Director, Operational Excellence

If you’re passionate about helping people protect what matters most to them, as well as innovating and simplifying processes and operations to provide the best customer value, then Nationwide’s Property and Casualty team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

• Sustain financial strength through operational excellence and continuous improvement
• Align, measure, and achieve desired outcomes through capability driven performance to drive activation of our strategy
• Evolving the PL Management System by embedding a culture of continuous improvement and transformation to become a high performing caring organization
• Systemic approach to execution by aligning our actions and desired outcomes through effective problem-solving with data-driven decision making
• Collaboration, execution, and benefit realization by driving process optimization with proven operational excellence methodologies and tools

Compensation Grade: H4 Payband

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Job Description Summary

Are you certified in and possess a deep understanding of Lean practices or other Continuous Improvement methodologies, as well as the creativity and resourcefulness to apply that knowledge to help solve complex challenges? If you like working in a collaborative, team-based environment where we work to make positive, lasting improvements for associates, our organization, and our customers, we want to hear from you!
As a Director, you will lead a team of capability professionals and business partners while consulting with business unit leaders to develop continuous improvement methodologies and strategies for large-scale projects. You’ll set the strategy for the teams developing project plans and implementation timelines, ensuring projects are completed efficiently. We’ll count on you to mentor others on design techniques and methods while preparing the business unit leadership to successfully maintain post-implementation improvement outcomes.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities: 

• Leads others in the development of key continuous improvement analytics, the application of the Integrated Planning framework, and the development of new or revised portfolio planning and management processes.

• Consults with executives, business partners, and customers to develop continuous improvement methodologies and key strategies to identify and deliver process design efforts of business visions, objectives, and strategies.

• Evaluates diverse and innovative solutions to determine the best outcome for complex work issues impacting the business unit. Assesses recommended solution and project implementation outcomes against predetermined criteria for success.

• Creates detailed project plan outlining all phases of the project, roles, and responsibilities of all stakeholders, including third party resources. Establishes timelines for completion, key checkpoints, deliverables, and communication plans.

• Directs completion of large complex business and system process design and redesign projects utilizing complex continuous improvement methodologies. Coordinates all resources assigned to the project.

• Provides expert consultation to associates at all levels on a wide variety of integrated complex tools and continuous improvement methods to develop, design, implement, and improve multiple business processes. Prepares business leaders and associates to maintain implemented improvements.

• Mentors, educates, and trains others on the use of multiple continuous improvement design techniques, methods, and tools as well as business and system processes and tools. Prepares education materials and presentations to increase awareness and effectiveness of continuous improvement implementations.

• Manages collaborative relationships with vendors, partners, and suppliers to support project implementation plans.  May integrate continuous improvement methodologies into suppliers’ products to support overall implementation goals.

• Oversees associate management including performance management, salary planning and administration, training and development, workflow and organization planning, day-to-day management, hiring and placement, and corrective actions for direct and possibly indirect reports.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships:  Reports to Executive leader. Leads a team of four or more direct reports.

Typical Skills and Experiences: 

Education:  Undergraduate degree in Engineering, Business, Finance, or related area.  MBA or graduate degree in related areas preferred.

License/Certification/Designation:  Certification in at least one continuous improvement methodology, such as Lean or Six Sigma. Product-related technical insurance course work (CPCU, CPU, LOMA) preferred.

Experience:  Ten or more years of experience in business management, process design, or operations and more than five years of experience in management consulting. Experience leading multiple, large-scale projects to successful completion.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Expert knowledge of multiple continuous improvement methodologies. Ability to analyze and comprehend business/systems process operations. Understanding of technological, societal, and environmental trends to support process design. Understanding of industry and key competitors. Ability to structure work, lead teams, and develop strengths within team. Expertise in telling a compelling business story through analysis. Managerial courage, especially in advocating to business partners and in giving feedback to direct reports. Ability to integrate critical information from diverse sources. Ability to apply and/or develop highly advanced principles and concepts. Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to review research studies, communicate finding, make recommendations, and negotiate service agreements with internal/external contacts.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and HR Business Partner.

Values:  Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions: 

Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment; extended and/or non-standard hours based on project and service delivery needs.  Travel as needed.

ADA:  The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job.  Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties. 

We currently anticipate accepting applications until 04/02/2025. However, we encourage early submissions, as the posting may close sooner if a strong candidate slate is identified before the deadline.

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

This position could be filled within any of the lower 48 U.S. states.

Smoke-Free Iowa Statement: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries comply with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas on or around company premises as well as company issued vehicles. The company offers designated smoking areas in which smoking is permitted at each individual location. The Act prohibits retaliation for reporting complaints or violations. For more information on the Iowa Smokefree Air Act, individuals may contact the Smokefree Air Act Helpline at 888-944-2247.

For NY residents please review the following state law information: Notice of Employee Rights, Protections, and Obligations LS740 (ny.gov) https://dol.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/02/ls740_1.pdf

Nationwide pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement within the actual starting salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. If a Sales job, Sales Incentives, based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range.

The national salary range for Director, Operational Excellence - 806369 : $124,000.00-$238,000.00

The expected starting salary range for Director, Operational Excellence - 806369 : $134,000.00 - $202,000.00