Director, Carrier Solutions & Product Strategy

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Director, Carrier Solutions & Product Strategy

Company: Gallagher

Location: Rolling Meadows, Illinois, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Revenue Operations / Sales Operations / Product Strategy

Date Posted: 2026-04-14T16:52:00

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: On-site (Rolling Meadows, Illinois)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic evolution and differentiation of Gallagher Bassett's (GB) carrier practice product and service offerings, encompassing claims handling models, operational capabilities, and technology infrastructure.

• Develop and refine GB’s end-to-end carrier solutions to ensure market relevance, scalability, and alignment with the specific needs of carrier clients.

• Partner closely with Sales, Claims Operations, Product, Technology, and Executive Leadership to enable growth, deepen carrier relationships, and support go-to-market (GTM) execution.

• Synthesize complex market intelligence into actionable insights to inform product decisions, sales strategy, and overall business development for the Carrier Practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job description mentions "Market intelligence remains a key enabling function, providing insight and context to inform product decisions and sales strategy, but is not the primary focus of the role," the extensive responsibilities related to market analysis, competitor strategy, and data synthesis strongly indicate a significant operational and strategic component. This role is crucial for shaping the GTM strategy and product roadmap from an operational and market-driven perspective, making it highly relevant to Operations professionals. The role is positioned as a strategic leader within the Carrier Practice, focusing on how operational capabilities and product offerings are designed, enhanced, and delivered to meet carrier client needs.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Market Intelligence & Strategy:

  • Lead continuous monitoring and advanced analysis of industry trends, competitor strategies, and emerging technologies within the carrier segment.
  • Synthesize complex market data into actionable insights that directly inform sales strategy, go-to-market (GTM) planning, and product positioning.
  • Oversee the development and delivery of executive-level dashboards, reports, and presentations to guide leadership decision-making and sales execution.

• Sales Enablement & GTM Execution:

  • Serve as a strategic partner to sales leadership, shaping and refining value propositions, solution narratives, and competitive differentiation for carrier offerings.
  • Direct the creation of robust business cases, ROI models, and transformation proposals that support carrier client acquisition and retention.
  • Equip sales teams with timely market intelligence, product updates, and enablement resources to drive performance and strategic alignment with GTM objectives.

• Product Enhancement & Innovation:

  • Champion initiatives to advance Carrier Practice product offerings, with a focus on claims handling excellence, process optimization, technology infrastructure modernization, and the development of adjacent services.
  • Lead cross-functional collaboration with Product, Claims Operations, IT, and other stakeholders to design, launch, and continuously improve solutions that address evolving carrier needs and operational efficiencies.
  • Integrate client feedback and market signals into the product development lifecycle to accelerate innovation and enhance service delivery excellence.

• Cross-Functional Execution:

  • Act as a key liaison between sales, product, operations, and technology teams to ensure alignment and seamless execution of strategic initiatives.

  • Drive continuous improvement by sharing market insights and best practices across the organization, fostering a culture of learning and adaptation.

  • Contribute significantly to long-term strategic planning and business development objectives for the Carrier Practice, ensuring operational readiness and product alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly delineate a role that bridges strategic thinking with operational execution. The emphasis on "claims handling models, operational capabilities, technology infrastructure, and adjacent services" points to a deep involvement in the operational aspects of product delivery. The role requires translating market insights into tangible product enhancements and GTM strategies, which are core to revenue and sales operations functions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree required.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of related experience required.

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in market intelligence, product management, strategy, or related fields within the insurance, risk management, or technology sectors.

• Demonstrated experience leading product enhancement initiatives and collaborating effectively across sales, product, and technology teams.

• Proven ability to analyze complex market data and translate insights into actionable strategies and operational improvements.

Required Skills:

• Strategic Planning & Product Strategy: Ability to define and execute long-term product roadmaps and strategic initiatives for carrier solutions.

• Market Intelligence & Analysis: Proficiency in gathering, synthesizing, and interpreting market data, competitor activities, and industry trends to inform strategic decisions.

• Sales Enablement & GTM Strategy: Experience in developing and implementing effective go-to-market plans and equipping sales teams with necessary tools and intelligence.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Proven ability to lead and influence diverse teams (Sales, Product, Operations, Technology) towards common goals.

