Branch Operations Manager - Commercial Lines

Insurance Office of America; Santa Maria (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries and bonus

Company-paid health insurance

401K with employer match

Job summary

Insurance Office of America (IOA) is seeking a Branch Operations Manager - Commercial Lines to lead operations at the Santa Barbara/Orange County area; this role is hybrid with one day in office at one of IOA's California branches and involves overseeing operations, budgeting, staff development, and client service.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in insurance, 2+ years of management, holds active P&C licenses, and excels in account management, communication, and leadership.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in insurance with broad, in-depth industry knowledge.
• 2+ years of management experience leading an operations team.
• Active property & casualty licenses required.
• Strong account management skills; spend up to 50% of time on a book of business.
• Excellent communication, people management and negotiation abilities.
• Proficient with MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel).
• High School Diploma or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily activities and workflow of the branch team.
• Drive annual strategic and tactical plans.
• Manage branch P&L, costs, and financial goals.
• Understand and manage the annual budget.
• Communicate leadership vision for the branch.
• Recruit, onboard, and develop an operations team.
• Participate in mergers/acquisition opportunities and account management as needed.
• Ensure HR processes and policy compliance.
• Develop and maintain relationships with IOA leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Account Management

Communication

People management

Negotiation

MS Office

Industry experience

Management experience

Education

High School Diploma (or equivalent)

Property & Casualty license

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Job Description

Branch Operations Manager - Commercial Lines

Hybrid: 1 day in office at either the Aliso Viejo, Glendale, Ontario, San Diego or Santa Barbara office locations

Supporting: IOA - Orange County | Book Focus: Construction | Requirement: active P&C license

Please note: If this position is posted as either fully remote and/or hybrid, in accordance with company policy, individuals residing within a 50-mile radius of a branch location may be required to work onsite in a hybrid capacity as there may be occasions when on-site presence is necessary to meet specific business needs. Additionally, our remote work policy includes having a dedicated, distraction-free workspace. Remote work is not a substitute for childcare, elder care, or other personal responsibilities during working hours. To view our branch locations, please visit: ioausa.com/locations

About the Role

Responsible for leadership of all IOA insurance operations management activities within the assigned branch. This includes managing operations team performance, strategic and tactical plan implementation, budgeting, goal setting, reporting, staff professional development, policy and procedure implementation, human resource management, quality assurance, productivity, and customer service management. Additionally, responsible for participating in producer/agency acquisition and integration, and personally serving as Account Manager for an assigned book of business.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership: Direct daily activities and workflow of the branch team.
• Strategic Implementation: Drive annual strategic and tactical plans.
• Financial Management: Manage branch P&L, control costs, and achieve financial goals.
• Budget Management: Understand and manage the annual budget.
• Vision Communication: Communicate leadership vision/mission for the branch.
• Team Building: Build and manage a qualified operations team.
• Recruitment and Onboarding: Participate in recruitment and evaluate merger/acquisition opportunities.
• Personnel Management: Recommend staff actions, including acquisition and succession planning.
• HR Management: Ensure compliance with HR processes and policies.
• Performance Standards: Establish and monitor productivity, efficiency, quality, and service standards.
• Professional Development: Encourage growth and development of personnel.
• Succession Planning: Develop future branch operations leaders.
• Culture Promotion: Promote IOA culture and improve engagement.
• Performance Monitoring: Identify gaps and implement corrective actions.
• Data Analysis: Monitor and interpret performance data.
• Communication: Maintain communication with Regional Director of Operations and sales leadership.
• Collaboration: Resolve operational issues with Branch 1099 sales personnel.
• Account Management: Spend up to 50% of time managing an assigned book of business.
• Process Improvement: Develop and ensure compliance with core work processes.
• Policy Enforcement: Implement and enforce company policies.
• Technical Competence:Maintain high technical competence and industry expertise.
• Leadership Development:Continuously improve management and leadership skills.
• Relationship Building:Develop and maintain positive relationships with IOA leadership and employees.
• Champion IOA Values:Demonstrate integrity and leadership.

Ideal Candidate Qualifications

• 5+ years of industry experience with deep, wide-ranging industry knowledge
• 2+ years of management experience
• All required active property & casualty licensing
• Exceptional Account Management skills, spending 50% of time managing a book of business
• Outstanding communication, people management, and negotiation skills
• Proficiency in MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel)
• High School Diploma (or equivalent)

What We Offer

• Competitive salaries and bonus potential
• Company-paid health insurance
• Paid holidays, vacations, and sick time
• 401K with employer match
• Professional growth and career progression opportunities
• Respectful culture and work/family life balance
• Community service commitment
• Supportive teammates and a rewarding work environment

What To Expect (Application Process)

• 30-Minute Phone Screen, Online Assessments, and Interview(s)

Salary Range

The expected pay range for this position is $110,000.00 to $125,000.00 per year, depending on experience, relevant skills, and geographic location.

Insurance Office of America is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.