Product Strategy Lead (Group AD&D and Life Products)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Strategy Lead (Group AD&D and Life Products)

Company: Aflac, Incorporated

Location: Remote (Continental US)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Management / Strategy

Date Posted: April 01, 2026

Experience Level: 8+ Years (5+ in Product Management)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the strategic direction and development lifecycle for Group Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) and Life Insurance products.

• Drive end-to-end product management processes, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory requirements.

• Foster robust cross-functional collaboration, acting as a key liaison between Product, Underwriting, Legal, and Business Units.

• Champion the implementation and institutionalization of standard practices in project execution and change management for product initiatives.

• Utilize strong analytical and problem-solving skills to navigate complex product challenges and identify opportunities for growth and improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Strategy Lead," the responsibilities heavily involve product management, development, and project management within the insurance sector. The role requires a deep understanding of insurance products, regulatory landscapes, and stakeholder management, positioning it as a strategic operational function within the product development lifecycle, rather than pure GTM strategy.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the product development and management process from conception through implementation for Group AD&D and Life insurance products.

• Serve as a trusted advisor and central point of contact between Product, Underwriting, Corporate Law, Claims Legal, Regulatory Affairs, and Business Units.

• Manage detailed work plans, schedules, resource allocation, and status reporting for product development projects, potentially acting as a project manager for larger initiatives.

• Translate product specifications into actionable plans that align with technological capabilities and system constraints.

• Oversee assigned projects to ensure timely completion and adherence to established policies, procedures, and operating standards.

• Facilitate the implementation of the overarching product strategy, ensuring it is understood and executed across relevant teams.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure all documentation, implementation activities, and communications are completed for new and existing product offerings.

• Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of product activities to identify potential risks and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

• Participate in or lead risk assessments for assigned products, escalating potential issues to senior management.

• Recommend strategic changes to policies, systems, and product offerings based on market analysis and performance evaluation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description emphasizes a strong project management and execution component, indicating this role requires not only strategic thinking but also the ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder product development cycles. The emphasis on "state filing development" suggests a critical need for understanding and navigating regulatory processes specific to insurance products.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, Insurance, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of job-related experience.

• A minimum of 5 years specifically in product management within the Group AD&D and Life Insurance sector.

• Proven experience with state filing development for insurance products.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders.

• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving capabilities.

• Proven project management skills, with experience managing large-scale projects.

Required Skills:

• Product Strategy & Development: Deep understanding of Group AD&D and Life insurance products, their market dynamics, and the full product lifecycle from ideation to launch and management.

• State Filing & Regulatory Compliance: Expertise in navigating and managing state-specific insurance filing processes and ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements.

• Project & Program Management: Proficiency in developing project plans, managing timelines, allocating resources, and overseeing complex, cross-functional projects.

• Stakeholder Management & Communication: Ability to effectively communicate, influence, and build relationships with internal departments (Underwriting, Legal, Claims, Business Units) and external regulatory bodies.

• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Strong capability to analyze complex data, identify root causes of issues, and develop effective solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Insurance Industry Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of the broader insurance landscape, market trends, and competitive positioning.

• Change Management: Experience implementing and managing organizational and process changes related to product introductions or modifications.

• Risk Assessment & Management: Ability to identify, evaluate, and mitigate risks associated with product development and ongoing product management.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Experience leading or influencing teams without direct reporting lines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The combination of "Product Strategy Lead" title and "Product Management experience" requirements suggests a role that blends strategic foresight with tactical execution. The explicit mention of "state filing development" is a critical technical requirement for this specific insurance product domain.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Product Strategy & Roadmap Examples: Showcase instances where you've defined product strategies, developed roadmaps, and successfully launched new or enhanced insurance products. Highlight your role in market analysis and competitive positioning.

• Product Development Lifecycle Documentation: Provide examples of how you've managed the end-to-end product development process, including concept, design, development, testing, and launch phases.

• State Filing & Regulatory Compliance Case Studies: Present cases where you've successfully navigated state filing requirements, managed regulatory approvals, or addressed compliance issues for insurance products.

• Project Management Deliverables: Include examples of project plans, timelines, resource allocation documents, and status reports for complex product development projects you've managed.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Frameworks: Demonstrate how you've facilitated collaboration between diverse teams (e.g., Product, Underwriting, Legal, Claims, Marketing) to achieve product goals.

