The Sales Training & Implementation Specialist is responsible for delivering training and coaching to our Virtual Advisor and Client Engagement Teams, incorporating the use of adult learning principles. The position requires exceptional organization and communication skills, the ability to work collaboratively, leading-up and flexing to the learning and working styles of other teams and individuals.
Considerable time will be spent designing the architecture, strategy, and implementation of the Virtual Advice training channel to scale, which contributes to each financial professional's advisory development. Additionally, this role partners with Virtual Advice leaders, and uses external corporate training resources to best leverage available tools and networking across the corporation to provide crucial training and facilitation. This position is accountable to the goals, leading indicators, competencies, and other key metrics as Virtual Advice leaders require.
This can be a remote position within the US.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: - Lead training classes aimed at developing and onboarding new and existing Virtual Advisors, Client Engagement Specialists, and Sales Managers by increasing their advice competency and performance levels, resulting in an enhanced client experience. Demonstrates an ability to adapt training style to suit participants' needs and preferences, fostering an engaging and effective learning environment.
- Design and execute a consistent, repeatable, and scalable curriculum framework that will serve as a comprehensive guide for new hires, leading them from their hire date to achieving 100% productivity, resulting in not only production but creating a positive candidate experience throughout their journey.
- Proactively reviewing with leaders new - and fully trained - Virtual Advisors, Client Engagement Specialists and Sales Mangers continuing educational needs to coordinate relevant and timely training material. Responsible for sourcing, evaluating, adapting, or creating original content from corporate or field training sources, ensuring it is tailored to Virtual Advice and provides excellence in content delivery.
- Develop a support network with field, corporate, and external training partners to enhance the skill sets of Virtual Advice and Client Engagement Specialists and effectively leverage existing processes and best practices.
- Work closely with the Manager of Virtual Advice Training Development and Sales Enablement, sales leaders, and any other key stakeholders to move new hires through the initial onboarding process and troubleshoot roadblocks when needed.
- Collaborate with other training leaders and Virtual Advice staff to maximize training resources.
- Use key performance indicators and metrics to advise Virtual Advice leaders on optimal delivery methods and content selection, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and maximizing training effectiveness.
- Demonstrate consistent follow-through on specific training initiatives and maintain core training and advice knowledge required across functions.
- Proactively address Virtual Advice training needs by creating strategies and coordinate execution versus reacting to predefined plans.
- Required to be on site periodically when supporting live program delivery, including on site logistical support as needed.
- Model Thrivent's leadership competencies by demonstrating resiliency, working together to make the best decisions, and holding yourself and others accountable.
- Support and/or develop an environment in which Thrivent employees and colleagues are focused on continuous improvement, exceptional employee engagement, and an unwavering commitment to our clients. Shapes and/or supports a culture that represents the Thrivent purpose, promise and values, ensuring that Thrivent's trust and reputation remain strong with its clients.
This role will interact with Virtual Advisors, Client Engagement Specialists, sales leaders and other internal operations and training team members. While the Sales Training & Implementation Specialist doesn't directly make sales, they will provide organization and accountability to training in the most effective manner - flexing their training style to meet the needs of trainees. The deep product knowledge, adept advisory ability and sales skill expertise of these individuals is leveraged across the team to deliver sales results.
QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:
Required:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
- 3-plus years working in financial services, functioning within an advisory capacity.
- 3-plus years working in both training content development and facilitating remote or in-person training, ensuring expertise in crafting engaging and effective learning experiences.
- Proven experience in proactively identifying training needs, recommending, and implementing plans using a commonly accepted instructional design model, e.g., ADDIE.
- Experience writing explicitly stated learning objectives and creating lesson plans using adult learning theory (ex: Bloom's taxonomy.)
- Intermediate to advanced skills in Microsoft Office365, Adobe Acrobat, and SharePoint.
- Experience developing asynchronous learning solutions, e.g., eLearning.
- Experience using eLearning development tools and learning management systems.
- Demonstrated ability to influence others from across the organization, including mid-level and senior executives.
- Demonstrated aptitude for innovation and dealing with ambiguity.
- Experience leading peers through change.
- Experience leading, facilitating, and/or presenting at large group trainings, workshops or events.
- Credibility - proven ability to collaborate and solve problems.
- High degree of demonstrated sales skills/abilities in selling financial services products to clients.
- Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with diverse group of leaders and corporate employees.
- FINRA Series 6 and 63 required or obtained within 90 days of hire/transfer
- Life/Health/Annuity/Variable insurance producer licensed and appointed.
Preferred:
- Prefer experience in coaching/mentoring in a remote setting.
- Prefer knowledge of Thrivent's insurance and/or investment and/or banking products.
Pay Transparency
Thrivent's long-term growth depends on attracting, rewarding, and retaining people who are committed to helping others thrive with purpose. We accomplish this by offering a wide variety of market competitive compensation programs to attract, reward, and retain top talent. The applicable salary or hourly wage range for this full-time role is $70,434.00 - $95,294.00 per year, which factors in various geographic regions. The base pay actually offered will be determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, location, relevant experience, skills, and knowledge, business needs, market demand, and other factors Thrivent deems important.
Thrivent is unique in our commitment to helping people to be wise with money and live balanced and generous lives. That extends to our benefits.
The following benefits may be offered: various bonuses (including, for example, annual or long-term incentives); medical, dental, and vision insurance; health savings account; flexible spending account; 401k; pension; life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; disability insurance; supplemental protection insurance; 20 days of Paid Time Off each year; Sick and Safe Time; 10 paid company holidays; Volunteer Time Off; paid parental leave; EAP; well-being benefits, and other employee benefits. Eligibility for receipt of these benefits is subject to the applicable plan/policy documents. Thrivent's plans/policies are subject to change at any time at Thrivent's discretion.
