Director of Strategy & Operations (Claims)

SafeLease•Niles, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a Director of Strategy & Operations (Claims) with a consulting background to lead cross-functional initiatives that improve claims performance, partnering with Claims, Product, Go-To-Market (GTM), Support, and other teams to drive strategic and operational excellence across the claims lifecycle. This role demands exceptional project management skills, strategic vision, and the ability to align cross-functional efforts with organizational goals in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Management, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred.
5-10 years of experience in management consulting, with a focus on strategy, operations, or transformation projects.
Exceptional project management skills, with experience leading large-scale, cross-functional initiatives.
Strong analytical skills, with expertise in tools like Excel, SQL, or Tableau for strategic analysis and reporting.
Proven ability to influence and manage senior stakeholders across multiple departments.
Experience working with Claims, Product, GTM, or Support teams in dynamic, high-growth environments.
Ability to navigate complexity and drive results in ambiguous, fast-paced settings.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading operational or strategic initiatives within a claims, insurance, or InsurTech environment.
Familiarity with claims management systems and claims process automation.
Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Jira, or Monday.com).
Understanding of claims regulatory requirements, loss reserving, or fraud/leakage mitigation.
Experience in the self-storage and/or insurance industry.

Responsibilities

Oversee and drive high-impact, cross-functional claims initiatives, ensuring alignment with company strategy and timely execution.
Partner with the Claims organization to optimize the end-to-end claims lifecycle, including intake, adjudication, settlement, and recovery/subrogation workflows.
Collaborate with Product, GTM, and Support teams to identify opportunities for claims operational improvements and implement scalable solutions.
Develop and monitor claims KPIs (e.g., cycle time, loss adjustment expense, leakage, customer satisfaction) to evaluate the success of strategic initiatives and operational processes.
Lead the creation of project plans, timelines, and resource allocation to ensure successful delivery of claims transformation efforts.
Provide strategic recommendations to senior leadership based on claims data analysis, loss trends, and industry benchmarks.
Facilitate cross-departmental collaboration, managing stakeholder relationships to drive consensus and outcomes on claims priorities.
Mentor and guide junior team members in project execution and claims operational strategy.