Manager Sales Development & Training

Woodmenlife; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision

401(k)

Life insurance

Comprehensive benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

WoodmenLife in Omaha, NE is seeking a Manager of Sales Development & Training to lead the creation and delivery of onboarding, product, sales, recruiting, leadership, and compliance training for our nationwide Sales force. The role partners with Sales leaders to align learning with business goals and supervises training staff, vendors, and budgets.

You will apply adult learning principles across classroom, virtual, blended, and self-directed formats, ensuring content is accurate, current, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, education, instructional design, insurance, or a related field or equivalent experience.
• Seven or more years of progressive experience in sales, training, learning and development, or related function, including at least three years leading a team.
• Demonstrated knowledge of life insurance products, the sales process, field distribution, recruiting, onboarding, and regulatory environment affecting insurance sales training.
• Current Life and Health insurance license. FINRA Series 6 or 7 and Series 63, and FIC, FICF, LUTCF, or CLU designations, required at hire or within timeframe set by WoodmenLife.
• Experience designing, implementing, facilitating, and evaluating adult learning programs using classroom, virtual, blended, and self-directed delivery methods.
• Proven people-leadership skills, including setting expectations, coaching, performance management, resource planning, and developing high-performing teams.
• Experience with learning management systems, virtual learning platforms, digital content tools, and training administration and recordkeeping.
• Ability to use data, assessments, and sales performance measures to identify needs, evaluate training effectiveness, communicate results, and recommend improvements.
• Experience using AI-enabled tools to create learning resources, improve workflows, and develop scalable processes with sound judgment regarding accuracy, privacy, security, and compliance.
• Strong communication, facilitation, stakeholder management, project management, budgeting, problem-solving, and change-leadership skills, with the ability to influence field and senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the Sales Development and Training team; set priorities and performance expectations, allocate resources, evaluate performance, and support succession and professional development.
• Partner with Sales leaders, field leaders, product teams, Marketing, Compliance, Legal, and other divisions to assess needs and maintain a learning strategy aligned with business goals and Sales force capabilities.
• Oversee onboarding and ongoing development for representatives, Regional Directors, and Recruiting Sales Managers, including life insurance products, needs-based selling, recruiting, leadership, technology, business practices, and customer experience.
• Apply adult learning and instructional design principles to deliver effective classroom, virtual, blended, and self-directed learning for a geographically dispersed Sales force.
• Maintain curriculum governance and content standards so training materials are accurate, current, accessible, consistently delivered, and compliant with company policies and applicable insurance and securities requirements.
• Manage learning platforms, digital content, training records, schedules, vendors, and operational processes to provide a reliable and scalable learning experience.
• Use AI and other learning technologies responsibly to create tools and content, personalize learning, automate repeatable work, and improve team and Sales force productivity while protecting confidential information.
• Establish learning metrics and reporting; evaluate learner readiness, adoption, behavior change, production impact, and ROI, and use findings to improve programs.
• Manage the department budget, project portfolio, vendor relationships, and implementation plans to deliver priorities on time and within approved resources.
• Stay current on life insurance products, sales practices, regulations, market trends, adult learning practices, and emerging technology; recommend changes that strengthen Sales force performance.

Skills

People leadership

Communication

Project management

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Change leadership

Facilitation

Data-driven

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Learning Management Systems

Virtual learning platforms

Digital content tools

Job description

Job Title: Manager of Sales Development & Training

This is an in-office position located at the WoodmenLife Tower in Downtown Omaha, NE.

WoodmenLife is looking to hire a Manager of Sales Development & Training to join our team!

The Manager of Sales Development & Training leads the team responsible for designing, delivering, and continuously improving onboarding, product, sales, recruiting, leadership, and compliance training for WoodmenLife’s nationwide Sales force. Partners with Sales and divisional leaders to identify capability needs, align learning priorities with business strategy, and build scalable programs that improve representative readiness, recruiting effectiveness, retention, productivity, and customer outcomes.

Manages training staff, faculty, vendors, projects, learning technology, and budgets. Establishes performance expectations, measures training effectiveness and business impact, and ensures learning content remains current, accessible, and compliant with company standards and applicable insurance and securities requirements.