Process Documentation:

• Product Development Process Optimization: Illustrate how you've analyzed and improved existing product development workflows to enhance efficiency, reduce time-to-market, or improve product quality.

• State Filing Workflow Management: Detail your approach to managing the complex and often lengthy state filing process, including documentation, submission, and follow-up strategies.

• Risk Assessment & Mitigation Protocols: Provide examples of how you've developed or implemented processes for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks associated with new product launches or product changes.

• Change Management Implementation Plans: Showcase your methodology for planning and executing change management initiatives related to product strategy shifts or system updates.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a "Product Strategy Lead" in the insurance sector, a portfolio demonstrating hands-on experience with product development, regulatory filings, and project management is crucial. The emphasis should be on quantifiable outcomes and the ability to navigate complex operational processes within a highly regulated industry.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $125,000 - $150,000 per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Includes Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug coverage.

• Flexible Spending Accounts: Health Care Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Flexible Spending accounts offered.

• Supplemental Insurance: Aflac supplemental policies (Accident, Cancer, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity) provided at no cost to the employee.

• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plans are available.

• Performance-Based Incentives: Annual bonuses are offered, with potential for company stock purchase opportunities.

• Paid Time Off: 11 paid holidays annually, plus up to 20 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) for any reason.

• Sick Leave: State-mandated sick leave accrual (e.g., Washington employees accrue 1 hour per 40 hours worked).

• Leaves of Absence: Eligible for other leaves of absence as needed.

• Compliance with Leave Laws: Adherence to all applicable leave laws, including sick and safe leave, adoption, and parental leave.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time). While the role is remote, business needs may occasionally require in-office attendance, with advance notice.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided ($125,000 - $150,000) is typical for a senior-level product strategy or management role in the US, especially for a Fortune 500 company in the financial services/insurance sector. The benefits package is robust, offering a good mix of health, financial, and work-life balance components common in the industry. The remote work arrangement is clarified with potential for occasional office visits.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Insurance (Voluntary/Supplemental Insurance Products)

Company Size: Fortune 500 company, large scale operations.

Founded: 1892, indicating a long-standing history and stability in the insurance market.

Team Structure:

• Product Development & Management: This role likely sits within or closely collaborates with a Product Development or Product Management department.

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role emphasizes acting as a liaison, suggesting a highly collaborative structure that integrates Product Strategy with Underwriting, Legal, Claims, Regulatory Affairs, and Business Units.

• Reporting Lines: While not explicitly stated, a "Lead" role typically implies reporting to a Director or VP of Product Management/Strategy, with potential for managing a small team or project leads.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Implied by the need for analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.

• Process-Oriented Execution: Strong emphasis on managing detailed work plans, schedules, and adherence to standard practices for product development and change management.

• Risk Management Framework: A structured approach to identifying and mitigating compliance and operational risks within product lines.

• Customer-Centricity: "Serving Customers" is a core company value, suggesting that product strategy should ultimately benefit policyholders.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Aflac's culture emphasizes integrity, effective communication, and customer service. For a Product Strategy Lead, this translates to a need for transparent communication, ethical product design, and a focus on delivering value to policyholders within a regulated environment. The "Fortune 500" status suggests robust operational processes and a structured corporate environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior-level position, likely equivalent to a Senior Product Manager or Product Strategy Manager, with significant responsibility for strategic product direction and execution. It sits within the product development and management function, which is critical for GTM success by ensuring the right products are built and brought to market effectively.

Reporting Structure: The role is expected to report to a higher-level product executive (e.g., Director or VP of Product Management/Strategy). It will involve significant interaction and collaboration with various departments, including Underwriting, Legal, Claims, Regulatory Affairs, and Business Units, requiring strong influencing skills.

Operations Impact: The Product Strategy Lead has a direct impact on Aflac's revenue and market position by shaping the Group AD&D and Life insurance product portfolio. Successful product strategy implementation leads to increased market share, improved customer satisfaction, and enhanced profitability. The role bridges the gap between market needs and product delivery, ensuring Aflac remains competitive and compliant.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into Director-level roles within Product Management or Strategy, overseeing larger product portfolios or teams.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific insurance product lines or expand into broader GTM strategy roles.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunities to transition into related areas such as Business Development, Strategic Planning, or Operations Management within the insurance sector.

