Director, Commissions Operations – Life & Annuity

Job Family

Operations - General

About Us 

At Transamerica, hard work, innovative thinking, and personal accountability are qualities we honor and reward. We understand the potential of leveraging the talents of a diverse workforce. We embrace an environment where employees enjoy a balance between their careers, families, communities, and personal interests.  

Ultimately, we appreciate the uniqueness of a company where talented professionals work collaboratively in a positive environment — one focused on helping people look forward and plan for the best life possible while providing tools and solutions that make it easier to get there. 

Who We Are 

We believe everyone deserves to live their best life. More than a century ago, we were among the first financial services companies in America to serve everyday people from all walks of life.  

Today, we’re part of an international holding company, with millions of customers and thousands of employees worldwide. Our insurance, retirement, and investment solutions help people make the most of what’s important to them. 

We’re empowered by a vast agent network covering North America, with diversity to match. Together with our nonprofit research institute and foundation, we tune in, step up, and are a force for good — for our customers and the communities where we live, work, and play. United in our purpose, we help people create the financial freedom to live life on their terms. 

What We Do 

Transamerica is organized into three distinct businesses. These include 1) World Financial Group, including Transamerica Financial Advisors, 2) Protection Solutions and Savings & Investments, comprised of life insurance, annuities, employee benefits, retirement plans, and Transamerica Investment Solutions, and 3) Financial Assets, which includes legacy blocks of long term care, universal life, and variable and fixed annuities. These are supported by Transamerica Corporate, which includes Finance, People and Places, General Counsel, Risk, Internal Audit, Strategy and Development, and Corporate Affairs, which covers Communications, Brand, and Government and Policy Affairs. 

Transamerica employs nearly 7,000 people. It’s part of Aegon, an integrated, diversified, international financial services group serving approximately 23.9 million customers worldwide.* For more information, visit transamerica.com.  

Job Description Summary

Responsible for leading the agent commission system of life and/or annuity products, ensuring the highest standards of service delivery to customers and agents. Oversee the performance of multifunctional operations teams including service providers, with a focus on strategic planning, operational excellence, and customer-centric initiatives. Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and implement organizational strategies, drive innovation, and enhance overall service quality. Mentor and develop senior managers, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, risk management and continuous improvement.

Job Description

Job Description Summary

Responsible for leading the agent commission system of life and/or annuity products, ensuring the highest standards of service delivery to customers and agents. Oversee the performance of multifunctional operations teams including service providers, with a focus on strategic planning, operational excellence, and customer-centric initiatives. Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and implement organizational strategies, drive innovation, and enhance overall service quality. Mentor and develop senior managers, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, risk management and continuous improvement.

Job Description

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the operational strategy for the organization.
• Oversee day-to-day operations to ensure smooth functioning and timely delivery of services.
• Manage operational budgets and resources, ensuring optimal allocation of funds.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing operational teams.
• Accountable for team results.
• Identify and implement opportunities for improvement throughout Operations and provide proposals to executive leadership.
• Assist, facilitate and lead committees, teams and projects.
• Promote teamwork, collaboration and implementation of best practices throughout the Operations function.
• Collaborate with colleagues to improve performance and coordinate activities between cross-functional teams.
• Serve as an escalation point for teams to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction.
• Prepare and deliver on-going management reports to a variety of audiences.
• Work on cross-functional projects representing leadership direction for the department.
• Ensure visibility and transparency to internal and external stakeholders on the health of operations, including identification of critical needs/dependencies and risks.
• Invest in the career success of employees and take ownership for engaging/developing the team and treating talent as a strategic differentiator.
• Use data to drive decision-making and provide insights into operational performance and customer experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a business field or equivalent experience
• 10 years of experience working in an operations environment, preferably in the insurance/financial services industry
• Five years of management experience
• Leadership skills to oversee teams and drive performance results
• Problem-solving, analytical and decision-making skills
• Communication and interpersonal skills to interact with staff and all levels of management
• Ability to handle multiple responsibilities under pressure
• Ability to grasp technical and complex concepts, and convey to staff and internal/external customers
• Ability to build strong and productive partnerships with leaders at all levels of the organization, both internally and externally with vendor partners
• Leadership presence and communication to convey strategic objectives, success strategies, and outcomes
• Solid analytical skills, with the ability to articulate KPI’s and financial objectives, as well as assess financial and operational objectives and performance
• Initiative-taking, results driven, and problem-solving ability
• Highly organized with ability to drive competing priorities
• Strong influencing skills through verbal communication and high impact, data-driven presentations
• Proficiency using MS Office tools (Outlook, Excel, Power Point, Word)

Preferred Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of insurance practices and principles
• Project management experience
• Experience managing in office and virtual teams

Working Conditions

• Hybrid Office Environment
• Occasional Travel <10%

Compensation

The Salary for this position generally ranges between $113,000 - $130,000 annually. Please note that the salary range is a good faith estimate for this position and actual starting pay is determined by several factors including qualifications, experience, geography, work location designation (in-office, hybrid, remote) and operational needs. Salary may vary above and below the stated amounts, as permitted by applicable law.

Additionally, this position is typically eligible for an Annual Bonus based on the Company Bonus Plan/Individual Performance and is at the Company’s discretion. 

Applicants must possess legal authorization to work for our company in the U.S. without the need for immigration, sponsorship or otherwise serving as an employer of record for immigration employment purposes. At this time, this role is not eligible for immigration-related employment authorization sponsorship.

This is a hybrid position requiring three days in office per week in one of our hub locations (Cedar Rapids, Denver, Philadelphia).  Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position.

Disclaimer:
Beware of fake job offers!

We’ve been alerted to scammers impersonating Transamerica recruiters, particularly for remote positions. Please note:

• We will never request personal information such as ID or payment for equipment upfront.
• Official offers are sent via DocuSign following a verbal offer—not through text or email.

 

This job description is not a contract of employment nor for any specific job responsibilities. The Company may change, add to, remove, or revoke the terms of this job description at its discretion. Managers may assign other duties and responsibilities as needed. In the event an employee or applicant requests or requires an accommodation to perform job functions, the applicable HR Business Partner should be contacted to evaluate the accommodation request.

What We Offer  

For eligible employees, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support both the personal and financial well-being of our employees. 

Compensation Benefits 

• Competitive Pay 

• Bonus for Eligible Employees 

Benefits Package 

• Pension Plan 

• 401k Match

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Disability Insurance

• Medical Insurance

• Dental Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Employee Discounts

• Career Training & Development Opportunities

Health and Work/Life Balance Benefits 

• Paid Time Off starting at 160 hours annually for employees in their first year of service.

• Ten (10) paid holidays per year (typically mirroring the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) holidays).

• Be Well Company holistic wellness program, which includes Wellness Coaching and Reward Dollars 

• Parental Leave – fifteen (15) days of paid parental leave per calendar year to eligible employees with at least one year of service at the time of birth, placement of an adopted child, or placement of a foster care child.

• Adoption Assistance

• Employee Assistance Program

• Back-Up Care Program

• PTO for Volunteer Hours

• Employee Matching Gifts Program

• Employee Resource Groups

• Inclusion and Diversity Programs

• Employee Recognition Program

• Referral Bonus Programs

Inclusion & Diversity  

We believe our commitment to diversity and inclusion creates a work environment filled with exceptional individuals. We’re thrilled to have been recognized for our efforts through the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, Dave Thomas Adoption Friendly Advocate, and several Seramount lists, including the Inclusion Index, 100 Best Companies for Working Parents, Best Companies for Dads, and Top 75 Companies for Executive Women. 

To foster a culture of inclusivity throughout our workforce, workplace, and marketplace, Transamerica offers a wide range of diversity and inclusion programs. This includes our company-sponsored, employee-driven Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which are formed around a shared interest or a common characteristic of diversity. ERGs are open to all employees. They provide a supportive environment to help us better appreciate our similarities and differences and understand how they benefit us all. 

Giving Back  

We believe our responsibilities extend beyond our corporate walls. That's why we created the Aegon Transamerica Foundation in 1994. Through a mix of financial grants and the volunteer efforts of our employees, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations focused on the things that matter most to our people in the communities where we live and work.     

Transamerica’s Parent Company  

Aegon acquired the Transamerica business in 1999. Since its start in 1844, Aegon has  grown into an international company serving more than 23.9 million people across the globe.* It offers investment, protection, and retirement solutions, always with a clear purpose: Helping people live their best lives. As a leading global investor and employer, the company seeks to have a positive impact by addressing critical environmental and societal issues, with a focus on climate change and inclusion and diversity.   

* As of December 31, 2023