Howden Buffalo Inc

Client Service Manager

Howden Buffalo Inc • $80K — $95K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years in insurance client service or operations, with 2+ years in Commercial Lines
  • 2+ years of experience in a team-lead capacity; offshore team experience preferred
  • Strong understanding of insurance policy documentation and billing workflows
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Insurance, or related field, or equivalent experience
  • Excellent communication skills with a client-service focus
  • Demonstrated ability to manage teams and drive process consistency

Responsibilities

  • Manage, coach, and develop the Client Service team for optimal performance
  • Conduct quality checks on client deliverables and provide necessary feedback
  • Ensure timely execution of onboarding, renewals, and documentation
  • Act as an escalation point for complex client issues, providing resolutions
  • Standardize and enhance client service processes across the lifecycle
  • Identify improvement opportunities using performance metrics
  • Lead automation tool development and contribute to requirements gathering

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance options
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • Flexible Paid Time Off and paid parental leave
  • Life and Disability insurance
Full Job Description
What is the role?

The Client Service Manager is responsible for leading, developing, and overseeing the Client Service team to ensure exceptional delivery across the end-to-end client lifecycle-from onboarding to renewal to ongoing service. This role acts as a critical operational leader, ensuring that processes are efficient, documentation is accurate, service levels are met, and the team is equipped to support the Vertical service teams.

You will set the standard for service excellence by coaching team members, optimizing workflows, removing operational bottlenecks, and ensuring consistent, high-quality execution that enhances client satisfaction and retention. You will also bring a forward-thinking approach to the role, helping contribute to and lead automation tool development, requirements gathering, and taking an active voice in elevating service and transforming the way the team works.

What will you be doing?

Team Leadership & Development
  • Manage, coach, and develop Client Service Representatives to ensure strong performance, engagement, and growth.
  • Conduct regular quality checks on client deliverables; provide feedback and training where needed.
  • Oversee workload distribution to balance capacity, manage deadlines, and ensure operational efficiency.


Client Service Oversight
  • Ensure timely and accurate execution of onboarding, renewals, certificates, endorsements, and documentation across the team.
  • Serve as an escalation point for complex client or carrier issues, providing guidance and resolution support.
  • Monitor compliance with internal controls, regulatory requirements, and documentation standards across accounts.


Process Management
  • Standardize and enhance processes for client service support across the client lifecycle.
  • Partner with Practice Groups, Operations, and Accounting to streamline workflows and eliminate friction points.
  • Use performance metrics and reporting to identify improvement opportunities and drive consistency across the team.
  • Champion a forward-thinking, continuous-improvement mindset within the team, proactively identifying where automation and technology can elevate service delivery.
  • Contribute to and help lead automation tool development, taking an active role in defining requirements and acting as an SME to transform the way the team works.


Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with Verticals to understand client needs and align service priorities.
  • Coordinate with carriers to support escalations, program changes, and complex servicing requirements.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to ensure smooth execution across the client lifecycle.


Qualifications
  • Leadership & Coaching: Ability to guide, develop, and motivate a service team while maintaining high performance standards.
  • Operational Excellence: Skilled at building efficient processes, managing workflows, and ensuring quality control.
  • Client Service Mindset: Strong commitment to delivering responsive, accurate, and value-added service.
  • Communication: Clear and confident communicator across various stakeholders.
  • Problem-Solving: Ability to troubleshoot issues proactively and navigate complex client or carrier situations.
  • Technical Proficiency: Comfortable in insurance agency management systems (Epic, AMS360, etc.) and Microsoft Office tools.
  • Innovation & Forward Thinking: Proactive, forward-thinking mindset with a willingness to contribute to and lead automation tool development and requirements gathering through SME contribution, to elevate service and transform ways of working.


Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Insurance, or a related field; or equivalent work experience
  • 5+ years of experience in insurance client service or operations, including minimum 2 years within Commercial Lines
  • 2+ years in a Team-lead capacity; experience in leading an off-shore team is a plus
  • Strong understanding of insurance policy documentation, billing workflows, certificates of insurance, and renewal processes
  • Strong organizational and communication skills with a client-service orientation.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage teams, drive process consistency, and uphold high service standards
  • Experience in championing automation and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and service delivery.


What do we offer in return? A career that you define.

Our business succeeds by allowing our people to make a mark in the areas they care about most: personal development, volunteering, and fundraising for charity, or creating new insurance products that address society's greatest challenges.

And we know that separate home and work lives don't really exist. If you're happy and healthy at home, you're more likely to be happy and fulfilled at work - and vice versa. That's why we do our best to support our people in every aspect of their lives.

Compensation and Benefits

This role is classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

In addition to a competitive base salary, employees are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus. Howden also offers a variety of benefits and programs, subject to eligibility, including:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including healthcare savings and reimbursement accounts
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • Flexible Paid Time Off and paid parental leave
  • Life and Disability insurance


Our Sustainability Promise

We're on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world. You can read more about our sustainability work here.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity - there is no one Howden type. Instead, we're looking for individuals who share the same values as us:
  • Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new
  • We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges
  • We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond


Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it's the right fit for you, send us your application - if your profile fits the role's criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.

Permanent

About Howden Buffalo Inc

Howden Buffalo Inc is a manufacturer of air and gas handling equipment. The company offers a range of products including fans, blowers, compressors, and gas turbines. Howden Buffalo Inc serves a variety of industries including power generation, oil and gas, mining, and marine. The company was founded in 1854 and is headquartered in Milford, Ohio.
Learn more about Howden Buffalo Inc
Size
1,000 employees
Industry

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