Program Manager, Corporate Governance & Legal Department Operations. West Des Moines Mov

Program Manager, Corporate Governance & Legal Department Operations

The Program Manager, Corporate Governance & Legal Department Operations is responsible for the end-to-end ownership, execution, and continuous improvement of corporate governance processes across Sammons Financial Group Companies (Sammons Financial Group) and its member companies. This role serves as the primary owner of governance operations, including board and committee processes, entity management, regulatory filings, and governance-related reporting. Operating with a high degree of independence is expected to exercise sound judgment in managing governance matters, interpreting requirements, and resolving issues.

The role is accountable for designing scalable processes, enhancing regulatory readiness, and strengthening governance frameworks. In addition, this role supports the Legal Department's Operations and Risk Management initiatives by building and optimizing processes, leveraging technology and data, and driving operational excellence across the Legal function.

Corporate Governance Program Ownership:
Manage the corporate governance program for Sammons Financial Group entities, including the preparation and maintenance of minute books and written consents. Manage entity governance lifecycle activities, including formations, dissolutions, annual filings, officer/director changes, and related regulatory requirements. Maintain and continuously enhance entity management systems (e.g., Athennian) to ensure records are accurate, complete, and audit-ready. Serve as the primary point of contact for governance-related inquiries from internal stakeholders, auditors, regulators, and external partners.

Exercise independent judgment in interpreting governance requirements, identifying risks, and determining appropriate courses of action.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication:
Interact regularly with senior leaders, board members, and external stakeholders with a high degree of professionalism, discretion, and confidence. Coordinate governance communications and logistics, ensuring clarity, timeliness, and accuracy. Translate complex governance, legal, and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance for stakeholders. Build and maintain strong cross-functional relationships to drive alignment and execution across Legal, Finance, Risk, Compliance, and business units.

Process Design, Optimization, & Control:
Design, implement, and continuously improve corporate governance processes, workflows, and controls with a focus on scalability, efficiency, and risk mitigation. Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), governance guidelines, and process documentation. Identify and implement opportunities to reduce manual effort, streamline workflows, and minimize reliance on attorneys for routine governance activities. Leverage technology, automation, and AI to improve process efficiency, accuracy, and consistency.

Risk Management & Regulatory Readiness:
Partner with Legal, Risk, Compliance, and Internal Audit to support governance, reporting, and documentation requirements. Independently manage and coordinate responses to audits, regulatory inquiries, and information requests related to governance and legal operations. Proactively identify gaps or risks in governance practices and implement improvements aligned with regulatory expectations and internal frameworks.

Legal Department Operations & Continuous Improvement:
Support and help drive Legal Department Operations initiatives, including process improvement, tool implementation, and workflow optimization. Assist in the implementation, adoption, and ongoing enhancement of legal technology solutions (e.g., entity management, collaboration, and document management tools). Partner with the VP, Associate General Counsel to identify, prioritize, and execute on opportunities to improve the Legal function's operational effectiveness. Contribute to cross-functional Enterprise Operations initiatives, including Strategic Sourcing, Vendor Management, Privacy, and Risk programs.

Commitment to embrace Sammons Financial Group Companies shared values (Accountability, Connection, Openness, Respect and Integrity). As stated within the Company Attendance and Punctuality policy, regular attendance is required and expected in order to meet the business service levels and workflow demands. Participate in other initiatives and/or projects as necessary.

• Bachelor's Degree Required
• Minimum 5 years' of experience in corporate governance, legal operations, paralegal, or related roles
• Experience in financial services, insurance, or highly regulated industries Preferred
• Demonstrated experience owning and managing governance processes Preferred
• Strong knowledge of corporate governance processes, documentation, and regulatory requirements
• Proficiency in entity management systems (e.g., Athennian) and legal technology tools
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g.,…