WoodmenLife is one of the best places to work in Omaha, with more than 135 years of service rooted in purpose and community. Since 1890, WoodmenLife has been dedicated to helping hardworking Americans secure their families’ financial futures and leave a lasting legacy. As a purpose‑driven, not‑for‑profit life insurance company, our commitment is to our members and the communities they call home.

As a member of the WoodmenLife family, you’ll join others who share a commitment to family, community, and country. We offer a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, 401(k), life insurance, and more.

We are looking for someone to:

• Lead, coach, and develop the Sales Development and Training team; set priorities and performance expectations, allocate resources, evaluate performance, and support succession and professional development.
• Partner with Sales leaders, field leaders, product teams, Marketing, Compliance, Legal, and other divisions to assess needs and maintain a learning strategy aligned with business goals and Sales force capabilities.
• Oversee onboarding and ongoing development for representatives, Regional Directors, and Recruiting Sales Managers, including life insurance products, needs-based selling, recruiting, leadership, technology, business practices, and customer experience.
• Apply adult learning and instructional design principles to deliver effective classroom, virtual, blended, and self-directed learning for a geographically dispersed Sales force.
• Maintain curriculum governance and content standards so training materials are accurate, current, accessible, consistently delivered, and compliant with company policies and applicable insurance and securities requirements.
• Manage learning platforms, digital content, training records, schedules, vendors, and operational processes to provide a reliable and scalable learning experience.
• Use AI and other learning technologies responsibly to create tools and content, personalize learning, automate repeatable work, and improve team and Sales force productivity while protecting confidential information.
• Establish learning metrics and reporting; evaluate learner readiness, adoption, behavior change, production impact, and return on investment, and use findings to improve programs.
• Manage the department budget, project portfolio, vendor relationships, and implementation plans to deliver priorities on time and within approved resources.
• Stay current on life insurance products, sales practices, regulations, market trends, adult learning practices, and emerging technology; recommend changes that strengthen Sales force performance.

We need someone who has:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, education, instructional design, insurance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Seven or more years of progressive experience in sales, sales training, learning and development, or a related function, including at least three years leading a team or training function.
• Demonstrated knowledge of life insurance products, the sales process, field distribution, recruiting, onboarding, and the regulatory environment affecting insurance sales training.
• Current Life and Health insurance license. FINRA Series 6 or 7 and Series 63, and FIC, FICF, LUTCF, or CLU designations, are required at hire or within a timeframe established by WoodmenLife.
• Experience designing, implementing, facilitating, and evaluating adult learning programs using instructional design principles and classroom, virtual, blended, and self-directed delivery methods.
• Proven people-leadership skills, including setting expectations, coaching, performance management, resource planning, and developing high-performing teams.
• Experience with learning management systems, virtual learning platforms, digital content tools, and training administration and recordkeeping.
• Ability to use data, assessments, and sales performance measures to identify needs, evaluate training effectiveness, communicate results, and recommend improvements.
• Experience using AI-enabled tools to create learning resources, improve workflows, and develop scalable processes, with sound judgment regarding accuracy, privacy, security, compliance, and responsible use.
• Strong communication, facilitation, stakeholder management, project management, budgeting, problem-solving, and change‑leadership skills, with the ability to influence field and senior leaders.

• The ability to provide seamless, trustworthy, attentive and resourceful (S.T.A.R.) customer service.
• Engages well with others and are passionate about providing exemplary customer experience.

If you're ready to make an impact in your community, we’d love to hear from you.

WoodmenLife will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis.

Please ensure your resume includes your current contact information, including:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Email address
• Current city and state of residence

As part of WoodmenLife’s employment process, candidates will be required to complete a criminal background check, credit check (when required for position), fingerprint check (when required for position), drug screen and reference checks. Any offer of employment will be contingent upon successfully passing the above.

WoodmenLife is welcoming to all regardless of background and beliefs. WoodmenLife respects every associate’s unique perspective and contribution. We are committed to creating an environment that values differences, and creates opportunities for growth, leadership and service. This commitment includes providing equal opportunity in recruitment, employment and promotion, training and community outreach. WoodmenLife is also dedicated to strengthening the communities in which its employees live.

APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES SHOULD ADVISE THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION IF SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE NEEDED. WoodmenLife is equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.