Our Company
Explore how you can contribute at AmeriLife.
For over 50 years, AmeriLife has been a leader in the development, marketing and distribution of annuity, life and health insurance solutions for those planning for and living in retirement.
Associates get satisfaction from knowing they provide agents, marketers and carrier partners the support needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving industry.
Job Summary
AmeriLife is in the midst of an exciting and significant transformation of its operational infrastructure to better serve the evolving needs of its stakeholders across the country. As such, we’re seeking a visionary and results-oriented leader for our Agency Operations Center of Excellence (CoE) to help us drive our ambitious roadmap forward.
The Senior Director of Agency Operations Center of Excellence will execute our Contracting and Commissions Center of Excellence strategy, build a high performing team and operating model as well as provide day-to-day leadership of the COE, ensuring process excellence through scalable and efficient operations in support of the enterprise. The ideal candidate is a seasoned insurance operations professional with deep and direct experience in Center of Excellence creation and transformation, compliant operations, and process management.
Job Description
Our Company
AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to offer insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier lives. By putting its mission into practice, AmeriLife has become recognized as a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees. For more than 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with the nation’s leading insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers served through a national distribution network of over 200,000 insurance agents and advisors, over 70 marketing organizations, and nearly 50 insurance agency locations.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Transformation
- Shape and Execute CoE Strategy: Architect and deliver a forward-thinking strategy for the Contracting & Commissions CoE, ensuring seamless alignment with AmeriLife’s mission and long-term business objectives
- Lead Enterprise Transition: Spearhead the multi-year migration from affiliate-managed operations to a fully centralized CoE model, establishing scalable frameworks and playbooks for future transitions
- Champion Innovation: Drive transformative initiatives that anticipate market shifts, leveraging technology and process innovation to position AmeriLife for sustainable growth and competitive advantage
- Navigate Complexity: Tackle ambiguity and evolving challenges with agility, fostering a culture of resilience and adaptability within the CoE
Operational Excellence & Performance
- Optimize Operations: Elevate efficiency and effectiveness across the Contracting & Commissions function, consistently surpassing financial and operational targets for AmeriLife and its affiliates
- Embed Continuous Improvement: Instill a data-driven mindset, championing industry-leading processes and a relentless pursuit of operational excellence
- Deliver Actionable Insights: Harness advanced analytics to generate insights that inform strategic decisions and accelerate performance improvements
- Champion a unified approach to delivering high-quality outcomes for all stakeholders
- Establish Robust Governance: Represent the CoE at the Steering Committee, publishing transparent performance metrics (KPIs) and financial reports, and driving cross-functional collaboration
Team Leadership & Development
- Build and Empower Teams: Assemble and nurture a high-performing CoE team, defining clear operating models and equipping talent with the tools for success
- Foster a strong, collaborative partnership with the Service Delivery team to ensure seamless integration of operational strategies and service excellence
- Develop Future Leaders: Recruit, mentor, and grow a robust pipeline of leadership talent, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning
- Cultivate Engagement: Promote a positive, achievement-oriented environment that values diversity, innovation, and professional growth
Stakeholder Management
- Drive Stakeholder Alignment: Serve as the primary escalation point for complex issues, managing expectations and communications with internal and external stakeholders
- Work jointly to identify and implement process improvements, share best practices, and resolve cross-functional challenges
- Facilitate Enterprise Collaboration: Orchestrate seamless partnerships across Finance, HR, IT, and affiliate leadership, ensuring unified execution of strategic initiatives
- Oversee Vendor Relationships: Manage vendor performance and budgets, ensuring alignment with CoE objectives and AmeriLife’s strategic priorities
Decision-Making Authority
- Strategic Approvals: Hold final authority over CoE priorities, investment decisions, and capability expansion
- Process Ownership: Define and enforce baseline standards, systems, and change-control processes to ensure operational consistency and compliance
- Performance Accountability: Own the delivery and reporting of key performance metrics, driving accountability and transparency across the CoE
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Business, or related field required
- 8-12 years experience in Center of Excellence or Shared Services management required
- Demonstrated architecting, launching, and operationalizing a Center of Excellence (CoE) within insurance or financial services, including the development of strategy, governance frameworks, and scalable operating models
- Hands-on leadership in transitioning operations from distributed or affiliate-managed models to centralized CoE structures, ensuring process standardization, compliance, and performance excellence
- Proven ability to drive CoE transformation initiatives, including stakeholder alignment, team formation, and the establishment of best practices, KPIs, and continuous improvement programs
- Experience managing Center of Excellence related change management and training programs for diverse teams and affiliates
- Strong track record in overseeing CoE performance metrics, reporting, and cross-functional collaboration with Finance, HR, IT, and vendor partners
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, project management, and organizational skills
- Excellent communication and facilitation skills with ability to present complex information to diverse audiences
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and value diversity at all levels of the organization. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are committed to providing an inclusive, equitable, and respectful workplace where all employees can thrive.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement
We are committed to full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and all applicable state and local disability laws. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities throughout the application and employment process. Requests for accommodation will be handled confidentially. If you require assistance or accommodation during the application process, please contact us at HR@AmeriLife.com.
Pay Transparency Statement
We are committed to pay transparency and equity, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Compensation for this role will be determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, and market factors. Where required by law, the pay range for this position will be disclosed in the job posting or provided upon request. Additional compensation information, such as benefits, bonuses, and commissions, will be provided as required by law. We do not discriminate or retaliate against employees or applicants for inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing their pay or the pay of another employee or applicant, as protected under applicable law. Pay ranges are available upon request.
Background Screening Statement
Employment offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background screening, which may include employment verification, education verification, criminal history check, and other job-related inquiries, as permitted by law. All screenings are conducted in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, and information collected will be kept confidential. If any adverse decision is made based on the results, applicants will be notified and given an opportunity to respond.