Head of Business Operations and Sourcing

Description

Role: Head of Business Operations and Sourcing

Location: London - Hybrid

Position type: Full time, permanent

The role is responsible for the leadership and management of the collective Operations Strategy and Optimisation across all aspects of the MS Amlin Underwriting Ltd (MS Amlin) Operations function, reporting to the MS Amlin Operations Director.

The role is responsible for the leadership and delivery of the operating and sourcing capabilities, ensuring our operations and partners perform in line with our business strategy and market standards; identifying and executing on our sourcing strategy and; embedding an effective oversight and reporting culture over our internal, outsourced and market operational performance, risks and controls within appetite. 

The role reports to the Operations Director, MS Amlin Underwriting Ltd (MS Amlin) and will work closely with other MS Amlin Function Heads, intra-group service companies, MS&AD entity peers and 2nd and 3rd line colleagues.

The role is required to observe and instil adherence to all relevant MS Amlin and MS&AD policies, risk frameworks as well as market, regulatory and legal standards and SMF24 responsibilities as appropriate.

About The Job

The role holder will be responsible for managing and delivering on specific areas of the operations strategy, enhancing internal operations, sourcing and managing service providers with a focus on driving scalable, profitable growth and resilient capabilities in line with our business goals and market practices. The portfolio of responsibilities will be shaped annually in line with strategic priorities, critical issues and emerging regulations or threats. Key responsibilities will include:

Leadership of Business Operations and Strategic Sourcing targets, talent acquisition and creation of high performing inclusive culture. Acting as trusted partner across the business, with peers and partners.

Management and modernisation of capabilities, models and controls required to support Claims and Underwriting processes to support service excellence and cost admin ratio reduction.

Delivery of core business operations, such as Facilities, Corporate Insurances, Sourcing and Third Party Risk Management, Continuity and Incident Management.

Set standards and oversee drive continuous improvement in service performance for intra-group shared services and material outsourcers / non-outsourcers includes Cyber, Procurement, Facilities, Data Privacy, Underwriting Operations, Market Services, Technology

Lead operational risk reduction, material outsource and third party oversight and frameworks to realise long-term value and develop shared success. Ensure standards, controls and tooling keep pace with data, legal, regulatory requirements, prevalent and emerging risks and to fulfil strategic developments.

Set the strategic sourcing vision, lead on identification, evaluation and negotiation with new, renewing and under-performing suppliers. Align with business objectives, technology principles and our market, regulatory and legal obligations in the execution and oversight to ensure performance, commercial value and risk are within tolerance. Establish appropriate terms of business, commercial principles and assess and mitigate inherent risk in contracting and service delivery. Establish and maintain exit and stressed exit plans for material and critical third parties.

Act as point of escalation for Business Service / Supplier Owners with vendors. Act as the Business Owner of selected material relationships. Act as the MS Amlin representative for selected multi-entity contracts. Ensure sub-contracting is being managed effectively and to expected standards, working with partners and intra-group providers.

Lead operational resilience capabilities and continual maturity enabling MS AUL to detect, respond to, recover from and learn from potential disruptions to its important business services within defined impact tolerances. Embed resilience by design, manage investment to mitigate vulnerabilities, continually improve response and recovery practices, evolve testing strategies within own domain and with partners.

Responsible for response and evaluation of incidents across Cyber, Data, Third Parties, Infrastructure and People within internal and regulatory thresholds, focused on keeping the firm, clients and partners safe.

Responsible for all internal and external operations reporting, maintaining appropriate policies, controls and governance frameworks including chairing Operations Committee, material third party reviews, business continuity and crisis committees. Developing best in class Management Information, to support issue and risk measurement, decisions and reporting to Board Committees and Regulators as required.

Support cyclical and ongoing operational risk management, including identifying and pre-empting risks materialising, overseeing remediation, leading on aspects of the operational risk quantification processes, inputting into the ORSA and regular operational risk reporting and reviews.

Build strong collaborative relationships with service line owners, internal and third party teams and support them in ensuring we collectively deliver expected performance, value, risk management and adhere to all required standards.

Monitor service levels provided by our key partners, market providers and other third parties. Ensure responsiveness and performance within agreed service levels and contractual obligations. Identify improvements, escalate issues and oversee improvement plans. Challenge as appropriate.

Develop and maintain operational policies and controls, in line with our business model and external requirements, ensuring the policy framework is adhered to for all retained responsibilities.

Assess implications of changes to regulatory, legal, market or business requirements, identify adjustments to existing processes and capabilities. Where appropriate, make recommendations and mobilise and manage delivery, maintaining confidentiality as required.

Act as a an internal operations consultant and partner to the MS Amlin functions and projects, MS&AD entity colleagues, market participants and committees such as Sustainability Committee members in development of net-zero Operating Emissions roadmap.

