Director of Operations, Wealth Services and Retirement Plan Services

Alera Group - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Senior

Chicago, IL

Insurance Carriers and Related Activities

About the position

We are seeking a Director of Operations for Wealth Services and Retirement Plan Services with a deep background in the Financial Services industry to join our team. This is a hybrid role, requiring the candidate to work 2 days a week out of the Deerfield office. The ideal candidate will be highly collaborative, a strong strategic thinker, and able to effectively manage multiple priorities with positive results. This role reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer of Wealth Services and Retirement Plan Services. In this position, you will lead major or multiple projects that have significant scope, complexity, and impact in an ever-changing environment. You will collaborate with practice leaders and other functional areas to accomplish objectives, seeking opportunities and soliciting feedback to identify inefficiencies and process improvement opportunities. Working closely with the management team, you will implement these improvements and perform periodic reporting on work progress, project completions, and additional ad-hoc reporting as required. Fostering a culture of continuous improvement is essential, with a focus on service, consistency, ownership, accountability, and compliance with firm policies and procedures. You will take a proactive approach to self-development, identifying opportunities for growth, improvement, and enhancement. Your ability to incite enthusiasm and influence others will be crucial in motivating and persuading teams to achieve desired outcomes. Effective communication, both orally and in writing, is a must, along with strong conflict resolution and negotiation skills. You will be expected to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team environment, establishing and maintaining effective working relationships at all levels of the organization, including negotiating resources. Additionally, you will coach and support team members to help them meet individual and departmental goals, while also performing other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Lead major or multiple projects with significant scope, complexity, and impact.
• Collaborate with practice leaders and other functional areas to accomplish objectives.
• Seek opportunities and solicit feedback to identify inefficiencies and process improvement opportunities.
• Work with the management team to implement process improvements.
• Perform periodic reporting on work progress, project completions, and additional ad-hoc reporting as required.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement focusing on service, consistency, ownership, accountability, and compliance with firm policies and procedures.
• Take a proactive approach to self-development and identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Incite enthusiasm and influence, motivate and persuade others to achieve desired outcomes.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate strong conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
• Work independently as well as collaboratively within a team environment.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Coach and support team members to help them meet individual and departmental goals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Undergraduate college degree required.
• 5 or more years of experience in financial services, preferably in investment-related roles, with a focus on RIA and Broker Dealer business.
• Managerial / Leadership experience, preferably in a high volume, service-focused environment.
• FINRA Series 7, 24 and 66 licenses required.
• High understanding of investment concepts, financial markets and products, and practices and procedures used in the securities industry.
• Strong technical knowledge of key custodial processes such as money movement, new client onboarding, and account maintenance.
• Direct experience with Fidelity and Schwab platforms preferred.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Short-term disability (STD)
• Long-term disability (LTD)
• Life insurance
• 401k
• Paid time off
• Comprehensive benefits package