Operational Excellence Manager

at  IQUW Group

ABOUT US

IQUW is a speciality (re)insurer at Lloyd’s (Syndicate 1856) underwriting a diverse range of Property, Commercial and Speciality (re)insurance products from Cargo and Marine to Political Violence, Terror and War. We combine data, intelligent automation and human expertise to make smart decisions, fast.
ERS is the UK’s largest specialist motor insurer with an A+ rating. We recognise that for some, motor insurance is more than just a must-have; it’s a way of taking care of what stands at the heart of their passion or livelihood. For those people, standard insurance isn’t enough. That’s why we work exclusively with motor insurance brokers to help get under the skin of the most difficult insurance risks, helping build products to meet their customer’s needs.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Proven experience of delivering results in a fast-moving environment with high levels of ambiguity.
• Experience with structured problem solving, target operating models, process mapping, design thinking and workflow analysis.
• Curiosity and confidence to challenge the status-quo.
• Proficiency in whiteboarding tools and Microsoft PowerPoint to bring ideas to life; and Microsoft Excel to help with analytical problem solving.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to break down existing process flows.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively. with cross-functional teams, at varying levels of seniority.
• Proven track record of delivering initiatives from design to implementation and benefit realisation.
• Experience identifying process improvements and driving operational efficiency.
• Commercial awareness to ensure that early ideas are cost effective, with limited tech input.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• A full job description can be seen here.

THE ROLE

This is an internal consulting role. You will lead strategically imperative initiatives from inception to implementation. You will play a key role in setting up the business to grow and deliver against its 5-year objectives. Additionally, you will also lead process improvement workstreams dictated by short-term business needs. You will deliver quantifiable impact by bringing together departments to coordinate ways of working, ensure effective information sharing and create frictionless hand-offs.
The role will be highly visible to senior leaders across the business and will require the ability to influence the Senior Leadership Team and Heads of Department through compelling communication and leave behind successful and valuable change.
This is an exciting time to join our growing business and you’ll be a leader in moulding and embedding operational excellence cultures and behaviours across the IQUW group.
We currently operate a hybrid working model. This entails 3 days per week collaborating with colleagues in the office, and 2 days working from home.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Delivery of initiatives in line with the organisations’ strategic objectives.
• Coordinate senior stakeholders across multiple teams, (such as IT, Finance, Underwriting, HR, Operations) you’ll be responsible for 1 (larger) or 2 (smaller) initiatives at any given time.
• Agree with relevant Heads of departments the scope and approach of each initiative, embedding operational excellence as you deliver.
• Mobilising cross-functional working groups to plan, structure and deliver initiatives.
• Agreeing objectives and key results with business stakeholders to measure ‘what good looks like’.
• Facilitating workshops to meticulously document current-state processes, understand pain points and develop ingenious solutions.
• Creatively designing future operating models and processes with the business, developing compelling cases for change and resolving any conflicting stakeholder issues that may arise.
• Seamlessly embedding new ways of working and processes within the business and empowering them to drive the future-state forward for continuous improvement.
• Owning the timeline of delivery, you’ll be responsible for ensuring the plan for your initiatives remain on track, removing obstacles when they arise.
• You’ll be responsible for holding key stakeholders to account for delivery, by keeping track of clear requirements across working groups.
• Coach colleagues and stakeholders through the issues and solutions, to ensure full understanding and embedding of learning across teams.
• Deliver comprehensive reporting on all activities, initiatives, and progress.