Area Manager - Lakewood, NJ

Unity Bank•Lakewood, NJ

About The Position

The Area Manager is responsible for effectively managing branches within an assigned area, leading branch teams, and working with a commercial lender to sell bank loan and deposit products while providing exceptional customer service. The role oversees branch operations managers to ensure appropriate staffing, high service standards, compliance with policies and procedures, and satisfactory audit outcomes. The Area Manager also serves as a liaison between the bank and the local community through business development, community events, and participation in local organizations, boards, and committees when appropriate. The position is accountable for meeting sales and service goals. The Area Manager develops and expands individual and commercial customer relationships, conducts site visits and external business development, creates branch sales plans, and leads sales activities. The role manages branch budgets and expenses, supports hiring and performance management, coaches operations managers and staff, resolves escalated customer issues, and maintains professional and technical knowledge of banking, sales, and customer service. The position also performs cash handling and other operational functions as necessary and is responsible for carrying out duties in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and bank policies.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in business, finance, or a related field.
Five years of management experience in a retail banking environment.
Three years of experience in a sales and customer service role.
Strong knowledge of customer needs assessment, customer service quality standards, and customer satisfaction evaluation.
Expert knowledge of banking principles and practices.
Knowledge of banking products, services, and systems.
Expert knowledge of selling practices and activities.
Strong knowledge of business administration and management theories, principles, and practices.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Excellent computer skills in a Microsoft Windows environment, including proficiency in Word and Excel.
High reasoning skills, including the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to apply critical thinking to evaluate alternative solutions and approaches to problems.
Ability to set expectations, promote learning and performance improvement, empower others, and provide useful feedback.
Ability to collaborate, build effective relationships, and use tact and diplomacy.
Ability to listen attentively, understand others' points, and ask questions appropriately.
Ability to calculate amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, and percentages, and apply basic algebra.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret legal documents, governmental regulations, and professional publications.
Ability to present information and respond to inquiries from management, peers, staff, and the public.
Ability to write reports and business correspondence and communicate clearly for the audience's needs.
Ability to work independently and provide direct supervision, guidance, and direction to staff.
Attention to detail and thoroughness in completing duties.
Ability to monitor performance and take corrective action or make improvements.
Ability to develop constructive working relationships and coordinate, organize, plan, prioritize, and manage time effectively.
Honesty, integrity, ethical behavior, and willingness to take on responsibility and challenges.

Responsibilities

Develop new and expand existing relationships with individual and commercial customers and prospects through business development calls and site visits.
Perform required site visits for assigned branches.
Build customer relationships by assessing needs and recommending and selling appropriate products and services.
Work with the commercial lender to achieve loan and deposit goals.
Meet individual and branch sales and service goals through sales practices, customer service, referrals, and resolution of customer issues.
Create branch sales plans and lead sales activities, including call reports, conference calls, sales meetings, cold calling, promotional events, branch huddles, and daily sales coaching.
Inform team members of key organizational strategies and initiatives.
Promote the bank's community brand through local organization membership, sponsorships, advertising, and charitable donations.
Participate in community events, initiatives, and volunteerism.
Manage branch budgets by controlling expenses and overtime, monitoring expenditures, and following operating policies and procedures to avoid losses.
Ensure assigned branches maintain satisfactory audit ratings.
Evaluate staffing needs, interview candidates, and select employees to fill vacancies.
Participate in hiring, coaching, and performance management to develop high-performing sales and service teams.
Oversee operations managers' management of staff performance, quality standards, deadlines, procedures, and corrections to errors or problems.
Guide employees in handling complex problems and resolving escalated complaints or disputes.
Identify staff development needs and provide coaching and training to operations managers.
Work with operations managers to evaluate staff performance and recommend appropriate actions.
Assist operations managers with discussions about staff performance problems, identifying causes and working to resolve them.
Communicate regularly with customers, business associates, referral sources, and the general public.
Maintain professional knowledge through education, training, certifications, publications, networking, professional associations, and awareness of legal, policy, and procedural changes.
Keep informed of industry changes, trends, and best practices.
Perform cash handling and other operational functions as necessary.
Adhere to bank compliance policies and procedures, complete assigned compliance training, and carry out duties in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.