Director, Life New Business Operations & Projects
Director, Life New Business Operations
Company Summary
Come join one of America’s fastest growing insurance companies with a stable history of 175 years. At National Life Group (“NLG”), we offer a flexible work environment with opportunity for growth. As a mission-driven business, our promises are as important as the products we sell. We encourage our associates to live our values: Do Good. Be Good. Make Good.
Our mission extends beyond the insurance and annuities policies that we sell. Our cause is also to make the world a better place through grants from our charitable foundation, paid time for our employees to volunteer, environmentally sustainable and healthy work sites, and events that promote the work of nonprofits in our own backyard.
We invite you to explore what we have to offer and to join our cause.
Role Summary
As the Director, Life NB Operations, you will lead a team to identify and implement business processes, tools and systems improvements. You will drive adoption of project and process improvement methodologies to deliver improvements in customer experience and operational costs.
Additionally, you will direct shared support services for new business processing, workforce management and be responsible for managing offshore relationships and operations.
Acting as the liaison with underwriting, BST, CAP team, sales, marketing, data analytics and legal/compliance, you will ensure Life NB Operations’ requirements are represented and documented across all NLG life new business functions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Lead team to implement processes, procedures and technologies to support life new business processing. Liaise with key stakeholders across the company to ensure Life NB representation and to drive required business changes to improve customer experience and operational effectiveness
- Deliver high-profile and/or complex projects and ensures delivery route is optimum – either within Life NB or as a portfolio project for CIG
- Lead project planning, scheduling, controlling and reporting activities for Life NB projects. Ensures comprehensive project, quality, and risk plans are prepared and maintained and issues are actively managed through to their successful resolution
- Deliver effective communication to all interested parties including stakeholders, sponsors and the executive team to support effective decision-making and manage the smooth and integrated delivery of Life NB projects
- Identifies and manages risks and issues to ensure that critical problems are escalated at the earliest opportunity and mitigating actions are implemented, in line with change control processes
- Identify, secure and manage project resources to achieve project and organizational objectives in line with the project plan, approved funding and within expected quality and timescales
- Develop and maintain productivity and quality standards through audit and other review mechanisms to ensure policy, procedures, and objectives are carried out
- Motivate and coach teams to meet service goals and increase productivity while driving down unit costs
- Focus on employee development, succession and career planning through management, coaching and development
- Understand system capabilities and gaps and partner with BST to participate in the process to improve and enhance existing technologies with solutions that meet business objectives as the company scales
- Demonstrate a high level of understanding of NLG products and Life NB operational procedures to gather and analyze data in supporting the business; develop and validate business cases for major programs, prioritize program investments, and track delivery to business values outcomes as executed
- This position is presently onsite/hybrid with the expectation of being in the office three days per week with current campus days being Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (subject to change with advance notification and manager discretion).
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, or related field
- 10+ years of experience in Life/Annuity Operations, Financial Services or related fields
- Strong organizational and project management skills
- Analytical, process improvement and business case development skills
- Strong leadership skills with experience managing diverse teams
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to function in a fast-paced environment with concurrent priorities
- Demonstrate independent problem solving and decision-making ability
- Ability to partner with and influence business and technical stakeholders
- Ability to pass a background check
Preferred Qualifications
- Project lead/analyst experience
- Relevant industry certifications such as PMP and/or LOMA designations
Benefits
- Your benefits start day one and are flexible and customizable to your and your family’s specific needs. Check out the BENEFITS of a Career at National Life!