Direct Sales Manager - Grand Rapids, MI

Farmers Insurance; Grand Rapids (MI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Medical

Dental

Vision

Health Savings Account

Paid Time Off

Paid Parental Leave

Tuition Assistance

Job summary

Farmers is seeking a Sales Team Lead to manage a direct sales group selling multi-line insurance products primarily through inbound calls. You will guide day-to-day operations, coach staff, and ensure achievement of sales and customer experience objectives.

The role requires at least five years in sales/call center environments, with leadership experience preferred. The position is hybrid, with at least three days in office and up to two days remote for those near a Farmers office; relocation

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of sales and call center experience.
• People leadership experience preferred; may be waived for internal candidates.
• Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision making skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills and ability to influence stakeholders.
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty.

Responsibilities

• Monitors team performance across sales, customer experience, quality, efficiency and compliance.
• Recommends actions to address performance gaps.
• Develops and implements sales and operational plans with manager.
• Ensures team meets individual and group targets.
• Manages timecards, schedules, and system access.
• Communicates company strategies to the team and ensures understanding.
• Resolves escalated customer issues in a timely manner.

Skills

Sales leadership

Call center

Inbound calls

Performance coaching

Education

High School Diploma

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

We are Farmers – where ambition meets opportunity.

At Farmers, we’re not just known for unforgettable jingle – we’re a team with a passion for purpose and making a real difference in people’s lives. We deliver peace of mind when it matters most. Our results‑driven, high-performance culture thrives on creativity, accountability and bold solutions. Here, growth isn’t just a goal – it’s a way of life for both the organization and every individual on our team. We tackle challenges head‑on, learn from every experience and measure our impact on the customers who trust us.

Join an award‑winning, equal opportunity employer, where you’ll find more than a job – you’ll find a supportive community. Enjoy competitive benefits, take part in meaningful volunteer projects, and help shape the future alongside talented colleagues across all backgrounds. At Farmers, helping others is at the heart of what we do.

Workplace: Hybrid ( )

Farmers believes in a culture of collaboration, creativity, and innovation, which thrives when we have the ability to work flexibly in a virtual setting as well as the opportunity to be together in person. Our hybrid work environment combines the best of both worlds with at least three (3) days in office and up to two (2) days virtual for employees who live within fifty (50) miles of a Farmers corporate office. Applicants beyond fifty (50) miles may still be considered.

Job Summary

This position manages a direct sales team to sell multi‑line insurance products to prospective customers, primarily through inbound calls. The role leads day‑to‑day operations and holds team members accountable to the organizations objectives, initiatives, and processes.

Essential Job Functions

• Monitors teams daily, weekly, and monthly performance, including sales performance, customer experience, quality, efficiency, and compliance with established company and regulatory guidelines through active call listening, side‑by‑side, and one‑on‑one coaching.
• Recommends courses of action to address performance deficiencies.
• Works with manager to create and implements sales and operational plans to constantly improve team performance and develop individual team members skillsets.
• Accountable for ensuring team members meet individual and team performance goals.
• Implements performance management, including corrective action, when applicable.
• Informs leadership of team performance.
• Manages daily operations of team, including all aspects of timecards (including work schedules, lunches, and breaks) and confirms appropriate system access.
• Communicates company strategies related to products and philosophies to team members and ensures teams understanding.
• Works with manager to investigates and resolves escalated customer issues in a timely manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Physical Actions

• Job is performed in‑person at a Farmers office or virtually at an approved alternative work location.
• The physical work environment is indoors and climate‑controlled with adequate lighting and ventilation.
• Normal and customary distractions include background noise produced by office equipment and chatter among people, as well as interruptions.
• Frequently sits for prolonged periods of time, up to a full shift.
• Occasionally moves about the workplace including, navigating stairs, ramps, and level or uneven surfaces.
• Occasionally moves, pushes, pulls, lifts, carries, and/or places objects or materials weighing up to 25 pounds without assistance.
• Frequently uses shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers to manipulate equipment, tools, and objects necessary to perform job duties.
• Frequently performs fine motor tasks such as typing, mousing, or writing, up to a full shift.
• Rarely performs movements such as bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, twisting, and reaching overhead or below the knees.
• Possesses clear vision, with or without correction, to visually read and verify information.
• Relies on depth perception and peripheral vision to navigate the work environment visually by identifying barriers, changes in terrain and locating objects.
• Possesses adequate hearing, with or without correction, to communicate with co‑workers, respond promptly to auditory signals or alarms, and discern sounds essential for maintaining safety and productivity in the workplace.
• Jobs in this category require rare, if any, travel.

Education Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelors degree preferred.
• Property & Casualty insurance license required upon hire.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum five years of sales and call center experience required, preferably in direct sales.
• People leadership experience preferred; however, this requirement may be waived for internal candidates.

Additional Qualification

• Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision making skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Ability to influence internal and/or external constituents.
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty.
• Ability to inspire and develop staff.
• Ability to coach others in selling techniques.
• Demonstrated problem solving skills.
• Possesses strong technical aptitude.

Benefits

• Farmers offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, qualifications and location.
• Bonus Opportunity (based on Company and Individual Performance)
• 401(k)
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition Assistance
• For more information, review “What we offer” on https://www.farmers.com/careers/corporate/#offer

Job Location(s): US - MI - Grand Rapids

Farmers will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in accordance with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance or other applicable law. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1033, Farmers is prohibited from employing any individual who has been convicted of any criminal felony involving dishonesty or a breach of trust without prior written consent from the state Department of Insurance.

Farmers is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in any employer/employee relations based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, marital status, military and veteran's status, or any other basis protected by applicable discrimination laws.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.