Operations Lead

Job Description - Operations Lead (78005000D20240814)

Operations Lead

Toronto, ON, Canada

The Head of Underwriting Operations for the Americas is seeking an Operations Lead who will be responsible for overseeing and managing the day-to-day operations of AXA XL’s Canadian Insurance Operations. This key role will lead a team of underwriting support professionals who provide essential operational support for Large Commercial (Property, Casualty, Professional, Specialty and Multinational) and Middle Market P&C structures. Additionally, the Operations Lead will be instrumental in defining, executing, and supporting strategic and operational initiatives across the Americas Underwriting Operations organization.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Leading an end-to-end Underwriting Operations function for all the Canadian business lines operations including all administrative/support activities from Submission to Cash Collection.
• Participating as an active member of the Americas Underwriting Operations lead team.
• Being a trusted business partner to all the business lines operations leaders.
• Contributing to the identification of opportunities to free up underwriting capacity by transferring non-core Underwriting tasks to Underwriting Operations and by leveraging Shared Service Centers.
• Communicating the global vision for the Middle Office function and tailoring it to regional Underwriting Operations specific requirements.
• Recruiting, retaining, managing, and training team members to ensure the successful fulfillment of the Underwriting Operations function, closely partnering with the business.
• Building out operational capabilities to support business growth and ensuring greater efficiency across the organization, based on standardized business processes that promote consistency and transparency, yet are flexible to allow for the unique needs of diverse lines of business and particular requirements of operations found in different geographies.
• Owning the risk and control profile and assessment for risks relating to Underwriting Operations, ensuring that risk registers are updated as appropriate for these risks.
• Driving and establishing a clear, standardized, and reliable framework for performance measurement of all operational activities.
• Conducting performance evaluations, recommending salary adjustments, coaching, and counseling staff.
• Monitoring performance metrics and reporting accurately towards the Operational performance metrics and taking proactive action to achieve performance targets.
• Reviewing and managing production and quality control reports and taking appropriate actions.
• Translating quality, timeliness, productivity, and service delivery requirements into individual, team, and unit performance goals, recommending how and when performance measurements will be done and how to collect performance data.
• Ensuring governance and compliance with internal rules, regulations, and policies as well as compliance with licensing & tax regulations and accounting principles.
• Being the key escalation point for any operational activities, issues, and challenges.
• Keeping Department Management informed of status and progress in the unit.
• Ability to drive a future-focused Underwriting Operations function in support of ongoing organizational change.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced experience in insurance operations - hands-on operational knowledge. Experience in managing a team and leadership development.
• Experience in driving large projects, including the design and implementation of target operating models to streamline and improve insurance operations.
• A sophisticated appreciation of how technology can be used to enhance operating efficiencies.
• Advanced knowledge of commercial P&C insurance policy forms and regulatory requirements.
• Understanding of relevant regulatory issues.
• A strategic thinker with a fact-based analytical approach.
• A change agent who will challenge the status quo and constantly strive for improvement.
• Proven ability to operate effectively at the highest levels of an organization and be perceived as a partner to our business leaders.
• Advanced interpersonal skills to interact in a global organization equally well with senior executives, a wide range of business clients, and build rapport with all levels of the organization.
• A developer of talent and a team builder.

Location: CA-CA-Toronto

Schedule: Full-time

Job Type: Standard

AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any colleague or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status or any other category protected by local law.