Now Hiring - Director, Annuity New Business Services in West Des Moines, IA

What you can expect as the Director, Annuity New Business Services:

Lead, set strategic direction and develop New Business managers and team members supporting multiple distribution channels. Ensure that efficient, compliant and high quality service is delivered to our customers. Drive individual and team performance to meet stated key productivity indicators (KPI's) while continuously driving for efficiency gains and improvements to overall ease of doing business for our customers.

• Review and analyze systems and processes to improve workflow and increase efficiency through application of technology; implement change initiatives designed to enhance the productivity and quality of work performed.
• Develop New Business individual/team KPIs and goals that align with the departmental, divisional and Sammons Financial Group (SFG) member companies' 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 is maintained within the team.
• Utilize various leadership tools, including, but not limited to: KPIs and targets, service level agreements (SLAs), visual management techniques (huddle boards), daily and weekly planning and prioritizing, team problem solving and standard work (best practices) are to ensure stated goals and objectives are achieved.
• Craft business solutions for handling fluctuations in Annuity New Business volume; monitor workflow, and analyze and resolve backlog situations so that high volume periods of work go smoothly.
• Effectively lead Managers and team members to maintain both internal and external accuracy elements and standard measurements.
• Provide regular report-outs to senior management on project dashboard metrics, trend analysis, and financial results for project portfolio.
• Partner with each Manager 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).
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of our products and services, computer systems, and business processes in relation to Annuity product offerings.
• Attend industry conferences and compliance summits when applicable to maintain insurance knowledge and develop peer company network connections.
• Build strong relationships with internal teammates at all sites as well as with the multiple business unit partners we serve. This requires strong interpersonal skills along with excellent communication skills.
• Ensure Annuity New Business maintains compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations. Monitor regulation changes and update policies and procedures accordingly.
• Uphold internal procedures that comply with current state insurance and IRS regulations.
• Create and maintain a departmental environment, which embraces the corporate core values, Sammons Leadership Series (SLS) principles, and emphasizes our culture.
• Effectively lead Managers and other personnel in the processing of agent requests, death claims and other living benefits. Ensure the needs of the customer are kept in the forefront of processing.
• Establish departmental goals, objectives and monitor progress toward meeting or exceeding corporate goals for performance and quality.
• Oversee partnerships with key third-party vendors.
• Develop Managers, and staff with a focus on the development of future leaders.
• Monitor weekly reports of processed and carryover department work activity, and work with department managers and teams to correct problems identified by these reports.
• Continually analyze current work methods and practices to ensure that a commitment to continual improvement is established within the department.
• Provide oversight for establishing, documenting and maintaining departmental procedures.
• Drive and reinforce commitment to operational, financial and internal controls processes such as those under Model Audit Rule and Record Information Management.
• Oversee the assistance to Legal and Compliance Departments in review and resolution to complaints, lawsuits and other regulatory matters.
• Oversee and ensure completion of required annual financial and regulatory reporting for claims activity.
• Balance all business decisions weighing the cost benefits of each to ensure that cost effective solutions are reached.
• Review and approve budgets for department cost center.
• Coordinate and perform required Human Resource functions for all supervised employees. This includes but is not limited to hiring, training, motivating, salary and bonus administration as well as disciplinary actions.
• Commitment to embrace Sammons Financial Group Companies shared values (Respect, Accountability, Integrity, and Openness)
• 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.

What we are looking for:

• College degree or 5 years' relevant work experience preferred
• Results oriented team player with high sense of accountability
• Must embrace and effectively shadow the corporate core values
• Effective leadership, management, decision-making and motivational skills
• Knowledge of New Business and Administration functions and how these functions inter-relate with our Agent Field Force, Policy Owners and other key areas of the Company
• Strong interpersonal skills for relationship building
• Excellent communication skills, including listening, oral and written
• Proven ability to lead multi-facetted business needs and diverse processes
• Must be flexible in coping with changing business environments
• Must exhibit a strong emotional intelligence
• Strong analytical skills
• Track record of proven critical thinking and problem resolution skills
• Must demonstrate the ability to act independently within the context of corporate goals
• Must be able to use one's special knowledge and abilities to assist in developing and expanding the skill level of subordinate management staff
• Strong project management skills
• Knowledge and experience in Annuity New Business Service Operations
• Expertise in company operating procedures and policies
• Due to the financial nature and level of accountability of this position, a credit and criminal background check is required - The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires Sammons Financial Group Companies to notify you that, as a routine part of processing this application for employment, Sammons Financial Group may request a consumer report on you to verify all information contained in this application. Such report may include information about work-related behaviors, performance, character, general reputation, and personal characteristics, in addition to information about your previous employment, education, credit history and criminal records

Sammons Financial Group Companies offers some of today’s most sought after life insurance, annuity, retirement planning products and portfolio-management solutions. Unlike most financial organizations, our companies are not publicly traded, which means we’re focused on long-term value rather than short-term earnings pressures. As a privately held company, our leaders and employees remain consistently focused on long-term growth, making decisions that allow us to deliver on our commitments to customers, distribution partners, our employees, and our communities. Individually, our companies provide value in the products and services they offer. Together we represent a history of strength and longevity.

What you can expect when you join Sammons Financial Group:

• A casual dress code (yep – that means jeans!)
• A company you want to be a part of, driven by inspiring leaders and a fun, friendly work environment.
• Colleagues who support one another, model our core values, and drive our healthy, high-performing culture.
• Healthy balance between work and personal lives. Friday afternoons off all year long, competitive PTO, and generous number of paid holidays.
• Our competitive benefit package includes: Health, Dental, Vision, Company Paid Retirement, PTO and Holiday Pay.
• A generous retirement program. 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.
• A company that celebrates diversity, is committed to inclusion, and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We comply with all federal and state equal employment opportunity laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.