Director, TPA Operations, Strategic Partnerships

Who we are: Strongpoint Partners is tech -enabled retirement services platform serving small- to mid-sized businesses with integrated retirement third party administration, recordkeeping, payroll, and HR solutions. Recognized as one of Inc. 5000’s Fastest Growing Private Companies in America and certified as a Great Place to Work, Strongpoint offers a suite of services that prioritizes accuracy, compliance, and reduction of regulatory risk for its clients, delivered by local client success teams that understand the nuances of the markets they serve. With a coast-to-coast network of 19 leading firms including HowardSimon ("HSR"), Jocelyn Pension Consulting ("JPC"), Retirement Strategies Group (“RSG”), Retirement Planners and Administrators (“RPA”), Pension Financial Services (“PFS”), Pollard & Associates ("PA"), Carlson Quinn ("CQ"), SI GROUP ("SIG"), Retirement Planning Consulting Group (“RPCG”), Karel-Gordon & Associates ("KGA"), Cash Balance Actuaries ("CBA"), Pension Consultants, Inc. (“PCI”), Actuaries Unlimited (“AUI”), California Retirement Plans (“CRP”), Benefit Equity ("BEI"), United Benefit Pensions, Inc. ("UBP"), Creative Retirement Systems ("CRS"), Associated Pension Consultants ("APC"), Allied Consultants, Inc. ("ACI"), American Retirement Plan Services, LLC (“ARPS”), and SMS Retirement (“SMS”). Strongpoint Partners combines a relentless passion for service and innovation with the experience and expertise required to make retirement work for everyone. For more information, please visit:  www.strongpointpartners.com .    Position Summary:   Strongpoint Partners is seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial Director, TPA Operations, Strategic Partnerships  to lead the administration, growth, and strategic development of a defined contribution retirement plan practice within the Strongpoint platform. This senior leadership role is responsible for overseeing retirement plan operations, managing key client and advisor relationships, supporting partner firms across the Strongpoint network, and building the team, processes, and infrastructure necessary to support long-term growth. The ideal candidate is a seasoned TPA professional with extensive experience managing complex retirement plan portfolios, leading administration teams, and serving as a trusted consultant to plan sponsors, advisors, and industry partners. The Director will operate as both a strategic leader and hands-on technical resource, driving operational excellence while contributing to business development initiatives, acquisitions and integrations, talent development, and financial performance. This individual must be comfortable moving between executive-level strategy discussions and detailed plan administration work as business needs require. PLEASE NOTE: Our preference is for this role to be based at our Chicago headquarters, either in-person or following a hybrid work model. However, we are open to considering fully remote arrangements for highly qualified candidates. Key Responsibilities: Plan Administration & Compliance Leadership Provide oversight for a diverse portfolio of defined contribution retirement plans, including owner-only plans, safe harbor plans, cross-tested plans, ESOPs, and large audited plans. Ensure timely and accurate completion of annual compliance testing, Form 5500 filings, participant disclosures, and all required regulatory reporting. Serve as a technical resource and escalation point for complex compliance, operational, and plan design matters. Support Plan Administrators through annual audits, IRS and Department of Labor examinations, plan corrections, voluntary compliance programs, and plan terminations. Consult on merger and acquisition activity impacting retirement plans, providing guidance on plan mergers, asset transfers, and operational integration requirements. Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and communicate implications to clients, advisors, and internal teams. Establish and maintain operational procedures, quality control standards, and best practices that promote consistency and scalability. Strategic Partnership Support & Capacity Management Serve as a resource for Strongpoint's affiliated TPA partner firms during periods of capacity constraints, staffing transitions, or other operational needs. Coordinate temporary or transitional administration services for partner firm clients while maintaining service continuity and client satisfaction. Collaborate closely with partner firm leadership to facilitate seamless transitions of plan administration responsibilities. Act as a technical consultant and operational resource for partner firms facing complex plan issues, regulatory challenges, or administrative questions. Foster strong relationships across the Strongpoint partner network while respecting and preserving existing client and advisor relationships. Maintain transparency with Strongpoint leadership regarding resource allocation, portfolio management, and partner support activities. New Business Onboarding & Book Conversion Management Lead the onboarding, conversion, and implementation of new retirement plan clients and transferred books of business entering the Strongpoint network. Oversee onboarding and document teams responsible for plan setup, document preparation, recordkeeper coordination, payroll integration, and participant communications. Design, document, and continuously improve onboarding workflows, conversion processes, and quality assurance procedures. Develop scalable operational frameworks to support future growth and acquisition activity. Partner with Strongpoint's M&A and integration teams to facilitate retirement plan transitions associated with newly acquired firms. Monitor onboarding timelines and client experience metrics to ensure successful implementations. Client & Advisor Relationship Management Serve as the senior relationship manager for assigned plan sponsor c