• Financial Acumen: Strong capability in developing business cases, ROI models, and financial projections to support product development and sales efforts.

• Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a strong ability to present complex information clearly to executive leadership and stakeholders.

• Insurance Industry Knowledge: In-depth understanding of the insurance sector, particularly the carrier segment, including claims handling processes and operational nuances.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with CRM, analytics, and business intelligence tools for data-driven decision-making.

• Experience with product development lifecycle management within a regulated industry.

• Understanding of technology infrastructure relevant to claims processing and client service delivery.

• Skills in process optimization and operational efficiency improvements.

• Ability to act independently with minimal direction, demonstrating proactivity and self-motivation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Preferred Skills" section highlights familiarity with CRM, analytics, and BI tools, which are core to operations roles. The mention of "process optimization and operational efficiency improvements" directly aligns with the objectives of revenue and sales operations. The requirement for "7+ years of relevant experience" in "market intelligence, product management, strategy, or related fields within insurance, risk management, or technology" underscores the strategic and analytical depth expected, suitable for senior operations professionals.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies on Product Strategy & GTM: Showcase instances where you developed and executed product strategies that led to significant market penetration or revenue growth within the insurance sector.

• Examples of Market Analysis & Insight Synthesis: Provide examples of how you translated complex market data into actionable recommendations for sales teams or product development.

• Demonstrations of Cross-Functional Collaboration: Illustrate projects where you successfully collaborated with Sales, Product, Operations, and Technology teams to launch or enhance offerings.

• Business Case & ROI Model Development: Present examples of business cases or ROI models you developed to justify investments in new product features, operational improvements, or technology solutions.

• Process Optimization Initiatives: Highlight any projects focused on improving claims handling processes, operational workflows, or technology infrastructure for efficiency and client satisfaction.

Process Documentation:

• Strategic Planning Documentation: Evidence of strategic planning documents, product roadmaps, or GTM plans you have authored or significantly contributed to.

• Market Intelligence Reports: Examples of market analysis reports, competitor assessments, or trend analyses that informed strategic decisions.

• Sales Enablement Materials: Samples of sales enablement collateral, value propositions, or solution narratives you developed.

• Performance Metrics & Dashboards: Demonstrations of how you tracked and reported on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to product performance, sales effectiveness, or operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on product strategy and GTM execution within an operational context, a portfolio demonstrating the ability to translate strategic vision into actionable operational plans is critical. This includes showcasing how market insights inform product roadmaps and how these products are enabled for sales through operational readiness.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

The provided salary information indicates $0, suggesting it was either not specified or not captured. Based on industry standards for a "Director" level position with 10+ years of experience in the insurance sector, located in Rolling Meadows, Illinois (a suburban Chicago area), a competitive annual base salary range would typically be between $150,000 - $220,000 USD. This estimate accounts for the strategic nature of the role, the required experience, and the cost of living in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Benefits:

• Core Benefits (starting day one):

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Plans
  • Life and Accident Insurance
  • 401(K) and Roth retirement savings options
  • Tax-advantaged accounts (Health Savings Account - HSA, Flexible Spending Account - FSA)
  • Educational Expense Reimbursement
  • Paid Parental Leave

• Additional Benefits:

  • Digital mental health services (e.g., through Talkspace)
  • Flexible Work Hours (availability varies by office and job function)
  • Comprehensive Training Programs
  • Gallagher Thrive program (health and well-being initiatives)
  • Charitable Matching Gift Program

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are assumed to be approximately 40 hours per week.

• The role offers flexible work hours, with availability varying by office and job function, suggesting a degree of autonomy in managing the workday to achieve strategic objectives and operational demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for Director-level roles in the insurance/risk management sector in the Chicago metropolitan area, considering the extensive experience and strategic responsibilities outlined. The benefits listed are directly from the provided text, highlighting comprehensive offerings typical for a large, established organization like Gallagher.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Insurance / Risk Management / Claims Management Services

Company Size: Gallagher is a large, global insurance brokerage, risk management, and consulting firm. While the exact size of the specific division (Gallagher Bassett) isn't detailed, the parent company employs thousands worldwide, indicating a robust, well-established corporate environment with extensive resources. This size suggests opportunities for structured career progression and access to advanced operational tools and methodologies.

Founded: Gallagher was founded in 1927, signifying a long history of stability, expertise, and established practices within the insurance industry.

Team Structure:

• Operations Focus: The role operates within the Carrier Practice, focusing on product and strategy development to serve carrier clients. This implies close collaboration with various operational units like Claims Operations, Product Development, and Technology.

• Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to the Senior Vice President (SVP) of the Carrier Practice, indicating a high level of visibility and strategic influence.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The position requires significant partnership with Sales, Product, Claims Operations, and Technology teams, emphasizing a collaborative and integrated approach to strategy execution.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Strategy: The role emphasizes the use of market intelligence and data analysis to inform product decisions, sales strategy, and GTM planning.

• Process Optimization: A key aspect involves championing initiatives to advance product offerings through claims handling, process optimization, and technology infrastructure improvements.

• Client-Centric Innovation: The integration of client feedback and market signals into the product development lifecycle highlights a commitment to innovation that directly addresses client needs and market dynamics.

Company Website: https://www.ajg.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Gallagher's long history and global presence suggest a structured, professional environment with established operational processes and a strong emphasis on client service and risk management. The role's reporting structure to an SVP indicates significant strategic importance and influence within the Carrier Practice.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, a Director-level position, responsible for shaping the strategic direction and operational execution of product offerings for a specific client segment (carriers). It requires significant strategic thinking, market analysis, and cross-functional leadership capabilities, placing it at a high level within the operations and strategy function.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to the Senior Vice President (SVP) of the Carrier Practice. This direct line to executive leadership provides a unique opportunity for high-level exposure, strategic input, and accelerated career development within the organization.

Operations Impact: The Director will have a direct impact on revenue growth and market positioning by defining and enhancing the core product and service offerings for carrier clients. Success in this role translates to deeper client relationships, increased client acquisition and retention, and a stronger competitive advantage for Gallagher Bassett within the carrier segment. The role is instrumental in ensuring the operational readiness and market relevance of GB’s solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into VP or SVP roles within the Carrier Practice or broader Gallagher Bassett organization, leading larger teams or broader strategic initiatives.

• Specialization Deepening: Opportunity to become a recognized expert in carrier solutions, product strategy, and GTM execution within the insurance and risk management sectors.

• Broader Strategic Influence: The role's high visibility and direct reporting line to an SVP offer chances to influence company-wide strategy and contribute to major business development efforts.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning through exposure to complex market challenges, advanced analytics, and executive-level decision-making, fostering growth in strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and product innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role represents a significant career step for operations professionals looking to move into strategic leadership. The direct impact on revenue through product strategy and GTM execution, coupled with executive visibility, offers substantial growth potential.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The primary location is Rolling Meadows, Illinois, indicating a corporate office environment. Given the industry and company size, this is likely a professional office setting conducive to focused work, client interactions, and team collaboration.

Office Location(s): Rolling Meadows, Illinois, United States (2850 West Golf Road, 60008). This location is in the suburban Chicago area.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires extensive collaboration with internal teams (Sales, Product, Operations, Technology), suggesting a workplace that facilitates and encourages cross-functional teamwork.

• Operations Tools & Technology: While specific tools aren't detailed here, a Director-level role within a large firm like Gallagher would likely have access to robust CRM, analytics, BI, and project management software necessary for strategic planning and execution.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with sales teams, product managers, claims operations leaders, and executive leadership, providing diverse perspectives and fostering professional development.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 per week).

• The job description mentions "Flexible work hours (availability varies by office and job function)," indicating some degree of autonomy in managing daily schedules to meet project deadlines and strategic objectives, which is common for senior roles focused on outcomes rather than strict time-logging.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Rolling Meadows location suggests a corporate hub environment, likely with modern office facilities designed for both focused work and collaboration. The mention of flexible hours indicates a results-oriented culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and application to assess alignment with the required qualifications and experience.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the SVP or a designated hiring manager to delve into your strategic experience, market understanding, and leadership capabilities. Be prepared to discuss your approach to product strategy and GTM.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Sales, Product, Claims Operations, and Technology teams. These interviews will assess your collaboration style, ability to influence, and understanding of their respective functions.

• Case Study/Presentation: Candidates may be asked to present a strategic proposal, analyze a market scenario, or discuss a past project demonstrating their ability to develop and execute product strategies and GTM plans.

• Executive Review: Final interviews with senior leadership to assess cultural fit, strategic vision alignment, and overall suitability for the Director role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: For each example, clearly articulate the problem, your solution (strategy, process, product enhancement), your role, and the quantifiable results (revenue growth, market share, efficiency gains, client retention).

• Showcase Strategic Thinking: Present case studies that demonstrate your ability to analyze complex market data, identify opportunities, and translate them into actionable product and GTM strategies.

• Highlight Cross-Functional Success: Include examples where you effectively collaborated with diverse teams, managed stakeholders, and drove consensus towards a common objective.

• Demonstrate Operational Acumen: Show how your strategies were grounded in operational realities, considering claims handling, technology, and process optimization.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Structure your portfolio for easy understanding. Use clear headings, bullet points, and impactful visuals where appropriate. Be ready to walk through your most relevant projects.

Challenge Preparation:

• Market Analysis Case: Be prepared for a scenario where you need to analyze a market trend or competitor move and propose a strategic response for GB's Carrier Practice.

• GTM Strategy Development: You might be asked to outline a GTM strategy for a new or enhanced carrier solution, considering target markets, value propositions, sales enablement, and operational readiness.

• Stakeholder Alignment Exercise: Practice articulating complex strategies and gaining buy-in from different functional groups.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "Director, Carrier Solutions & Product Strategy" role means that interviewers will be looking for strategic vision backed by a solid understanding of operational execution and market dynamics. Portfolio examples should clearly demonstrate the ability to bridge these areas.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce): Expected familiarity with CRM platforms for managing sales pipelines, customer data, and supporting GTM strategies.

• Business Intelligence (BI) Tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI): Proficiency in using BI tools for data analysis, developing executive dashboards, and reporting on market intelligence and product performance.

• Analytics Platforms: Experience with analytics tools to interpret market data, track KPIs related to product adoption and sales effectiveness, and identify trends.

• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Jira, or Microsoft Project for managing cross-functional initiatives and product development lifecycles.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Proficiency in statistical analysis and data interpretation.

• Reporting Software: Ability to create clear, concise reports and presentations for executive audiences.

• Dashboarding Tools: Experience in designing and maintaining dashboards to visualize key performance indicators for market intelligence and product strategy.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Proficiency: Deep understanding of CRM functionalities to support sales enablement and understand customer engagement.

• Workflow/Process Tools: While not explicitly stated, understanding of how workflow automation impacts product delivery and client service is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Preferred Skills" mention familiarity with CRM, analytics, and business intelligence tools. For a Director-level role in strategy and product, proficiency in leveraging these tools for market analysis, sales enablement, and performance tracking is essential.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Purpose-Driven: Gallagher Bassett's core value is "helping people through challenging moments," emphasizing empathy, precision, and partnership. Operations professionals are expected to embody this in their work, ensuring solutions are effective and supportive.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A strong emphasis on working together as a team, supporting colleagues, and celebrating collective impact. This role requires seamless collaboration across departments.

• Curiosity & Continuous Improvement: The culture encourages curiosity and a drive for improvement. Operations professionals should be proactive in seeking new insights and optimizing existing processes.

• Outcomes-Driven: A focus on delivering tangible results and making a real difference. This aligns with the operational goal of driving efficiency and measurable business impact.

• Integrity & Doing the Right Thing: Upholding high ethical standards in all dealings, which is crucial in the insurance and financial services sector.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: The role explicitly requires partnering with Sales, Product, Operations, and Technology. This suggests a collaborative style focused on mutual support and shared objectives.

• Data-Informed Communication: Decisions and strategies are expected to be backed by market intelligence and data analysis, fostering a rational and objective approach to collaboration.

