Contract Licensing & Registration Manager

SUMMARY
As a manager, you coordinate and supervise the daily activities of the Contract Licensing & Registration (CLR) regional teams, ensuring the accurate and timely processing of contracts, licenses, registrations, and fingerprinting for field members to guarantee their eligibility to sell all products offered by the Northwestern Mutual (NM) distribution system. Manages the day-to-day operations and drives change management efforts across the divisions. Independently and proactively identifies operational gaps and workflow issues, and develops, recommends, and implements changes to policies and procedures to enhance effectiveness and operational efficiency of the business.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manages multiple functions in CLR divisions. Accountable for the selection, development, motivation, coaching and salary administration and evaluation of management and office staff. The staff is responsible for the accurate and timely contract, registration and licensing of field members to ensure eligibility for sales of all insurance and investment products offered by the NM distribution system. Counsels the field on all related questions and issues

• Responsible for maximum operational efficiency of division through planning, directing and coordinating the Division's service activities, analysis of field satisfaction, identifying changing service demands and maintaining departmental service standards. Drives customer service philosophy and ensures high touch customer service.

• Review and assess current contract, license, and registration processes and associated key metrics to drive continuous improvement.

• Independently leads complex business area project/support assignments and/or participates in cross-departmental projects. Project management responsibilities include leading and participating in projects to identify, design and implement process improvements that will streamline the CLR process and ensure that appropriate due diligence is being performed.

• Manages and expedites workflow in the division ensuring timely responses and completion within service goals across all regions.

• People management responsibilities supporting our people vision and employee experience, including developing and retaining a team, creating an inclusive environment, and driving high performance.

• Oversees data management/usage to ensure accuracy and mitigate risk.

  • Serves as technical expert for the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network (NMFN) database system (CDM) which supports Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries with data for contracted, licensed, registered and fingerprinted individuals. Oversees and ensures operational data integrity with responsibility for managing data specialists. Represents CLR on enterprise projects that impact our main systems.

  • Research data issues, objectively reviews data analysis, effectively communicates findings and takes ownership to ensure that issues are addressed, and data quality is improved.

  • Liaison to Enterprise Information Risk & Cybersecurity (EIRC) team for data issues, data clean-up, and data consistency. Ensures all impacts of data to other areas are considered - benefits, comp, sales reporting, etc.

• Partners with systems team engineers, product, and FIMS to coordinate implementation of system operational changes for regulatory requirements, firm policy changes, and process improvements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

• Bachelor's degree in business or related field, or equivalency.

• A minimum of seven years operational experience and a minimum of three years people management experience.

• Previous experience with project management skills, leading multiple projects and assignments, effectively managing process improvements and change management efforts to create operational efficiencies.

• Proficient with Microsoft Excel and the ability to pull reports and analyze data to drive efficient solutions.

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills and organizational skills are required.

• Excellent analytical, judgment and independent decision making/problem solving abilities.

• Understanding of the needs/challenges of NM's field force and experience working closely with the field on a regular basis.

• Series 7/24 preferred, Fingerprinting is required.

Compensation Range:

Pay Range - End:

We believe in fairness and transparency. It's why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you're living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more.

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Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer who welcomes and encourages diversity in the workforce. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.

We're excited about the potential people bring to Northwestern Mutual. You can grow your career here while enjoying first-class perks, benefits, and our commitment to a culture of belonging.

• Flexible work schedules
• Concierge service
• Comprehensive benefits
• Employee resource groups