Chief Operating Officer

Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators • Salt Lake City, UT

19d • Hybrid

About The Position

DMBA is seeking a dynamic and experienced Chief Operating Officer to provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, and continuous improvement across its core business operations. The COO oversees multiple complex operational functions, including technology strategy and technology-enabled services, and ensures people, processes, products, services, platforms, data, and resources are aligned with DMBA’s purpose, mission, service objectives, financial goals, and long-term strategy. The role also champions responsible adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to modernize operations and enhance the customer experience.

This is a hybrid position. The candidate must reside within a commutable distance of downtown Salt Lake City, Utah.

DMBA supports the mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its affiliates by helping plan participants be healthy and prepare for retirement. DMBA began operations in 1970.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, healthcare administration, information systems, finance, operations management, or a related field.
• Typically 15 years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare, health plan administration, retirement services, employee benefits administration, or closely related industries.
• At least 4–7 years of experience in a senior operational executive role, such as Vice President of Operations, Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President, or equivalent, with enterprise-wide operational accountability.
• Demonstrated experience leading multiple complex operational areas, including technology and technology-enabled business functions.
• Demonstrated experience providing executive oversight of technology strategy and major platform or digital transformation initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience providing executive oversight of artificial intelligence or advanced automation initiatives that transform operational processes and outcomes.
• Demonstrated success implementing and managing product management, process management, and platform management frameworks across a complex organization.
• Strong experience using operational and financial systems data, metrics, analytics, and performance reporting to guide strategic operational and resource decisions.
• Demonstrated financial acumen, including responsibility for significant operating budgets, workforce planning, capital prioritization, business-case development, and evaluating operational return on investment.
• Demonstrated success improving customer or participant experience, service quality, operational reliability, and measurable service outcomes across complex delivery channels.
• Proven experience establishing operational risk management, internal controls, and regulatory compliance in a highly regulated environment.
• Proven ability to lead large teams, manage organizational change, execute enterprise-wide initiatives, and build succession pipelines for key leadership roles.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, collaboration, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Must reside within a commutable distance of downtown Salt Lake City, Utah.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree preferred.
• Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in operations management or a related field.
• Experience operating within a highly regulated healthcare, insurance, retirement, or employee benefits environment.
• Experience leading major technology modernization, digital transformation, or artificial intelligence platform implementation initiatives.
• Experience overseeing large operational budgets and complex workforce planning activities.
• Professional certifications or advanced education related to operations, healthcare administration, technology management, Lean, Six Sigma, or business leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide enterprise leadership for major operational divisions and ensure high-quality, efficient, and scalable service delivery.
• Lead and integrate multiple complex operational areas, including operations, technology-related functions, business process management, customer service, and other assigned departments.
• Provide executive oversight of technology strategy, aligning technology roadmaps, platform investments, and digital capabilities with enterprise priorities and long-term operational goals.
• Develop and implement operational strategies that support organizational priorities, growth, innovation, customer experience, and service excellence.
• Establish and oversee product management, process management, and platform management disciplines across the organization.
• Lead the strategic adoption and operational integration of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to transform processes, improve efficiency, and strengthen service quality and decision-making.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve quality, efficiency, service levels, productivity, and organizational effectiveness.
• Use operational, financial, workforce, and service data to evaluate performance and make strategic operational resource decisions.
• Establish and maintain operational risk management, internal control, and regulatory compliance frameworks across functional areas.
• Ensure operations meet applicable legal, regulatory, contractual, privacy, and data-security requirements; partner with compliance and legal leadership to identify and mitigate enterprise risk.
• Partner with executive leadership to develop long-range operational plans, budgets, technology roadmaps, and organizational capabilities.
• Own succession planning for critical operational and technology leadership roles by building leadership depth, identifying and developing high-potential talent, and ensuring business continuity across key positions.
• Ensure appropriate governance, accountability, performance measurement, and reporting across operational functions.
• Lead, coach, and develop senior leaders while fostering accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Benefits

• Competitive pay.
• Medical, vision, and dental benefits with low premiums.
• Retirement benefits including a 401(k) company match and Employer Discretionary Retirement Contribution (EDRC).
• Life insurance.
• Full-service financial planners onsite at no cost.
• Paid leave plan that begins accruing on the first day.
• Birthday off.
• Additional sick leave.
• 12 paid holidays.
• Wellness program with health coaching, opportunities to earn three additional days off per year, activities, and an onsite gym.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Company-sponsored career development programs and more than 5,000 on-demand online training courses.
• Hybrid work schedules available depending on position.
• Employee Assistance Program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive