Summary:

As the Wholesale Operations Leader, you will lead cross-functional work to deliver innovative solutions, streamline operational protocols, and drive consistency and process excellence across the GRS North America Wholesale segment. This role partners closely with Wholesale business unit leaders, Office of Underwriting, Finance, Actuarial & Data Science, Legal, Claims, Field Operations, Technology, and other functional partners to support operational strategies that enable segment priorities.

The Wholesale Operations Leader serves as the connective tissue between strategy and execution, helping shape Wholesale strategy and translate it into sequenced, resourced plans with clear owners, outcomes, and measurable business impact. This role will engineer the submission-to-quote pipeline as a measurable operating system, improve broker connectivity, embed AI-enabled capabilities into the underwriting workflow, and build the data and P&L infrastructure needed to make Wholesale performance visible at the segment level. The role will help free business leaders to focus on underwriting and market activity by reducing operational friction, improving reporting, and driving disciplined execution.

Responsibilities:

• Through a strategic and operational lens, lead cross-functional work to drive a collaborative, agile, high-performing culture and operating model that is principled, profitable, innovative, and nimble.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Wholesale segment leader — contributing to the formation of segment strategy, not only its execution — including portfolio direction, distribution strategy, and growth priorities across E&S lines.
• Serve as Wholesale Operations Leader, representing Wholesale in Office of Underwriting, operations, product, data, and technology forums to ensure Ironshore’s needs are built into roadmaps, not accommodated after the fact.
• Engineer the submission-to-quote pipeline as a measurable system with defined cycle time targets by business unit — identifying where time dies and building solutions to eliminate it.
• Own broker connectivity as a product decision, supporting API-first integration into broker AMS systems and reducing reliance on additional portals that create friction for brokers and underwriters.
• Make AI infrastructure foundational to the Wholesale operating model, enabling triage, clearance, and appetite scoring before a human touches a submission.
• Own submission-level data as the operating nervous system, including quote ratios, hit rates, cycle times by underwriter and by broker, and other key measures of underwriting and operational performance.
• Translate the six execution workstreams into a sequenced, resourced plan with clear owners, milestones, outcomes, and accountability.
• Build and own the standalone Wholesale P&L infrastructure in partnership with Finance, including the data architecture needed to make performance visible at the segment level.
• Partner with underwriting, actuarial, claims, finance, data, and technology teams to develop dashboards, portfolio analysis, operational reporting, and business insights to support segment and business unit leaders.
• Effectively prioritize and execute key operational initiatives across the Wholesale segment with strong project management discipline while championing Liberty Values & Guidelines to drive employee engagement, best-in-class service, productivity, and profitability.
• Accountable for ensuring clarity, visibility, and execution relative to operational key performance indicators KPIs across the Wholesale segment.
• Partner with segment and business unit leaders to organize and lead key operational meetings, manage competing priorities, and ensure decisions are translated into execution.
• Develop executive-level communications, business updates, decision materials, and reporting for internal and external stakeholders.
• Perform business analyses and evaluate the impact of alternative management decisions on operational outcomes, financial results, and broker/underwriter experience.
• May lead small team of operations resources supporting overall Wholesale priorities

If the selected candidate lives within 50 miles of a GRS office, then the selected candidate must be prepared to come into the office two days/week. This policy is subject to change. 

• Deep expertise in Excess & Surplus (E&S) and wholesale/specialty insurance — spanning open-brokerage, SME binding authority, and delegated authority / program business — finance and actuarial concepts, regulatory environment, reinsurance, underwriting, producer management, and broker distribution.
• Advanced knowledge of financial analysis, technology, strategic planning, operational management, data/reporting, and business process improvement.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with strong presentation skills and the ability to facilitate discussion, influence stakeholders, and build consensus.
• Skills required include analyzing and problem solving; adaptability; decision making; building relationships; working effectively with others; applying financial acumen; focusing on service; executing excellence; planning and organizing work; and achieving results.
• Demonstrated ability to foster collaborative relationships and effectively work as part of a broader global and organizational team.
• Experience working in an Agile environment, e.g., agile project management, product ownership, workflow modernization, or technology-enabled operating model transformation.
• Excellent time management, prioritization, and delegation skills.
• Advanced degree or equivalent training preferred; CPCU designation or equivalent preferred.
• Experience managing and mentoring staff or leading cross-functional teams preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in operations, systems, organizational improvement, underwriting operations, strategy, business transformation, or related insurance roles.