AVP, Operations

Starr Insurance•Chicago, NY

15h

About The Position

Join Starr, a global leader in commercial insurance with over a century of expertise. We empower our employees to innovate, make impactful decisions, and build lasting client relationships worldwide. At Starr, you'll work in an entrepreneurial culture alongside accessible leaders, leveraging our financial strength and vast industry experience to deliver solutions for our clients, no matter how complex. Grow your career with a rapidly growing company that invests in its people and their ability to drive real progress. Position Overview: The AVP of Operations is responsible for leading and optimizing the operational processes that support the Casualty Lines underwriting profit centers. This role will collaborate cross-functionally with underwriters, IT, finance, compliance, and customer service teams to ensure process excellence, regulatory compliance, and achievement of business objectives. The AVP of Operations will analyze data, manage resources, and drive continuous improvement initiatives to maximize efficiency and support underwriting profitability.

Requirements

Excellent leadership and people management capabilities.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills; able to collaborate and negotiate across stakeholder groups.
Problem-solving orientation with the ability to anticipate issues and propose effective solutions.
Change management and adaptability to fast-paced, dynamic environments.
High degree of emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills.
Strategic thinking and ability to balance short-term needs with long-term goals.
Advanced proficiency in insurance core systems (policy administration, rating, document management).
Strong Excel and data visualization skills; familiarity with BI/reporting tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
Working knowledge of workflow/process automation and digital tools.
Familiarity with regulatory requirements for Casualty and Specialty Lines (including claims and compliance systems).
Understanding of operational risk frameworks and controls.
Experience with project management platforms and methodologies (e.g., Agile, Lean Six Sigma preferred).
5+ years’ experience in insurance operations supporting underwriter profit centers, ideally within Casualty or Specialty Lines.
Sound knowledge of P&C insurance products, underwriting processes, and service delivery requirements.
Strong analytical abilities, including root-cause analysis, process mapping, and reporting.
Demonstrated experience in operational process optimization and performance management.
Ability to interpret and act on quantitative/qualitative data (e.g., workflow rates, error trends, service levels).

Nice To Haves

Agile, Lean Six Sigma preferred

Responsibilities

Oversee operational workflows and resource allocation for Casualty and underwriter teams.
Develop, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), ensuring adherence to regulatory and company standards.
Monitor and analyze operational KPIs, loss ratios, submission throughput, quote turnaround times, clearance accuracy, and policy issuance efficiency.
Partner with underwriters to identify and resolve process bottlenecks impacting service levels, profitability, or compliance.
Drive system and process improvement projects (including automation and digital transformation), collaborating with IT and vendor partners.
Establish and manage quality assurance practices across documentation, data capture, and transactional accuracy.
Support the onboarding, training, and development of operational staff aligned with best practices and underwriting needs.
Liaise with finance around premium processing, billing, and reconciliations to eliminate discrepancies and enhance reporting accuracy.
Ensure all operations align with legal, regulatory, and internal audit requirements, implementing remediation plans when necessary.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, teamwork, and operational excellence.
Provide timely, actionable reporting and analysis to underwriting leadership and executive management.