Senior Manager / Director – Operational Risk & Controls (Insurance)
We are partnering with a rapidly growing specialty insurance organization to hire a Senior Manager Operational Risk & Controls. This is a high-impact, build-phase role focused on designing and implementing a global operational risk and controls framework across a complex, multi-entity insurance platform.
About the Opportunity
This organization operates across multiple jurisdictions and business lines within the specialty insurance and delegated authority space. As the business continues to scale, there is a need to formalize and strengthen the end-to-end operational risk and controls environment across global Operations. This role will sit at the center of that effort, partnering directly with senior leadership to build structure, consistency, and governance across the enterprise.
Role Overview
The Senior Manager / Director will be responsible for building and maturing the operational risk and controls framework across core insurance operations, including underwriting, claims, ceded reinsurance, actuarial, finance, regulatory reporting, and supporting technology functions.
This individual will serve as a key architect of process and control design, helping define how work is performed, controlled, measured, and governed across the organization. Unlike traditional audit or compliance roles, this position is focused on building frameworks rather than only assessing them.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and implement a global operational risk and controls framework, including RCSAs, KRIs, governance routines, and issue management processes
- Partner with functional leaders to map end-to-end business processes and embed appropriate controls within operating workflows
- Develop standardized methodologies, templates, and documentation frameworks for process design and control execution
- Drive current-state assessments and future-state operating model design across multiple insurance functions
- Identify opportunities for process optimization, automation, and operational efficiency improvements
- Establish reporting routines and control effectiveness monitoring for senior leadership
- Serve as the primary Operations liaison for internal audit, external audit, and regulatory reviews
- Track audit findings and lead remediation efforts through to resolution and root cause analysis
- Ensure alignment with regulatory and rating agency expectations across relevant jurisdictions
- Partner with risk, compliance, and internal audit functions to ensure a cohesive three-lines-of-defense model
Ideal Candidate Profile
- 8+ years of experience in operational risk, internal audit, risk advisory, controls, or process improvement
- Background in insurance (P&C, specialty, E&S, MGA, or reinsurance preferred)
- Experience with Big 4 advisory/audit firms or carrier-side operational risk/control functions highly desirable
- Demonstrated experience building or significantly enhancing a risk and controls framework (not just operating within one)
- Strong process mapping, controls design, and governance experience
- Experience working with or presenting to senior leadership (COO-level exposure preferred)
- Strong understanding of operational insurance processes such as underwriting, claims, and reinsurance
- Ability to operate in a fast-paced, build-phase environment with ambiguity and evolving structure
Why This Role?
- Opportunity to build a global risk and controls framework from the ground up
- High visibility role partnering directly with executive leadership
- Broad exposure across all major insurance operational functions
- Significant influence on how the organization scales its operating model
- Ideal for individuals looking to move beyond traditional audit or advisory roles into a more strategic, embedded operational leadership position
If you are interested in building something foundational within a growing insurance organization and have experience in operational risk, controls, or insurance process environments, we would welcome a conversation.
Please note that due to client requirements for this role, we are only able to consider candidates who are U.S. citizens or current Green Card holders. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide visa sponsorship or support visa transfers, including H-1B, OPT, TN, or other employment-based visa arrangements for this position.
