Sallie Mae

Manager, Collections

Sallie Mae$75K — $95K *
Finance & Insurance
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Strong knowledge of collections laws and industry best practices.
  • Proven success in managing collections operations and reducing delinquency rates.
  • Excellent analytical skills to interpret data and develop strategies.
  • Proficient leadership experience with a focus on team development.
  • Outstanding communication skills for collaboration and negotiations.
  • Familiar with collection software and related technologies.

Responsibilities

  • Manage daily operations of the collections department to optimize recovery rates.
  • Lead and motivate a team by providing training and performance feedback.
  • Implement strategies to enhance recovery rates while maintaining customer relationships.
  • Resolve escalated issues, including complex disputes and negotiations for settlements.
  • Utilize technology to streamline collections processes and improve efficiency.
  • Prepare reports and presentations that provide insights on collections performance.

Benefits

  • Competitive base salaries and bonus incentives.
  • Generous PTO, Floating Holidays, and 12 observed Federal Holidays.
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and pet insurance options.
  • Employer-supported retirement 401k with a match.
  • Flexible hybrid working arrangements for work-life balance.
  • Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs.
  • Career development opportunities and tuition reimbursement.
Full Job Description
What You'll Contribute

The Manager, Collections, is accountable for end-to-end performance of a defined portfolio, driving delinquency reduction, liquidation performance, and customer resolution strategies. This role blends operational leadership, data-driven strategy, and compliance oversight to deliver results while maintaining a customer-first approach.

What You'll Do
  • Own performance of a defined delinquency portfolio including cure rate, account progression, liquidation, and overall portfolio health.
  • Execute targeted collection strategies to improve customer resolution outcomes and optimize performance.
  • Lead daily operations, ensuring consistent execution of call strategies, queue management, and workflow prioritization aligned to business goals.
  • Monitor and analyze performance trends, leveraging data to identify gaps, adjust strategies, and drive continuous improvement.
  • Hold direct accountability for team results, including productivity, quality, adherence, and compliance metrics.
  • Coach and develop a team of supervisors and/or front-line collectors, providing real-time feedback, performance management, and career development support.
  • Drive a culture of ownership and accountability, ensuring each team member understands their impact on portfolio performance.
  • Partner cross-functionally with risk, strategy, analytics, compliance, and operations teams to influence and implement process improvements.
  • Manage and resolve escalated customer situations, including complex disputes, hardship cases, and customized resolution strategies.
  • Ensure all collection activities adhere to regulatory requirements (and internal policies, maintaining strong audit readiness.
  • Identify opportunities to improve efficiency through process enhancements and workflow optimization.
  • Deliver clear, data-driven reporting and insights to senior leadership, including performance drivers, risks, and action plans.

The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job; it is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees in this role.

What you must have
  • 3+ years proven track record of driving measurable results in a high-performance, metric-driven environment.
  • Strong ability to analyze data, identify trends, and translate insights into actionable strategies that improve performance.
  • Experience leading and developing teams, with a focus on accountability, coaching, and continuous performance improvement.
  • Demonstrated success managing KPIs and performance targets, with ownership of outcomes at a team or portfolio level.
  • Ability to operate in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment, managing competing priorities while maintaining focus on key objectives.
  • Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex situations and make sound, timely decisions.
  • Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders and drive alignment across teams.
  • Working knowledge of compliance, risk, or regulated environments, with the ability to balance performance objectives and operational controls.


Preferred: Indicate "nice to haves" regarding education, skills, and experience.
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, or related field.
  • Experience in collections, call center operations, financial services, or other performance-based environments.
  • Experience managing segmented portfolios, customer strategies, or operational workflows.
  • Exposure to performance analytics, workforce optimization, or strategy development.


Feeling your best helps you do your best:
Our benefits take care of the whole you-so you can build your work around your life (not the other way around!).
  • Competitive base salaries
  • Bonus incentives
  • Generous PTO, Floating Holidays and 12 Federal Holidays observed
  • Support for financial-well-being and retirement 401k with employer match
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance and more
  • Employer paid short-term/long-term disability and basic life insurance
  • Flexible hybrid working arrangements.
  • Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs
  • Free access to on-site staffed fitness centers (in Delaware) and gym subsidy (for locations outside Delaware)
  • Confidential counseling support (EAP), Health Advocacy services and Wellness program with financial incentives
  • Tuition Reimbursement and Family Scholarship Programs
  • Career development and training opportunities


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About Sallie Mae

Sallie Mae is a publicly traded U.S. corporation that provides consumer banking. Its nature has changed dramatically since it was set up in 1973. At first, it was a government entity that serviced federal education loans. It then became private and started offering private student loans, although at one point it had a contract to service federal loans. The company's primary business is originating, servicing, and collecting private education loans. The company also provides college savings tools such as its Upromise rewards program. It is headquartered in Newark, Delaware.
Learn more about Sallie Mae
Size
2,400 employees
Industry

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