Work with the Operations Director and act as Sponsor or Operations representative on critical internal and market initiatives, such as the appointment of a new outsourcing or technology partner.

Represent MS Amlin and our Brand at industry forums, market groups and potential capability providers

The role holder will report to the Operations Director, working closely with other senior stakeholders and with counterparts across Operations, Line 2, Line 3, DPO, CISO, Head of Technology, Head of Data, Legal, Service Providers and Market participants to shape and implement strategic priorities, monitor and resolve operating and initiative issues and

You’re going to enjoy this job if you also…

Flourish in fast paced, dynamic environments where you can shape solutions and influence outcomes

Have a passion for personal and professional development for yourself, your team and your colleagues

Foster an environment of accountability, constructive challenge and continual improvement

Enjoy advocating, creating buy-in and engagement across a range of views and stakeholders

Have a strong eye for detail

Can convey complex messages, data and concepts simply, with focus on the core issues and recommendations

Enjoy translating strategic, business or market requirements into pragmatic frameworks, solutions and work plans

Are a strong problem solver and excellent influencer

Highly organised, experienced, pragmatic planner comfortable working with ambiguity and evolving goals

What you’ll need :

Good Insurance knowledge

Strong numeracy skills

Good financial knowledge

Excellent commercial awareness and negotiation

Strong compliance and regulatory knowledge particularly for operations, third party, resilience and continuity

Strong leadership, management and interpersonal skills

Excellent personal time management

Excellent judgement and decision making capability

Good evaluation, analysis and strategic insight

Excellent partnership building and communication skills

Attention to detail

Flourish in fast paced, dynamic environments where you can shape solutions and influence outcomes

Foster an environment of accountability, constructive challenge and continual improvement

Enjoy translating strategic, business or market requirements into pragmatic frameworks, solutions

What y ou can expect from us:

A competitive salary and benefits package is a given, but you can also expect:

A great team and supportive colleagues

Hybrid Working environment

Flexible Working

A strong focus on diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities

A programme of wellbeing and mental health support

Employer-supported volunteering (ESV)

Continuous learning and study support

Structured career development

An open mind (especially to new ideas and ways of doing things)

About MS Amlin

MS Amlin is part of a global top-10 insurance group MS&AD, with three main legal entities operating in the Lloyd’s (MS Amlin Underwriting Limited), UK & Continental European (MS Amlin Insurance SE) and Swiss and Bermudian (MS Reinsurance) markets. We have an enviable reputation for our customer knowledge, claims service and the specialist insurance and reinsurance expertise we apply. We provide the type of security leading organisations need to break new ground, innovate and offer life-changing services and amenities to some of the world’s most challenging regions. Through our parent company, our record extends back over 300 years and today we have more than approximately 1800 people in 15 locations worldwide.

We are experts in underwriting, with both technical capability and deep knowledge of the areas we insure. Our claims service aims for equality, with efficient, fair and timely claims management. We’re going through an exciting period of modernisation and transformation for which we need entrepreneurial thinkers to help execute our strategic vision for growth. We’re on a dynamic path and we need your to help shape it.

MS Amlin is committed to taking a flexible approach to working to allow our employees more control over when and where they work, while still continuing to meet our client demands. This flexible approach continues into our benefit scheme, with a competitive package and attractive lifestyle fund. 

About MS Amlin Underwriting Limited

The MS Amlin group of companies delivered approximately £2.8bn of premium in 2021, around half of which was placed via the Lloyd’s platform through Syndicate 2001, one of the largest Lloyd’s syndicates.

Operating through its Lloyd’s Syndicate, MS Amlin writes a diverse (re)insurance portfolio, supporting clients with complex (re)insurance needs from its offices in the heart of London’s insurance district and from its local hubs in the US, Asia and the Middle East. 

Our portfolio is split into three Divisions: Property & Allied Lines, Specialty and Reinsurance. Specialty comprises 4 departments (Casualty, Marine, Natural Resources and Crisis Management) and Reinsurance covers a mix of property NA, Property International, Casualty, Marine and Aviation and Specialty Lines. Each Division is approximately the same size, in terms of the planned premium income. 

We are wholly owned by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group and regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority and Lloyd’s.

Conduct Rules

With the implementation of the SM&CR (Senior Managers & Certification Regime), the Financial Services and Markets Act gave the FCA new powers to write conduct rules and apply them to all employees within a firm. The Conduct Rules set basic standards of good personal conduct. They stipulate that you must:

Act with integrity

Act with due care, skill and diligence

Be open and co-operative with the FCA, PRA and other regulators

Pay due regard to the interests of customers and treat them fairly

Observe proper standards of market conduct

#LI-MSAUL

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