In the past - lets talk fifteen to twenty years ago, we had a class of people referred to as "Hobby Licenses". These were SRO Licensed people who never operated the plant.
The NRC, in those days, preferred that Operations Managers and Plant Managers should have (or have had in the past) an NRC SRO License. This primarily facilitates communication on technical issues. If I told you right now that your plant entered an unplanned 3.0.3 condition, I might rightly expect a High Cognitive Order Blank Stare, as a response. SROs know that a 3.0.3 statement is a Limiting Condition for Operation, which progressively requires plant Shutdown and Cooldown in the next day or so.
The scourge of Hobby Licenses clogged up NRC Dockets, Requal Training Programs, and resulted in unnecessary expense to maintain Licenses, Physicals, Records, and support staff.
So many plants have adopted SRO Certification, as a substitute for a 10CFR55 Operator License. SRO Certifications require less maintenance, no physicals, and result in no government or regulatory burden.
To get an SRO Certification, you basically do everything a License Candidate does - except - License Application, Physical, and The Big Dance.
The real convenience for a Manager happens if the plant is ever unfortunate enough to experience an Enforcement Investigation. The NRC maintains a unique relationship with its Licensees, which becomes evident during such trying times. The SRO Certified folks aren't even on the guest list, on many occasions. And if you have any political experience with your current employer, you'll recognize that as a pretty serious convenience issue.