Underwriting Operations Manager- International Property

Are you a strategic, people-first leader who thrives on building high-performing teams, driving operational excellence, and making a real impact in the world of commercial insurance? If you bring vision, sound judgment, and a genuine passion for developing talent and shaping the future of operations, this could be the role for you. Join a team where your leadership defines outcomes — not just for the business, but for the people and partners around you.

About the Role

As the  Operations Manager for International Property , you will be a driving force behind a dynamic and globally connected underwriting operation — leading a high-performing team, owning the strategic direction of key processes, and ensuring every element of the operation delivers with precision and purpose. Your leadership will have direct and meaningful influence on productivity, process efficiency, accuracy, and profitability across multiple underwriting teams. This is a role for someone who leads with confidence and clarity, thinks strategically, and is relentlessly focused on building better ways of working. If you are energized by the intersection of people leadership, operational strategy, and cross-functional partnership, this is your opportunity to make a lasting mark.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the strategic direction of the international property operations function — define and communicate a clear vision, foster a high-performance culture, and ensure the team consistently exceeds service standards and business objectives
• Drive operational excellence and consistency — lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of Standard Operating Procedures, workflows, and best practices across all operational areas
• Ensure robust governance, control, and audit readiness — establish and maintain strong operational controls, proactively identify and mitigate risk areas, and ensure full preparedness for internal and external audit requirements
• Own performance management and reporting — define and monitor key productivity and quality metrics, identify trends, lead data-driven interventions, and build a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
• Serve as a senior partner to underwriting, business, and operational stakeholders — build and maintain trusted, strategic relationships across the organization to align priorities, resolve complex issues, and deliver seamless end-to-end outcomes
• Lead, develop, and grow the team — invest meaningfully in the professional development of each team member through coaching, structured feedback, and tailored growth plans, while setting clear expectations and maintaining high standards
• Influence resource planning and operational capacity — assess team structure, skills, and capacity needs, and make informed recommendations to senior leadership on hiring, resourcing, and organizational design
• Champion change and innovation — lead the team through process improvement and systems enhancement initiatives, bringing stakeholders along and delivering measurable operational gains

About the Team

Our International Operations Business Services team is critical to the underwriting process and sits at the intersection of global coordination and local execution. We support Regions outside of North America that need to place local coverage, as well as North America teams that need to place coverage internationally — making our work truly global in scope and impact.

We are a highly collaborative team with strong connections across underwriting, on-shore and off-shore support functions, and key partners in Products, Finance, and Claims. We pride ourselves on delivering top-notch service, solving complex problems proactively, and continuously improving the processes and systems that keep the business moving. Our team members are curious, solutions-oriented, and deeply committed to being a reliable resource for colleagues and clients alike.

About You

You are a seasoned, strategic leader who takes full ownership of outcomes and knows how to inspire, develop, and hold accountable a team of professionals while keeping complex operations running at their peak. You think beyond the day-to-day, connecting operational performance to broader business strategy, and you bring a track record of leading meaningful change in dynamic, fast-paced environments. You are a skilled influencer and consensus builder — comfortable providing thoughtful, evidence-based pushback to senior stakeholders while maintaining strong, trust-based relationships. You lead with integrity, communicate with authority and empathy, and create an environment where people are motivated to do their best work.

We are looking for candidates who meet these requirements:

• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in commercial insurance operations, with deep knowledge and understanding of commercial insurance principles, practices, and the broader industry landscape
• Insurance industry background is essential, including substantial direct involvement with Commercial Lines products and coverages (university degree or equivalent work experience required)
• Proven management experience — demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and hold accountable a team of professionals, fostering an inclusive, high-performance culture through coaching, structured feedback, and clear goal-setting
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), with strong analytical capability, financial acuity, and the ability to translate data into actionable operational insights
• Exceptional organizational and prioritization skills — able to manage competing demands, coordinate complex workloads across a team, and maintain quality and delivery standards even under pressure and shifting priorities
• Strategic ownership and accountability mindset — you take responsibility for the performance of the function, follow through on commitments, and set a clear standard of excellence for yourself and your team
• Senior stakeholder management and influence — skilled at building buy-in, navigating complex organizational dynamics, and providing confident, constructive challenge to senior stakeholders while maintaining collaborative relationships
• Independent leadership and sound judgment — comfortable operating with significant autonomy, making well-reasoned decisions, and knowing when to escalate issues appropriately to senior leadership
• Critical thinking and strategic problem-solving — able to assess complex situations, weigh competing priorities, and drive balanced, well-informed decisions that serve both short- and long-term business needs

These are additional nice to haves:

• Familiarity with international insurance regulations and an understanding of how coverage needs differ across global regions
• Experience working in a matrix or globally distributed environment, collaborating across teams with sensitivity to cultural differences and diverse working styles
• A proactive, forward-thinking work style with a genuine drive to challenge the status quo, identify opportunities for improvement, and lead others through change
• A track record of successfully leading process improvement or systems enhancement initiatives that have delivered tangible, measurable operational gains
• Comfort with ambiguity and organizational complexity, with the ability to adapt quickly, make clear decisions in uncertain environments, and bring others along on the journey

This position is flexible to our Alpharetta, GA, Windsor, CT or Kansas City, MO office, with potential to consider other locations for a qualified individual. This position is not eligible for full-time telework, relocation assistance, or visa sponsorship.

The estimated base salary range for this position is $108,000 to $162,000. The specific salary offered for this, or any given role will take into account a number of factors including but not limited to job location, scope of role, qualifications, complexity/specialization/scarcity of talent, experience, education, and employer budget. At Swiss Re, we take a "total compensation approach" when making compensation decisions. This means that we consider all components of compensation in their totality (such as base pay, short- and long-term incentives, and benefits offered), in setting individual compensation.