The Government & Education (G&E) Advisor is responsible for taking actions that result in public sector membership growth & success. This role will serve as a key partner to local market sales teams to develop and evolve the government and education sales and retention strategy within specific aligned market areas. As a subject matter in the public sector, this role requires significant external relationship building.  This role will report to the G&E Senior Advisor with a dotted line to the applicable Market Growth Leader(s) to which they are aligned.

 

Duties & Responsibilities

• Activates our public sector sales distribution strategy within aligned markets.
• Builds and maintains the necessary partnerships and relationships to grow and retain our public sector business within specific market alignments.
• Contributes to pipeline/prospect development in conjunction with the local market sales leadership – with keen focus on targeting prospects that are viable candidates to win.
• Reports/advises on pipeline development and activities that are advancing the sales process – with a focus on conveying key needs of the segment to support the sales process.
• Engagement with segment underwriting, legal, and product leadership where appropriate.
• Consistent engagement with RFP Proposal Response Team to ensure superior RFP product.
• Involvement with market strategic planning/business development meetings within specific market alignments.
• Serve as a liaison between local market leadership and G&E leadership to help inform and balance the priorities and focus of the local market and the segment.
• Maintains a deep understanding of the unique government dynamics and competitive landscape of each geographic market and applicable changes.
• Builds the long-term pipeline within specific market alignments in pursuit of:
• New medical and dental public sector accounts >3,000 employees.
• First time medical adds to assigned large/existing dental only accounts > 3,000 ees.
• Retention of assigned large existing accounts > 3,000 employees out to bid
• Articulate the value proposition of Cigna healthcare to current & prospective public sector clients.
• Point of contact for all matters related to procurement with new and existing customers.
• Engagement with broker/consultants as needed (pre/post RFP) in partnership with local market sales leadership.  Development of diverse supplier relationships where applicable.
• All direct to client pre-RFP work that will influence Cigna's position and understanding of government and education prospects, including but not limited to:
  • Meetings with HR, Finance, and Senior Management officials.
  • Engagement with union employee leadership.
  • Meetings with influential elected officials; meetings with influential community partners if appropriate; development of minority vendor strategies if appropriate; engagement and management of local lobbyists/advisors as appropriate.
  • Development and management of local association relationships; engagement with targeted regional and/or national association relationship important to the public sector.
  • Management of Freedom of Information requests.  Important to maintain coordinated pre-RFP strategy with local market sales leadership.
• Targeted sales and retention engagement with any other government prospect as necessary

 

Qualifications

• 6+ years of sales experience, account management, and/or business development experience, health care or insurance industry preferred. This experience should include many or all of the following: product knowledge, underwriting, risk and financial analysis skills, marketing processes, sales practices, account management and knowledge of administrative operations.
• Exposure to and/or understanding of local government procurement and/or elected official relationship dynamics is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent related work experience.
• Health and Life insurance license, or ability to obtain within first 180 days.
• Experience selling to local governments and/or school districts is preferred.
• Proven ability to influence, with strong communications and a proven ability to establish and build relationships. 
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong matrix partner relationships.
• Strong customer focus.
• Strong ability to collaborate, with a track record of delivering results that lead to success.

If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.

About Cigna Healthcare

Cigna Healthcare, a division of The Cigna Group, is an advocate for better health through every stage of life. We guide our customers through the health care system, empowering them with the information and insight they need to make the best choices for improving their health and vitality. Join us in driving growth and improving lives.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the online application process, please email seeyourself@thecignagroup.com for assistance.  Please note that this email inbox is dedicated to accommodation requests only and cannot provide application updates or accept resumes.

The Cigna Group has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.