Managing Director, Head of Philippines

Job Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Senior Executive Leadership within Client and Customer Experience (U.S.-based)
 

NOTE: This role will be an expatriate assignment in our new site in the Philippines for 3-4 years. Candidates must be willing to relocate during the assignment.
 

Job Description Summary

Primary Purpose of the Role

The Site Executive Leader will serve as the senior-most leader for our operations in the Philippines, with full accountability for the site’s day-to-day performance, long-term strategic growth, and cultural alignment with U.S. operations. This role has both operational and ambassador responsibilities for establishing a high-performing, culturally connected site while navigating the complexities of local governance, market dynamics, and geopolitical risk.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Oversee all aspects of site operations, ensuring performance, compliance, and employee engagement.
• Establish and maintain a strong cultural bridge between the Philippines site and U.S. headquarters.
• Drive operational excellence, continuous improvement, and service delivery aligned with enterprise goals.
• Lead with autonomy and sound judgment in a time zone-disconnected environment.

Strategic Growth & Development

• Develop and execute long-term strategies for site expansion in partnership with and aligned with the Cigna global capability center strategy, including potential future functions in the Philippines beyond operations.
• Act as a General Manager with the foresight and capability to scale operations across multiple business lines.
• Build a sustainable leadership pipeline with a long-term goal of transitioning site leadership to a Filipino national.

Governance & External Relations

• Serve as the face of the company in the Philippines, representing the organization with government bodies, industry peers, and regulatory agencies.
• Monitor and assess geopolitical and regulatory risks; develop mitigation strategies to ensure business continuity.
• Influence local industry agendas and contribute to shaping favorable regulatory environments.

Culture & Connectivity

• Instill and maintain a culture that mirrors the values and expectations of the U.S. organization.
• Ensure alignment between local decision-making and broader enterprise strategies.
• Foster a sense of belonging and shared purpose across geographically dispersed teams.

Qualifications & Experience

• Required:
  • Global Operations Leadership Experience - Proven track record leading large-scale, cross functional operations in a global or regional capacity. 15+ years of leadership, preferably in a call center or service delivery environment or equivalent experience.
  • Executive level Strategic Acumen - Demonstrated ability to drive long-term strategy and influence enterprise-wide decisions.
  • Cultural Fluency & External Representation - Experience working across cultures and engaging with external stakeholders.
  • Expatriate Readiness - Willingness and ability to relocate to Manila, Philippines for 3-4 years; prior international relocation experience preferred.
  • Operational Excellence & Transformation - Background in building or scaling operations with a focus on performance, cost efficiency, and service delivery.
  • Proven track record of leading complex, cross-functional teams in international settings.
  • Deep understanding of U.S. corporate culture and operational models.
  • Exceptional judgment, autonomy, and problem-solving skills in ambiguous environments.
  • Experience navigating regulatory and labor environments in foreign markets.
     
• Preferred:
  • Prior experience working in or with the Philippines or other international markets.
  • General Management experience with exposure to multiple business functions.
  • Strong government relations experience.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• A seasoned executive with U.S. operational experience and a global mindset.
• A strategic thinker who can build from the ground up while planning for long-term scalability.
• A cultural ambassador who can bridge geographies and foster unity.
• A resilient leader capable of navigating ambiguity, complexity, and change.
• A global operations leader with the required experience listed above.

This role is also anticipated to be eligible to participate in an annual bonus and long term incentive plan.

At The Cigna Group, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, with a focus on supporting your whole health. Starting on day one of your employment, you’ll be offered several health-related benefits including medical, vision, dental, and well-being and behavioral health programs. We also offer 401(k), company paid life insurance, tuition reimbursement, a minimum of 18 days of paid time off per year and paid holidays. For more details on our employee benefits programs, click here.

About The Cigna Group

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 require reasonable accommodation in completing the online application process, please email: SeeYourself@cigna.com for support. Do not email SeeYourself@cigna.com for an update on your application or to provide your resume as you will not receive a response.

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.