Manager of Back Office Operations

at Central Research Incorporated in Lowell, Arkansas, United States

Job Description

Central Research, Inc. (CRI) is seeking an experienced Back Office Operations Manager to lead and oversee our back-office team. This role is pivotal in ensuring operational efficiency, maintaining regulatory compliance, and advancing continuous process improvements across the organization. The ideal candidate will be a proven leader with a strategic mindset, strong problem-solving abilities, and an in-depth understanding of student loan servicing practices. This individual will be responsible for guiding the team, optimizing workflows, and implementing best practices to deliver consistent, high-quality results in a fast-paced environment. The position is 100% remote.

Responsibilities & Duties:

Team Leadership & Management

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of back-office professionals
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Conduct performance evaluations and support professional development and training
• Develop and maintain staffing plans

Operational Oversight

• Oversee and manage daily back-office operations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and in full compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements
• Develop, implement and maintain policies and procedures that optimize workflow efficiency, strengthen internal controls, and minimize operational risk
• Track, analyze, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate team effectiveness and provide actionable insights to senior leadership
• Collaborate closely with front-office teams to resolve escalated issues

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure full compliance with loan servicing regulations and strict adherence to internal policies, procedures, and quality standards
• Stay current on applicable laws and regulatory requirements, including NIST and FISMA data security standards, and proactively integrate updates into back-office practices
• Partner with compliance and audit teams to address findings, implement corrective actions, and strengthen overall risk management and control frameworks

Process Improvement

• Identify and drive opportunities for operational efficiency, leading strategic initiatives that enhance productivity and reduce costs
• Leverage technology, automation, and data-driven solutions to streamline back-office processes and improve overall workflow effectiveness
• Evaluate, implement, and standardize best practices across teams and systems to ensure consistency, scalability, and continuous improvement

Data Management & Security

• Oversee data integrity, accuracy, and security across back-office systems and processes
• Ensure strict compliance with data management protocols and cybersecurity standards, safeguarding sensitive information at all times
• Coordinate with IT and data governance teams to maintain secure, efficient and reliable systems that support business operations• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or a related field

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or a related field
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in operations management, with a proven track record of success leading back-office functions




Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.



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