• Proactive Engagement: The expectation for candidates to be "proactive, and able to act independently with minimal direction" implies a collaborative style that initiates action and drives progress rather than waiting for direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes purpose, teamwork, and continuous improvement, which are all highly relevant to operations professionals. The collaborative style is essential for a role bridging strategy, product, sales, and technology.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Market Volatility & Competition: Navigating a dynamic insurance market with evolving carrier needs and intense competition requires continuous adaptation of product strategy and operational models.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring seamless alignment and effective collaboration between diverse departments (Sales, Product, Claims Operations, IT) can be challenging but is critical for success.

• Balancing Innovation with Operational Scalability: Developing innovative solutions while ensuring they are scalable, efficient, and cost-effective to implement operationally.

• Translating Market Insights into Actionable Products: Effectively bridging the gap between raw market data and tangible, market-ready product enhancements that resonate with carrier clients.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Development: Gaining experience in high-level strategic planning and executive decision-making under the guidance of senior leadership.

• Deepening Industry Expertise: Becoming a subject matter expert in carrier solutions, product strategy, and GTM within the complex insurance and risk management landscape.

• Exposure to Advanced Methodologies: Working with sophisticated market analysis techniques, product development frameworks, and GTM execution strategies.

• Mentorship and Networking: Opportunities to learn from experienced leaders within Gallagher and build a professional network across various functions and industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are framed to highlight the strategic and leadership aspects of the role, emphasizing continuous learning and professional development relevant to senior operations and strategy professionals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you developed a product strategy for a specific market segment. What was your process, and what were the key outcomes?"

  • Preparation: Focus on your methodology for market analysis, strategy formulation, and how you ensured operational feasibility. Quantify results with revenue or market share impact.

• "How do you approach synthesizing complex market intelligence into actionable GTM plans for a sales team?"

  • Preparation: Detail your process for data collection, analysis, insight generation, and how you translate these into clear, executable steps for sales enablement and GTM execution.

• "Discuss a situation where you had to drive alignment across Sales, Product, Operations, and Technology for a new product launch or enhancement. What were the challenges, and how did you overcome them?"

  • Preparation: Emphasize your stakeholder management skills, communication strategies, and ability to build consensus and drive collaborative execution.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of Gallagher Bassett, how would you approach enhancing our carrier solutions to maintain a competitive edge?"

  • Preparation: Research Gallagher Bassett's current offerings, market position, and recent news. Connect your strategic thinking to their stated purpose and values.

• "How do you foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within a cross-functional team?"

  • Preparation: Discuss your experience with process optimization, encouraging feedback, and driving agile development methodologies within a corporate setting.

• "How do you measure the success of product strategies and GTM initiatives from an operational perspective?"

  • Preparation: Be ready to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) related to sales performance, product adoption, customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and ROI.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each portfolio piece, follow a clear story arc: the challenge, your specific actions and strategy, the operational implementation, and the measurable results.

• Quantify Impact: Use numbers and data to demonstrate the tangible impact of your work (e.g., "Increased carrier client acquisition by 15%", "Reduced claims processing time by 20% through process optimization").

• Highlight Strategic and Operational Link: Clearly show how your strategic thinking translated into concrete operational plans and execution that drove business outcomes.

• Tailor to the Role: Select portfolio examples that most closely align with product strategy, GTM, market intelligence, and carrier solutions within the insurance sector.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, challenges encountered, and alternative approaches you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing for this interview involves demonstrating a blend of strategic vision, operational understanding, and strong leadership skills. The focus will be on how you translate market insights into actionable product and GTM strategies that drive revenue and operational efficiency.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Gallagher careers portal.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in product strategy, market intelligence, GTM execution, sales enablement, and cross-functional leadership within the insurance or risk management sectors. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 key projects that best showcase your strategic thinking, analytical skills, process optimization achievements, and GTM success in relevant areas. Focus on quantifiable results and your specific contributions.

• Research Gallagher Bassett: Understand their mission, values, recent company news, and their position in the carrier solutions market. Prepare to discuss how your skills and experience align with their strategic goals and culture.

• Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse your answers to common strategy and behavioral questions, particularly those related to product development, market analysis, and stakeholder management. Be ready to present your portfolio with confidence.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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