• Continuous Learning: Access to industry conferences, professional development programs, and internal training to stay abreast of insurance product trends, regulatory changes, and strategic methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is crucial for the Go-To-Market (GTM) success of Aflac's group insurance products. A strong candidate will not only understand product strategy but also how it integrates with sales enablement, marketing, and operational readiness for product launches.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote (Continental US). While primarily remote, there may be occasional requests for in-office attendance based on business needs, with advance notice provided. This offers flexibility for employees while maintaining essential in-person collaboration when required.

Office Location(s): While remote, the company headquarters are in Columbus, Georgia. The requirement to work within the continental US implies adherence to US labor laws and tax regulations.

Workspace Context:

• Flexibility & Autonomy: As a remote role, employees have the flexibility to manage their work environment and schedule within the 40-hour work week.

• Technology & Tools: Access to company-provided technology and collaboration platforms essential for remote work, such as video conferencing, project management software, and communication tools.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: Frequent virtual collaboration with teams across different departments, requiring strong digital communication and engagement skills.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week. While remote, maintaining consistent availability during core business hours for collaboration and responsiveness is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of this role necessitates strong self-discipline, effective digital communication, and the ability to manage one's own work environment to maintain productivity and collaboration with distributed teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter will review applications for basic qualifications and fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Focus on experience, strategic thinking, product management acumen, and understanding of the insurance industry. Expect questions about past product successes, challenges, and strategic approaches.

• Cross-Functional Panel Interview: Interviews with key stakeholders from departments like Underwriting, Legal, and Business Units. This assesses collaboration skills, ability to influence, and understanding of how product strategy impacts various operational areas.

• Case Study/Presentation: Candidates may be asked to present a case study on a past product strategy or development project, demonstrating their analytical, strategic, and communication skills. This is a critical opportunity to showcase portfolio work.

• Final Interview: Likely with a senior leader (e.g., VP of Product) to assess overall fit, leadership potential, and strategic vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Impact: Focus on quantifiable achievements and the business impact of your product strategies and development efforts (e.g., revenue growth, market share increase, cost savings, improved customer retention).

• Showcase Process Mastery: Clearly articulate your involvement in the end-to-end product lifecycle, especially state filing development and project management. Use frameworks to illustrate your approach.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Use examples to show how you effectively partnered with legal, underwriting, and business units to bring products to market.

• Tailor to Role: Emphasize experience with Group AD&D and Life insurance products.

• Structure for Clarity: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by product type, project phase, or key skill demonstrated.

Challenge Preparation:

• Product Strategy Case: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach developing a product strategy for a new insurance offering or revamping an existing one, considering market trends, competitive landscape, and regulatory constraints.

• Project Management Scenario: Anticipate questions about managing complex projects with competing priorities and cross-functional dependencies.

• Regulatory Compliance Discussion: Be ready to discuss your experience with state filings and ensuring product compliance in a regulated industry.

• Behavioral Questions: Prepare examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to illustrate key competencies like collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely probe deeply into the candidate's ability to manage complex, regulated product development. A strong portfolio showcasing successful product launches, particularly within the insurance sector and with an understanding of state-specific regulations, will be a significant advantage.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Product Management Software: Tools for roadmapping, backlog management, and feature prioritization (e.g., Jira, Productboard, Aha!).

• Project Management Tools: For detailed work plans, scheduling, and resource management (e.g., Microsoft Project, Asana, Monday.com).

• Collaboration Platforms: For remote communication and team coordination (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom).

• Document Management Systems: For storing and sharing product specifications, regulatory documents, and project plans (e.g., SharePoint, Google Drive).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Proficiency in analyzing market data, product performance metrics, and customer feedback (e.g., Excel, Tableau, Power BI, SQL).

• CRM Systems: Understanding of how product strategy integrates with customer relationship management (e.g., Salesforce) for sales and service insights.

• Reporting Dashboards: Experience creating or interpreting dashboards to track product KPIs and communicate performance to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• Insurance-Specific Systems: Familiarity with core insurance administration systems, policy administration systems (PAS), or claims management systems, as product strategy must align with these operational backbones.

• Workflow Automation Tools: Understanding how automation can streamline product development or launch processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, a strong candidate should be proficient in standard project management, product management, and collaboration software. Familiarity with data analysis and reporting tools is crucial for strategic decision-making. Understanding the broader insurance technology landscape (PAS, claims) is a significant plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity & Ethics: Aflac emphasizes acting with integrity, which is paramount in the insurance industry, especially concerning policyholder trust and regulatory compliance.

• Customer Focus: "Serving Customers" is a core value, meaning product strategies must prioritize customer needs and benefits.

• Collaboration: "Working with Diverse Populations" and fostering collaborative relationships are key, reflecting the need to work effectively across numerous departments and with varied stakeholders.

• Change Management & Adaptability: "Supporting Change" and "Pursuing Self-Development" highlight a culture that embraces evolution and continuous improvement, essential for navigating the dynamic insurance market.

• Communication: "Communicating Effectively" is fundamental for aligning diverse teams and ensuring clarity on product strategy and execution.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: The role requires extensive collaboration, acting as a bridge between product development and operational/legal/underwriting functions. This implies a consultative and partnership-driven approach.

• Proactive Engagement: A proactive style is needed to drive product initiatives forward, manage dependencies, and ensure all stakeholders are informed and aligned.

• Data-Informed Dialogue: Discussions and decision-making should be grounded in data analysis, market insights, and performance metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values suggest a culture that is ethical, customer-centric, and adaptable. For this role, it means ensuring product strategies are not only profitable but also fair to policyholders and compliant with regulations, while fostering strong working relationships across the organization.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Regulatory Complexity: The insurance industry is highly regulated, with state-specific requirements that can create complex approval processes and compliance hurdles for new products.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Managing conflicting priorities and expectations from diverse internal departments (e.g., Underwriting's risk appetite vs. Sales' desire for competitive products) requires strong negotiation and influencing skills.

• Pace of Innovation vs. Stability: Balancing the need for product innovation to remain competitive with the requirement for stability and rigorous testing in a regulated environment.

• Remote Collaboration Effectiveness: Ensuring seamless communication, alignment, and project momentum across distributed teams without constant in-person interaction.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Insurance Product Specialization: Deepen expertise in Group AD&D and Life insurance, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Strategic Planning & Execution: Enhance skills in developing and implementing long-term product strategies and managing complex project portfolios.

• Regulatory Affairs Knowledge: Expand understanding of insurance regulations across different states and federal requirements.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior team members, lead cross-functional initiatives, and potentially manage a team.

• Industry Engagement: Attend industry conferences and participate in professional development programs focused on product management and insurance innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant opportunity to master product strategy within a critical segment of the insurance market, dealing with complex regulatory environments and cross-functional dependencies. Success here can lead to significant career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you developed a product strategy for an insurance product. What was your process, and what were the key outcomes?" (Focus on strategic thinking, market analysis, and execution steps.)

• "How do you approach balancing the needs of different stakeholders, such as Underwriting, Legal, and Sales, when developing a new product?" (Assess collaboration, negotiation, and influencing skills.)

• "Walk me through your experience with state filing development for insurance products. What are the biggest challenges, and how do you overcome them?" (Probe for specific technical and regulatory knowledge.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Aflac's position in the voluntary insurance market, and how do you see Group AD&D and Life products fitting into that strategy?" (Demonstrate research and understanding of the company's business.)

• "How do you embody Aflac's core values, such as 'Acting with Integrity' and 'Serving Customers,' in your work as a Product Strategy Lead?" (Align your experience with company culture.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• The "Why": Clearly articulate the business problem or market opportunity your product strategy addressed.

• The "How": Detail your specific role in the strategy development, product lifecycle management, and project execution, focusing on state filings and stakeholder coordination.

• The "What": Showcase tangible deliverables (roadmaps, launch plans, regulatory documentation examples) and quantifiable results (market share, revenue impact, efficiency gains).

• The "So What": Explain the lessons learned and how your experience makes you the ideal candidate for this role at Aflac.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your most impactful projects within a designated timeframe, focusing on relevance to this specific role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a blend of strategic vision, hands-on product management expertise, deep insurance industry knowledge (especially state filings), and strong collaborative and project management skills. Demonstrating how you've successfully navigated complex, regulated environments will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Strategy Lead position:

• Submit your application and resume through the Aflac careers portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful product strategy or management projects, specifically highlighting those involving Group AD&D/Life insurance and state filing development. Ensure your portfolio includes clear descriptions of your role, process, challenges, and quantifiable results.

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize keywords from the job description, such as "product strategy," "product management," "Group AD&D," "Life Insurance," "state filing development," "project management," and "cross-functional collaboration." Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your experience and portfolio highlights using the STAR method for behavioral questions and be ready to discuss your strategic approach to product development in the insurance sector.

• Research Aflac: Understand Aflac's business, market position, company values, and recent news to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.