AVP, Innovation & Strategic Initiatives

About Us: At Everly, our vision is to change the paradigm of insurance. We know life insurance can be confusing and complex. We know that most people purchase life insurance at a milestone moment and file it away for the future. We want to change how people think about, buy, and use life insurance by being a partner in life’s journey.  We are focused on making things that matter, making meaningful connections, and making things work WAY better. Our goal is to provide radically transparent, consumer-first insurance solutions.   We are looking for people with a continuous improvement mindset. Those who think the opposite of “This is how we’ve always done it”. We want people on our team who are always asking “How can we do this better?”    Our company values are a guide to our behavior and help inform our decisions.  We want people who embody those values of breaking down barriers, owning the outcome, embracing the journey, and sparking joy.   This is a remote position based in the US with occasional travel.   About the role: We are building the next generation of our retirement and financial solutions business — expanding how we serve distribution partners, reach customers, and use technology to create more scalable, integrated experiences. The AVP, Innovation & Strategic Initiatives works directly with the C-suite and senior leaders to translate high-priority strategic opportunities into operating capabilities, commercial partnerships, and launched solutions. This is a strategy role with a strong execution mandate. You will help shape and implement an evolving operating model, lead the execution of strategic partnerships, develop technology and capability roadmaps, and advance opportunities from concept through launch. You will operate across strategy, technology, product, distribution, and partnerships. Success requires the curiosity to reimagine what is possible, the judgment to make sound decisions under ambiguity, and the ownership mindset to make it happen.  A core part of this work is mapping the end-to-end customer and advisor experience — ensuring that strategy translates into a clear, coherent journey before technology and operations are asked to build it.   What You’ll Do:   Lead priority strategic growth and innovation initiatives from thesis and business-case development through solution design, execution, and launch. Frame decisions for C-suite and senior leaders, and own stakeholder alignment, dependencies, milestones, and outcomes. Drive and support complex strategic partnerships with distributors and technology providers — managing day-to-day relationships and coordinating work across external partners and internal teams, translating commercial objectives into clear requirements, workplans, and implemented solutions.  An example of this work may include: Mapping end-to-end customer and advisor/agent journeys for strategic growth initiatives — defining the full experience from first touchpoint through post-sale — and translating those journey maps into clear experience requirements that connect commercial objectives to technology enablement, product design, and operational execution. Develop and oversee integrated roadmaps for the technology and business capabilities needed to support strategic growth initiatives; translate business priorities into sequenced product, technology, and operating requirements and implementation plans. Implement and continuously evolve the operating model that connects strategic growth initiatives with established product, distribution, technology, and operations functions — including clear decision rights, governance, handoffs, and cross-team accountability. Maximize the enterprise value of new capabilities by connecting them to broader business priorities and driving their adoption and reuse across channels and operations, coordinating the cross-functional dependencies required to realize that value.   Skills and Experience:   8+ years in strategy, product innovation, technology-enabled transformation, or operating-model development within financial services — or in consulting/technology roles serving financial institutions. Demonstrated success moving complex initiatives from strategy through launch: business cases, operating and capability requirements, roadmaps, and coordinated implementation across business and technology teams. Experience structuring and executing strategic partnerships or platform integrations, translating commercial opportunities into clear product, technology, and operating requirements. Proven ability to engage credibly with C-suite and senior leaders, frame complex decisions, influence across organizational boundaries, and drive alignment without direct authority. Working knowledge of one or more relevant markets: wealth management, banking, retirement, digital distribution, direct-to-consumer financial services, or RIA/advisor platforms. Fluency using AI to improve analysis, decision-making, and execution. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience; MBA or advanced degree preferred.   At Everly, we celebrate our diverse backgrounds and support our differences, and we are dedicated to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or any other legally protected status.   We’re also committed to adding new perspectives to our team and invite applications from people of all walks of life. We understand that experience comes in many forms, so if you believe you’re close to what we’re looking for, please consider applying.   Everly offers a competitive salary and as a full-time employee you are eligible for our robust benefits package including:   Employees are eligible for an annual incentive bonus designed to reward for performance. The salary range for this job in most geographic locations in the US is $194,000 - $252,000 Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location and will be reflected in the candidate’s offer letter.  Flexible paid time off for PTO, plus paid holidays, days of Significance, and a Volunteer Day Paid parental leave eligible after 3 months of service Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance 401k with company match Profit Sharing & Savings Plan Short-term and long-term disability insurance Flexible spending account Life insurance Educational Assistance Associate Assistance Programs and more!   Visit the career section to apply and submit your resume. EOE