Director, Life Operations

Role Overview

• Lead day-to-day Life New Business Operations, ensuring accuracy, quality, compliance, and exceptional customer service.
• Develop and execute strategic, forward-thinking plans to improve processes, drive efficiency, and elevate service standards.
• Establish and monitor performance goals and metrics, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and service expectations.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and reduce processing cycle times to enhance the customer and agent experience.
• Evaluate and optimize operational processes from submission through policy issuance to drive measurable improvements.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging team contributions to enhance efficiency and service delivery.
• Oversee quality assurance practices and ensure adherence to operational standards and compliance requirements.
• Lead initiatives that improve accuracy, productivity, and overall operational performance.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of managers and operational staff, fostering a high-performance and growth-oriented environment.
• Collaborate with underwriting, distribution, IT, compliance, and product teams to ensure seamless execution of business processes.
• Oversee customer and agent interactions to ensure a best-in-class service experience aligned with Horace Mann’s mission.
• Maintain deep understanding of the regulatory environment, including state Departments of Insurance, IRS, SEC, and FINRA requirements.
• Partner with leadership to develop and manage budgets and business plans.

Requirements

• Bachelor's in business or related business discipline required.
• Extensive experience in Life Insurance or Life operations, preferably within new business processing.
• Proven leadership experience managing operations teams and developing talent.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end new business lifecycle and processing systems.
• Deep knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements within the insurance and financial services industry.
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvement, operational efficiency, and service excellence.
• Excellent communication, strategic thinking, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience managing budgets, business planning, and operational performance metrics.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Retirement plans
• Paid time off
• Flexible work arrangements
• Professional development
• EOE/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled