Vice President, Head of Business Development and Startup Partnerships

Location Designation: Hybrid - 3 days per week About New York Life Ventures (NYL Ventures): Launched in 2012, New York Life Ventures (NYL Ventures) is a leading strategic Corporate Venture Capital unit focused on exploring new technologies, investing in, partnering with start-ups, and accelerating the pace of innovation at New York Life. The unit includes three highly interconnected functions: Venture Investments, Business Development, and Innovation Services. A central pillar of our work revolves around our trusted relationships and deep network. We have produced top investment performance since inception and industry-leading levels of proof of concept testing and start-up technology partnerships. Our team values curiosity, collaboration, shared responsibility, growth mindsets, empathy, generosity, focus, and living a balanced life.Position Overview:We are seeking a dynamic and strategic executive to lead our startup business development and technology co-development team within NYL Ventures. This role is critical in driving value at the intersection of technology and financial services, positioning New York Life at the forefront of industry transformation.As the leader of this function, you will lead the team that is responsible for developing partnerships with startups to drive strategic value and ROI, while navigating the complexities of a large and growing enterprise. Success in this role requires seamless collaboration with your NYL Ventures colleagues, close partnership with key business and functional unit stakeholders across the Company, and building trusted relationships with the external startup and venture ecosystem. The ideal candidate is visionary, entrepreneurial, and action-oriented, with a deep understanding of both the tech ecosystem and the financial services landscape. You not only see the art of the possible, but you can develop and execute practical strategies to accelerate progress. With a strong record of executing successful de novo partnerships, you excel at integrating and scaling initiatives within a corporate framework, aligning them with the Company's future vision. Key Responsibilities:Develop and lead the strategy to source and execute impactful partnerships with startups and entrepreneursOversee the sourcing, evaluation, and management of a diverse portfolio of startup partnerships and technology co-developments initiativesEstablish frameworks to track and measure financial and strategic ROI over multiple horizonsProvide data-driven recommendations on the viability and scalability of tested solutionsAlign with the Company’s long-term goals and aspirationsDevelop, lead, and build a high-performing, entrepreneurial team, fostering growth-mindedness and psychological safetyBuild relationships with startups, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to scale impact of the NYLV platform for our stakeholders Nurture and grow relationships with internal business leaders, inclusive of a strong feedback loop to align on goals and long-term objectivesSynthesize partnership experiences into future-oriented insights to inform thematic focus areas and support the Company’s innovation agenda Work with key functions (e.g., IT, legal, risk) to ensure governance while seeking new ways to increase speed to insightsSupport NYL Ventures’ investment team by sourcing opportunities and providing insights on commercial viability of startup technologiesRepresent NYL Ventures as a visible leader in internal and external innovation forums, advocating for NYL’s role in the innovation community through events, press/media, and industry engagementsRequired Skillsets:Leadership & Vision:Proven ability to lead transformative projects within a corporate environmentExperience building and managing high-performance teams, developing talent, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and aligning innovation strategies with corporate goalsAbility to envision future trends and translate them into actionable strategiesPortfolio Approach to Partnerships:Experience managing multiple, concurrent initiatives with a focus on delivering long-term strategic and financial value individually and in aggregateStrong decision-making skills to actively adjust the partnerships portfolio based on progress, risk, opportunity, and market trendsRelationship Management and Negotiation:Strong network in the startup and financial services ecosystems, with experience sourcing and forming trusted strategic alliancesProven ability to negotiate and manage partnerships, joint ventures, and co-development agreements (e.g., contract terms, warrants, etc.)Executive Presence & Storytelling:Elite communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence senior executives to accelerate strategic initiativesFinancial Acumen & ROI Tracking:Ability to establish and implement OKR  frameworks for tracking value/ROI and reporting on business impact across multiple horizonsIndustry Expertise:In-depth knowledge of the financial services industry and emerging technologies (e.g., AI, Fintech, RegTech, InsurTech, Enterprise Tech)Understanding of regulatory frameworks, compliance, and riskPreferred Qualifications:10+ years of leadership experience of relevant experience in the financial services, technology, entrepreneurial or corporate innovation roles, or a related sector, ideally brokering and leading startup partnershipsHigh IQ and EQ, with a proven track record of leading teams and managing cross-functional initiativesExperience managing budgets, resource allocation, and operational processes to maximize team efficiency and project impactKnowledge of regulatory requirements in financial services and experience working with regulatorsMBA or advanced degree in business, finance, or a related field, preferred, but not required​Pay TransparencySalary Range:  Overtime eligible: ExemptDiscretionary bonus eligible: YesSales bonus eligible: NoActual base salary will be determined based on several factors but not limited to individual’s experience, skills, qualifications, and job location. Additionally, employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition to base salary, employees may also be eligible to participate in an incentive program.Our BenefitsWe provide a full package of benefits for employees – and have unique offerings for a modern workforce, including leave programs, adoption assistance, and student loan repayment programs. Based on feedback from our employees, we continue to refine and add benefits to our offering, so that you can flourish both inside and outside of work.Click hereto discover more about our comprehensive benefit options or visit our NYL Benefits Site.Our Diversity PromiseWe believe in a diverse workforce because it is our mission to advocate for the financial security and success of people in every community. This is why diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are guiding principles that are embedded in our brand and our culture. Click here to learn more about how we have been recognized for our leadership.Recognized as one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, New York Life is committed to improving local communities through a culture of employee giving and volunteerism, supported by the Foundation. We're proud that due to our mutuality, we operate in the best interests of our policy owners. To learn more about career opportunities at New York Life, please visit the Careers page of .​Job Requisition ID: 91096