Senior Manager, Agency Operations

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Co-operators is hiring a Senior Manager, Agency Operations in Calgary to provide national strategic leadership for agency planning, distribution strategy, contract management and advisor compensation design, guiding cross-functional partners to align planning with Retail Sales, Sales Growth, Data & Analytics, Finance and Product to drive growth, community impact and Lighthouse. The role requires 6 to 9 years in business planning or strategic planning within financial services, a bachelor’s degree, exceptional communication and analytical skills, and experience in compensation design; familiarity with advisor models and national contracts is an asset. To apply, tailor your resume and cover letter with measurable impact on annual planning, dashboards, performance targets, and cross-functional collaboration, highlight leadership of teams, and readiness for travel. Hybrid Calgary role, background check, occasional travel, salary range $114,021 to $190,035 plus incentive programs.

Company: CGL
Department: Business Enablement
Employment Type: Regular Full-Time
Work Model: Hybrid
Language: This role operates in English.
Additional Information: This/these role(s) is/are currently vacant

The Opportunity:

We are a leading Canadian financial services co-operative committed to being a catalyst for a sustainable and resilient society and our team is essential to deliver on this strategy.  That’s why we prioritize our people, to ensure we provide a strong culture and development opportunities which enables our team to thrive and to live our purpose.  The best part is that you will work with people that care passionately about you, our clients and our communities.

The Senior Manager, Agency Operations provides national strategic leadership for agency planning, distribution strategy, contract management, succession planning, and advisor compensation design. This role is accountable for ensuring that complex workstreams across planning, distribution, and compensation are aligned and executed to advance organizational objectives, community footprint, and Lighthouse.

Overseeing teams responsible for agency planning, distribution strategy, and compensation program design and strategy, the Senior Manager acts as a central cross‑functional leader who ensures alignment with Retail Sales, Sales Growth, Data & Analytics, Finance, Product, and other partners to drive integrated national strategies.

The role requires strong strategic judgment, business insight, and the ability to unify diverse perspectives to shape cohesive national plans and compensation frameworks. By leading teams, influencing senior partners, and ensuring consistent alignment across functions, the Senior Manager guides enterprise‑level decisions that support advisor success, drive desired behaviours, and enable long‑term growth.

How you will create impact: 

• Collaborate with partners across Retail Sales, Sales Growth, Finance, Data & Analytics, and other business areas to align planning, distribution, and compensation strategies with broader business priorities.
• Ensure agency planning, compensation changes, and distribution strategies are integrated with RSS initiatives and organizational growth objectives.
• Bring best practice, industry insights and rigor into the agency planning process.
• Interpret national agency data to inform agency planning and provide actionable recommendations to Advisors to enhance growth initiatives.
• Oversee the annual business planning process across Agencies in partnership with the Manager, Retail Sales.
• Leverage targeted reports and dashboards to monitor national progress and status to business plans.
• Provide input into data modelling and reports aimed at understanding distribution and opportunity areas.
• Oversee the evaluation and alignment of brick-and-mortar presence with market opportunities and profitability.
• Ensure compensation structures align with the 10‑year compensation roadmap, organizational strategy, and financial considerations.
• Oversee the design, modelling, refinement, and implementation of Advisor compensation and incentive programs.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the teams within Agency Operations to ensure high performance.
• Set performance targets and conduct regular performance reviews.

How you will succeed:

• Detailed understanding of advisor business models. Particularly the Co‑operators advisor model is an asset.
• Knowledge of Co‑operators contracts and national‑level contract management is an asset.
• Proficiency in compensation design and incentive strategy.
• Thorough understanding of business transition processes and legal requirements.
• Ability to develop and administer agency business plans.
• Understanding of distribution strategy and optimizing growth through the evaluation and alignment of brick-and-mortar presence with market opportunities and profitability.

To join our team:  

• You have 6 to 9 years of experience in the areas of business planning, strategic planning, distribution strategy, contract management or related areas within the financial services or insurance industry is required.
• You have a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or equivalent.
• Exceptional communication (verbal and written).
• Strong analytical, conceptual, and critical thinking capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze financial and operational data to inform decisions.
• Strong business and financial acumen.

What you need to know:

• You will be subject to a Background check as a condition of employment, in the event you are the successful candidate.
• You will travel occasionally.  

What’s in it for you?

• Training and development opportunities to grow your career.
• Flexible work options and paid time off to support your personal and family needs.
• A holistic approach to your well-being, with physical and mental health programs and a supportive workplace culture.
• Paid volunteer days to give back to your community.
• In addition to our competitive salary and incentive programs, eligible employees also benefit from a comprehensive total rewards package including group retirement savings plans, pension and benefits (e.g., health and wellness, dental, disability and life coverage), mental health support and an employee assistance program.

Salary information​

Expected salary/hourly range $114,021 - $190,035 (min-max, full range)

Salary placement​

The salary amount for the successful candidate is determined by Co-operators in its discretion and will vary depending on several criteria including but not limited to: local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualification, experience and education.

Incentive/Variable pay ​

Employees may also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn additional compensation tied to individual and/or business performance, or other business metrics.​