors, and markets to drive additional sales activity and broaden our distribution footprint with key partners
• Create and distribute resources for the sales team, providing timely intelligence and action items specific to each strategic partner

Partnership Management: Build and maintain strong, consultative, and mutually beneficial alliances with our key distribution partners, striving to keep a balance between Ascensus’ objectives and those of our partners.

• Day-to-day relationship management focused on building partnerships, growth opportunities, and retention
• Engage with partners through strategic partnership meetings, product promotion, and alignment of key objectives
• Capitalize on formal partnership program opportunities to maximize ROI
• Territory analysis/reviews by partner with RVPs/ISCs to broaden our advisor footprint with retirement specialists
• Act as a liaison for assigned partners connecting with Ascensus leadership and collaborating with cross-functional teams within the organization to ensure alignment and accountability of key initiatives and resolution of escalated inquiries

Product Placement and Expansion: Drive opportunities to expand product placement, develop new products, and execute launch strategies in collaboration with marketing and sales to increase top line revenue.

• Expand product placement, explore new product development opportunities and ownership of launch strategies
• Collaborate with marketing on initiatives, promotions, and sell futures
• Work closely with colleagues in sales, product, operations, service, and marketing to guide the evolution of our offerings and enhance the visibility and perception of Ascensus in the marketplace
• Surface opportunities for our partners to leverage the broader Ascensus enterprise, referring across business divisions where appropriate
• Maintain a deep knowledge of industry landscape and key competitors to highlight our unique advantages

Industry Event Representation: Represent Ascensus at industry and/or advisor events, including as a featured speaker or panelist, to promote Ascensus’ proficiency in our chosen markets, enhance brand awareness, garner industry intel, make advisor connections, and source opportunity leads for the sales team.

• Focus on targeted engagement with retirement specialist advisors
• Create and distribute post event communications to inform sales team and provide action items to drive sales activity
• Lead and promote partner/Ascensus key initiatives and sales campaigns

     Key Skills/Capabilities

• Deep knowledge of the retirement plan industry
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage a strategic business plan – including key measures of success
• Strong leadership skills – including influencing others and driving results
• Demonstrated ability to operate and create results with limited oversight
• Excellent communication and influencing skills – with the ability to lead diverse groups to consensus
• Strong stakeholder management; able to partner across business segments
• An effective team player, who can work with people at all levels 
• High level of self-motivation, with strong integrity and ethics 
• Highly organized with the ability to effectively prioritize key issues and deliverables
• Series 6 and 63 licenses

     Experience

• 10+ years of experience in the financial services industry
• 5+ years of experience in national key accounts or business development with recordkeeping organization
• Deep understanding of the retirement industry and competitive dynamics

     Personal Qualities

• Adaptable and resilient
• Committed and energetic
• Decisive, able to operate independently
• High personal and professional integrity
• Results oriented with a commitment to excellence
• Proactive self-starter, resourceful, and flexible

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