Direct Sales Manager

Position Summary

The Direct Sales Manager leads the daily execution and performance of the Direct Sales team, a group of fully-remote, phone based, licensed insurance professionals, to achieve premium and growth objectives. This role drives sales accountability, strengthens individual effectiveness, and ensures operational consistency to deliver predictable, profitable results.

At SBLI, the customer is at the heart of everything we do. Our brand is built on trust, care, and the commitment to make life insurance easy and accessible. This role plays a key part in ensuring that these values are reflected in every customer interaction by fostering a culture where agents embody SBLI’s brand promise in their conversations and service delivery.

Reports to the AVP, National Direct Sales.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with AVP, National Direct Sales to carry out day-to-day sales operations to meet production, conversion, and placement goals.
• Establish clear expectations and hold agents accountable to activity and performance standards.
• Implement and regularly perform sales effectiveness strategies adopted by Direct Sales team leadership, such as real-time coaching, deal strategy support, and performance feedback.
• Monitor pipeline and case progress to ensure steady and timely premium flow.
• Identify skill gaps using performance data and implement targeted action plans to improve results.
• Participate in recruiting and selection of sales agents.
• Ensure adherence to sales processes, documentation standards, and compliance requirements.
• Partner with underwriting, new business, and service teams to resolve issues and accelerate business.
• Implement workflow and communication improvements that enhance efficiency and customer experience.
• Foster a high-performance, results-driven culture that motivates ownership and accountability.
• Provide sales forecasts, performance insights, and feedback to leadership.
• Address and document agent-related concerns and escalate as appropriate.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Experience: 5+ years in life insurance sales, operations, or sales leadership.

Licensing: Active Life & Health Insurance license required.

Skills

• Strong communication, problem-solving, and leadership abilities.
• Ability to analyze performance data and drive results.
• Experience managing performance and navigating difficult conversations.
• Proficiency with Salesforce and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Technology proficiencies that are needed in order to successfully execute working from home

About SBLI

Since 1907, SBLI has helped millions of people protect what matters most with simple, dependable life insurance. Founded by future Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, our mission has always been to make life insurance accessible, affordable, and rooted in genuine care. SBLI offers a full range of life insurance products through our direct-to-consumer platform and our network of trusted independent distribution partners nationwide.