[Hiring] VP, Head of Strategic Operations @Arch Insurance Group Inc.

Role Description

The role is responsible for:

• Strategic Leadership & Planning
  • Set the strategic direction for the Strategic Operations Manager team, ensuring alignment with business unit and enterprise goals.
  • Partner with BU Divisional Presidents and leaders to understand priorities and guide the team in analyzing customer and employee journeys for improvement opportunities.
  • Oversee the identification and prioritization of operational and technology initiatives to support underwriting and business objectives.
  • Ensure the integration of market insights and leading practices into business planning.
  • Driving connectivity and consistency with the Business Solutions Product Management team.
• Team Oversight & Execution
  • Direct and support Strategic Operations Managers in owning and driving improvements in customer and employee experience journeys.
  • Monitor team performance, ensuring effective tracking of operational metrics and service levels.
  • Lead cross-functional transformation efforts, serving as an evangelist for SOMs in major initiatives.
  • Oversee the BU impacts of implementation of technology and analytics-enabled workflows, partnering with IT, Data, and other enabling functions.
  • Promote the development of business relationships and product management disciplines and outcome-based delivery.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Foster strong engagement between Strategic Operations Managers and IT, Data, Process Engineering, and other business functions.
  • Promote business innovation and optimization through collaborative problem-solving across multiple business units.
  • Champion digital capabilities and value-based outcomes across business units and executive stakeholders.
• Talent Management & Capability Development
  • Lead goal setting, performance evaluation, and professional development for the Strategic Operations Manager team.
  • Partner with Centers of Excellence (COEs) to operationalize and scale best practices.
  • Ensure the team is positioned to support business objectives and drive continuous improvement.

This role collaborates closely with:

• The Business Solutions Product Management team, which includes Product Managers across key domains such as Customer & Intake, Underwriting, Content Management, Billing & Collections, and more.
• Cross-functional partners including IT, Strategic Analytics, Strategic Portfolio Management, Process Engineering, Central Operations, Corporate Underwriting, Data, and other enterprise functions to ensure alignment, dependency management, and effective ways of working.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field required, MBA degree preferred.
• 15+ years of experience in insurance operations or Underwriting, strong preference for Specialty & Commercial.
• Min 5-10+ years in a leadership position and leading prior transformation projects.
• Certified Product Management or equivalent Agile certification.
• 5-10+ years prior experience leading Business Relationship Managers, or Product Management functions that triangulates between business partners, Underwriting, Operations and Technology.

Requirements

• Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with a focus on coaching and inspiring teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication, with the ability to influence and present complex ideas to varied audiences.
• Self-motivated and proactive in identifying and seizing opportunities.
• Comfortable working independently in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrates teamwork, interpersonal effectiveness, technical acumen, and stakeholder management.
• Flexible and adaptable, with experience in change management.
• Capable of developing and presenting strategic communications to senior leadership.
• Proficient in digital transformation execution and understanding of the end-to-end insurance lifecycle and value streams.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including multiple medical plans plus dental, vision and prescription drug coverage.
• Competitive 401k with generous matching.
• PTO beginning at 20 days per year.
• Up to 12 paid company holidays per year plus 2 paid days of Volunteer Time Off.
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance as well as Short and Long-Term Disability.
• Paid Parental Leave of up to 10 weeks.
• Student Loan Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement.
• Backup Child and Elder Care.