Chief of Operations - Trucking Division

Higginbotham • Chattanooga, TN

2d

About The Position

Position Summary: The Chief of Operations for the Trucking Division is responsible for the operational excellence, financial performance, carrier strategy, and internal scalability of the division. This role partners closely with divisional leadership, producers, insurance carrier partners, and corporate leadership to ensure the Trucking Division operates efficiently, grows profitably, and delivers best-in-class service to clients and internal stakeholders. Supervisory Responsibilities: This position will supervise all non-production team members.

Requirements

• Deep understanding of Trucking and trucking insurance
• Strong operational and financial acumen
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams
• Strategic thinker with the ability to execute at a tactical level
• Comfortable interfacing with senior carrier executives and corporate leadership
• Builder mindset — enjoys creating structure, tools, and scalable processes
• Clear communicator who can translate complexity into action
• Strong work ethic with high standards
• Occasional travel required
• 10+ years of Commercial Property & Casualty Insurance experience required, with a focus in Trucking Insurance.
• Active Resident P&C license required
• Proficient with Microsoft Products, including Excel, Word and Outlook
• Applied EPIC experience preferred, but knowledge of similar agency management systems is acceptable
• Ability to lift 25 pounds
• Repeated use of sight to read documents and computer screens
• Repeated use of hearing and speech to communicate on telephone and in person
• Repetitive hand movements, such as keyboarding, writing, 10-key
• Walking, bending, sitting, reaching and stretching in all directions

Nice To Haves

• Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) or equivalent designation strongly preferred

Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership & Team Management Lead, support, and develop division support staff to ensure productivity, engagement, and consistency across the Trucking Division.
• Establish, document, and continuously refine policies, procedures, and workflows to improve efficiency and service delivery, including all client deliverables.
• Oversee workload distribution to ensure equitable resourcing and eliminate bottlenecks.
• Act as a first point of escalation for HR-related matters, coordinating with corporate HR and divisional leadership as appropriate.
• Conduct annual performance reviews for senior-level managers within the Trucking Division and provide ongoing coaching and feedback.
• Coordinate PTO to ensure proper staff coverage for the division.
• Budget, administer and conduct salary reviews for all non-production divisional team members.
• Set educational and career goals for all non-production team members.
• Insurance Carrier Relationship Management Own and manage strategic relationships with insurance carrier partners.
• Coordinate and manage all carrier contract negotiations, including commission and override discussions, with Fort Worth Carrier Team.
• Conduct regular insurance carrier meetings to stay informed on: Appetite shifts Personnel changes Underwriting philosophy Loss ratio performance Lead annual carrier goal-setting and strategic planning discussions.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison between the Trucking Division and insurance carrier leadership, providing summaries of all meetings to appropriate parties (including but not limited to: corporation leadership, divisional leadership or entire department).
• Financial Oversight & P&L Management Create, manage, and monitor the Trucking Division’s annual budget.
• Partner with divisional leadership to manage and optimize the division’s P&L performance.
• Analyze expense trends, revenue growth, and profitability drivers to support strategic decision-making.
• Communicate financial performance, challenges, and opportunities to corporate leadership.
• Review and authenticate Power BI generated P&L to monitor revenue and expenses related to the division and ensure profitability goals are met or exceeded.
• Producer Enablement & Underwriting Support Tools Lead the development of underwriting-focused tools and resources to help producers win and retain trucking clients, including: Loss stratification and modeling frameworks for new and renewal business Tools to analyze average claim severity by loss type Potential AI-enabled loss run analysis tools to compare carrier development patterns Identification and sourcing of reliable industry trend and development factors Insurance coverage and policy language specific to trucking accounts.
• Ensure tools are practical, scalable, and aligned with carrier underwriting expectations.
• Education & Internal Advocacy Educate new and existing Higginbotham offices on: The Trucking Division’s capabilities How the division supports producers in winning trucking accounts Best practices for engaging the division early in the sales process Serve as a visible advocate for the Trucking Division across the organization.
• Industry & Association Strategy Develop and manage the division’s annual association strategy, including: Selection of industry associations and events Determination of attendance and representation Post-event ROI analysis to guide future involvement Ensure association participation aligns with divisional growth goals, division’s annual budget, and producer opportunities.
• Signature Event Leadership – REFUEL Lead planning and execution of the Trucking Division’s biennial REFUEL client and prospect event, including: Speaker selection and agenda development Venue and location selection Carrier partner sponsorship and fundraising Client and prospect outreach and attendance strategy Ensure REFUEL strengthens carrier relationships, client loyalty, and new business development.
• Communication & Governance Establish and lead structured weekly or monthly divisional team meetings focused on: Production goals Upcoming renewals Carrier updates Industry and regulatory developments Maintain clear, consistent communication with corporate leadership regarding: Operational challenges Staffing needs Growth constraints Strategic opportunities

Benefits

• Higginbotham offers medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, 401K, equity incentive plan as well as multiple supplemental benefits for physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing.
• Company paid holidays, plus PTO
• Employee wellness program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed