Job Details

SVP, Operating Strategy, Transformation & Process Optimization

Life Insurance | Underwriting & New Business Operations

Hybrid (Tues–Thurs onsite) – McKinney, TX

Reports to: EVP, Underwriting & Sales Administration

Full relocation available

Compensation

• Year 1: $220K–$230K base + bonus + equity ($300K+ total)
• Year 2+: $400K–$425K+ total comp with structured ramp

The Opportunity

A Fortune 600 insurance leader is hiring an SVP to lead enterprise-wide operational transformation across Life & Health underwriting and new business operations.

This role is focused on modernizing core insurance operations—not an IT-led transformation role. The mandate is to standardize processes, improve efficiency, and scale growth by transforming how underwriting and policy issuance operate end-to-end.

What You'll Own

You will lead transformation across the front-end of the policy lifecycle, including:

1) Underwriting & New Business Transformation

• Drive modernization across:
• Underwriting workflows
• New business intake and case management
• Policy issuance and sales administration
• Improve speed, accuracy, and scalability of underwriting decisions
• Advance initiatives such as e-app enhancements, straight-through processing, and real-time underwriting

2) Process Standardization & Operating Model Design

• Standardize processes across multiple entities and product lines post-M&A
• Design future-state operating models that enable scalable growth without proportional headcount
• Eliminate fragmentation across underwriting, new business, and sales administration

3) Measurable Operational Improvement

• Deliver quantifiable business outcomes, including:
• Cycle time reduction
• Cost savings and efficiency gains
• Improved placement and conversion rates
• Establish KPIs and track impact across all transformation initiatives

4) Automation & Digital Enablement (Ops-Led)

• Lead adoption of:
• Automation and workflow optimization
• AI and decision-support tools within underwriting
• Ensure technology is deployed to enhance operations, not drive them

5) Vendor & Ecosystem Alignment

• Partner with and optimize use of key insurance platforms and vendors, including:
• iPipeline
• Sapiens
• Milliman
• Munich Re / Swiss Re
• Align internal operations with external partners to improve speed, consistency, and outcomes

6) Transformation Leadership & Execution

• Lead initiatives from business case → implementation → ROI realization
• Drive alignment across underwriting, distribution, actuarial, IT, and finance
• Act as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, with regular exposure to EVP and senior stakeholders

Required Experience

• 5-8+ years of senior leadership (VP/SVP) within Life and Health insurance
• Deep experience in:
• Underwriting operations
• New business / acquisition operations
• Background within mid-to-large Tier I or Tier II carriers

This role requires direct life insurance industry experience

Property & Casualty–only backgrounds are not aligned

Transformation Experience

• Proven success leading large-scale operational transformation initiatives within insurance
• Experience with:
• Process standardization
• Operating model redesign
• Automation and workflow improvement
• Ability to clearly quantify results (cost savings, cycle time, growth impact)

Functional Expertise

• Strong understanding of:
• Policy issuance lifecycle
• Underwriting workflows and decisioning
• Sales administration and case management

Preferred Background

• Experience working with or alongside firms such as:
• Accenture, Deloitte, IBM, DXC, Zinnia (combined with operator-side leadership)
• Familiarity with key industry vendors and platforms
• Lean Six Sigma, process excellence, or continuous improvement background

What Sets This Role Apart

• True ownership of enterprise transformation at scale
• Direct impact on growth strategy and operating performance
• Opportunity to modernize core underwriting and new business operations
• High visibility with executive leadership
• Competitive long-term compensation and equity participation

Who This Role Is Best For

This role is ideal for a senior life insurance operations executive who has:

• Led transformation within underwriting and new business functions
• Delivered measurable operational improvements at scale
• Strong command of how the business actually runs, not just how systems are built

Culture & Work Model

• Hybrid (Tues–Thurs in office)
• Collaborative, execution-focused leadership team
• Strong emphasis on shared outcomes and enterprise impact

Benefits

• Competitive executive compensation + equity participation
• 401(k) matching
• Medical, dental, vision
• HSA / FSA
• PTO + holidays
• Tuition reimbursement + professional development
• Relocation assistance (if applicable)