Manager, Life Customer Contact

Sammons Financial Group • Sioux Falls, SD

6d • $61,622 - $115,540 • Remote

About The Position

Lead, coach and develop team members to provide efficient, compliant and high quality service to our customers in support of the business unit's goals and established service level agreements. Drive individual and team performance to meet stated KPIs (key productivity indicators) and SLAs while continuously driving for efficiency gains and improvement to overall ease of doing business for our customers. Adhere to Sammons Financial Group (SFG) member companies shared values in all decisions and actions. TEAM SUMMARY: Customer Contact is the voice of the company when it comes to providing inforce customer service. We answer customer calls from agents and policy owners on regarding in-force life insurance policies and annuity contracts. We make business easier for our customers by providing timely, accurate and professional service while navigating multiple systems and processes. We continuously strive to deliver the best experience possible for our customers. The Customer Contact team resides in our Sioux Falls and West Des Moines offices with many employees working remotely.
What You'll Do In This Role

• Lead and develop team and individual KPIs, SLAs and goals that align with the departmental, divisional and SFG objectives. Ensure goals are compelling and transparent in order to drive understanding, ownership and commitment from the team members. Goals and targets should be continuously evaluated and adjusted to ensure a culture of high performance and engagement is maintained within the team.
• Attract and retain top talent by identifying high-potential employees and provide opportunities to develop their skills and expand their circle of influence in our organization.
• Partner with each team member to focus on individual performance and inspire individual action toward meeting team standards. Provide continual coaching and feedback regarding progress, strengths and areas for development. Utilize corporate programs to reinforce employee performance and development, including Target Incentive Plan (TIP), annual merit reviews and individual development plans (IDP).
• Review and analyze systems, processes and data to improve workflow and increase efficiency through application of technology; implement change initiatives designed to enhance the productivity and quality of work performed.
• Active learner keeping abreast of industry trends & current competitive changes driving changes to maintain competitiveness in the market.
• Support and provide department level training, including overseeing of procedure documentation and work standards.
• Effectively lead and manage customer service related issues and process improvements in an efficient and compliant manner. Assist the Legal and Compliance Departments in review and resolution of complaints, lawsuits and other regulatory matters.
• Actively manage the department budget with a strong focus on unit cost reduction opportunities where applicable.
• Foster internal and external working relationships to help achieve business goals including the management of vendor relations to ensure contractual agreements are met.
• Lead, develop and engage employees in multi-site locations (including remote).
• Support and reinforce our commitment to operational, financial and internal controls processes (e.g. Model Audit Rule, Record Information Management,38a-1) while also keeping current with our Business Continuity Plan.
• Create and maintain an operating environment that embraces our shared values, Sammons Leadership Series (SLS) principles and our corporate culture.
• Commitment to embrace Sammons Financial Group Companies shared values (Accountability, Connection, Openness, Respect and Integrity).
• As stated within the Company Attendance and Punctuality policy, regular attendance is required and expected in order to meet the business service levels and workflow demands.
• Participate in other initiatives and/or projects as necessary.

Requirements

• Bias to action and sense of urgency and possess problem solving, strategic and process thinking skills
• Effective leadership, coaching, motivation and decision making skills
• Strong focus on customer service
• Proven ability to manage multi-facetted business needs and diverse processes
• Effectively lead workforce dispersed in multi-site locations servicing multiple lines of business and product lines
• Exceptional verbal, written and visual communication skills
• Must exhibit a strong emotional intelligence
• Self-motivated and ability to work independently and effectively under deadline pressures
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate facts and data using sound and mature judgment
• Balance all business decisions weighing the cost benefits of each to ensure that cost effective solutions are reached, keeping in mind long term benefits and automation
• Travel up to 25% may be required
• Criminal background check required.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent work experience Preferred
• Insurance industry experience Preferred
• Prior management of KPIs, SLAs, planning, and workforce management data Preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop team and individual KPIs, SLAs and goals that align with the departmental, divisional and SFG objectives.
• Attract and retain top talent by identifying high-potential employees and provide opportunities to develop their skills and expand their circle of influence in our organization.
• Partner with each team member to focus on individual performance and inspire individual action toward meeting team standards.
• Provide continual coaching and feedback regarding progress, strengths and areas for development.
• Utilize corporate programs to reinforce employee performance and development, including Target Incentive Plan (TIP), annual merit reviews and individual development plans (IDP).
• Review and analyze systems, processes and data to improve workflow and increase efficiency through application of technology; implement change initiatives designed to enhance the productivity and quality of work performed.
• Active learner keeping abreast of industry trends & current competitive changes driving changes to maintain competitiveness in the market.
• Support and provide department level training, including overseeing of procedure documentation and work standards.
• Effectively lead and manage customer service related issues and process improvements in an efficient and compliant manner.
• Assist the Legal and Compliance Departments in review and resolution of complaints, lawsuits and other regulatory matters.
• Actively manage the department budget with a strong focus on unit cost reduction opportunities where applicable.
• Foster internal and external working relationships to help achieve business goals including the management of vendor relations to ensure contractual agreements are met.
• Lead, develop and engage employees in multi-site locations (including remote).
• Support and reinforce our commitment to operational, financial and internal controls processes (e.g. Model Audit Rule, Record Information Management,38a-1) while also keeping current with our Business Continuity Plan.
• Create and maintain an operating environment that embraces our shared values, Sammons Leadership Series (SLS) principles and our corporate culture.
• Commitment to embrace Sammons Financial Group Companies shared values (Accountability, Connection, Openness, Respect and Integrity).
• As stated within the Company Attendance and Punctuality policy, regular attendance is required and expected in order to meet the business service levels and workflow demands.
• Participate in other initiatives and/or projects as necessary.

Benefits

• Sammons Financial Group offers a competitive benefit package that includes: Health, Dental, Vision, Company Paid Retirement, PTO and Holiday Pay.
• Our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a 100% company-funded retirement plan, so you can save for retirement without contributing a penny of your own paycheck.
• Healthy balance between work and personal lives. Friday afternoons off all year long, competitive PTO, and generous number of paid holidays.
• Our incentive program for defined goals subject to eligibility and performance. Monetary rewards are based on individual and/or overall company performance.
• Colleagues who support one another, model our core values, and drive our healthy, high-performing culture.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager