Marketing Operations Manager na Western National Group & Umialik Insurance

Description

Who are we?

Western National Insurance Group is a private mutual insurance company with over 120 years of experience serving customers' property-and-casualty insurance needs in the Midwestern, Northwestern, and Southwestern United States. Known as “The Relationship Company®,” we define success as a measure of the relationships we’ve built over time. In everything that we do, we know that delivering a friendly and helpful interaction makes for a better experience for everyone involved. That’s the power of “nice”. At Western National, nice is something we work to bring to every person and organization with whom we partner and serve.

Does this opportunity interest you?

Western National is seeking a Marketing Operations Manager to join our team!

The individual in this role will have the opportunity to play a critical role in supporting the sales function by overseeing the daily operations of the sales administration team and ensuring smooth and efficient processes. This role is responsible for managing direct reports, developing and implementing best practices for agency onboarding and code setup, ensuring compliance with licensing laws, contributing to CRM strategy and automation initiatives, managing sales meetings and communications, overseeing system integration efforts, and maintaining sales operations resources in SharePoint. The Marketing Operations Manager also ensures high-quality service delivery and supports key agency engagement protocols.

What are the responsibilities and opportunities of this role?

• Manages and leads the sales administration team, providing guidance, performance feedback, and professional development.
• Oversees agency onboarding processes (new agency codes, appointments, welcome kits, and anniversaries), ensuring compliance with licensing laws and regulatory requirements across states.
• Collaborates with Compliance, Legal, IT, Operations, Marketing, and vendor teams to maintain accurate licensing records, enhance CRM and sales platforms, and align workflows with business objectives.
• Reviews and optimizes Salesforce and other sales / operational systems, leads integration efforts and data migration, workflow alignment, and adoption of new tools.
• Maintains the Sales SharePoint site, ensuring best practices, process documentation, and resources remain current.
• Designs, implements, and documents efficient, scalable processes and SOPs, including the use of robotic process automation (RPA) for high-volume tasks.
• Coordinates and supports sales meetings by managing logistics, preparing agendas, tracking action items, and driving effective communication.
• Monitors and analyzes sales operations metrics to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Partners with marketing and leadership to support recognition and engagement initiatives that strengthen agency relationships.
• Takes an evidence-based approach to assessing sales support strategies and priorities.
• Clearly articulates the rationale for their decisions.
• Recognizes problems or situations that are new or without clear precedent.
• Plays a lead role in interpreting and executing best practices.
• Consistently acts according to our customer experience standards, including responding quickly, maintaining a positive attitude, building rapport, demonstrating empathy, managing the customer’s expectations, using the proper communication channel for the situation, and taking ownership to ensure the customer’s issue is resolved.

Requirements

What are the must-have qualifications for a candidate?

• Experience in sales operations, administration, or related roles; two plus years in a leadership or managerial capacity.
• Strong understanding of agency onboarding processes and state-specific licensing requirements.
• Familiarity with RPA tools and automation concepts. 
• Experience in supporting or leading cross-functional system integration projects.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated time management with proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong business relationships.
• Proficient use of various core systems, office and computer equipment, and software packages.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field; degree preferred, experience in lieu of degree acceptable.

What will our ideal candidate have?

• Insurance industry experience, particularly in working with agencies or producers.
• Hands-on experience with Salesforce and knowledge of CRM best practices.
• Experience managing remote teams and coordinating complex projects across departments.
• Process improvement or Six Sigma certification is a plus.

Compensation overview

The targeted hiring range for this role is $81,400 - $111,980, annually. However, the base pay offered may vary depending on the job-related knowledge, skills, credentials, and experience of each candidate, as well as other factors such as the scope and location of the role. Candidates looking for compensation outside of the posted range are encouraged to apply and will be considered based on their individual qualifications and / or may be considered for other positions.

Culture and Total Rewards

Western National has long been known as “The Relationship Company®” and caring for our employees is part of that relationship commitment. We value connectiveness, empowerment, and accountability, and we believe that our employees are our biggest asset. 

Currently ranked as the 41st largest private company by revenue in Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal), Western National has earned accolades year-over-year as an employer of choice and garnered multiple awards for wellness in the workplace. Western National has also been named a Top Workplace by the Star Tribune for consecutive years. In addition, the Group is consistently recognized as a Ward’s 50 property-and-casualty insurance company for its outstanding financial results.

Western National offers full-time employees a significant Total Rewards Package, including:

• Medical insurance plan options and other standard employee benefits, including dental insurance, vision benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, and more!
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) Plan (participants are eligible for 100% matching on the first 6% of their contributions)
• Wellbeing Program, including onsite fitness studio
• Paid Time Off – including holiday, vacation, and volunteer
• 100% company-paid tuition reimbursement for approved job-relevant coursework and access to The Institutes (Risk and insurance education)
• Paid parental leave
• Bonus opportunities

Western National believes in supporting balance between work and life by providing a flexible work environment, which includes a variety of hybrid and remote work arrangements designed to balance individual, job, department, and company needs. 

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Western National provides employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.