Operational Excellence Consulting Director

You have a clear vision of where your career can go. And we have the leadership to help you get there. At CNA, we strive to create a culture in which people know they matter and are part of something important, ensuring the abilities of all employees are used to their fullest potential. 

This individual contributor role is pivotal in partnering with executives and leaders across the enterprise to design and execute transformative strategic initiatives that align with CNA’s business goals. The role involves engaging with high-priority projects and collaborating with stakeholders across various business units to creatively solve complex process challenges, shape future approaches, and inform decision-making.

Key responsibilities include providing strong leadership and thought partnership while directing transformation efforts that establish process standards, support, and tools. The individual in this role will leverage superior communication and facilitation skills to successfully deliver strategic initiatives that provide measurable business impact and accelerate growth.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Performs a combination of duties in accordance with departmental guidelines:

• Strategic Partnership: Collaborate with executives and leaders to design and implement strategic initiatives that drive CNA’s business objectives. Partner with business and functional teams to align strategic intent, assess the current landscape, and design future models.

• High-Priority Engagement: Engage with high-priority projects, ensuring alignment with business goals and delivering impactful results. Lead complex projects and programs, assuming overall responsibility for the management of pace, scope, and risk.

• Creative Problem-Solving: Work with stakeholders across business units to address complex process challenges and develop innovative solutions. Lead synthesizing and summarizing issues, defining gaps between current and future states, and developing solution recommendations.

• Leadership and Thought Partnership: Provide leadership and thought partnership in directing transformation efforts, establishing process standards, and offering support and tools. Lead the development of deployment planning and roadmap development.

• Project Management Discipline: Apply project management principles to ensure disciplined execution of strategic initiatives, including planning, monitoring, and controlling project activities. Allocate resources to achieve the objectives of one or more projects spanning multiple areas and business functions. Communicate progress to senior management and modify schedules as required.

• Change Management: Lead change management efforts to ensure smooth transitions and adoption of new processes and systems.

• Accountability for Outcomes: Take responsibility for the successful execution of initiatives, ensuring accountability for outcomes and benefits realization. Establish quality and performance targets aligned to the corporate strategy. Apply project management methodologies and control techniques to ensure effective service delivery.

• Communication and Facilitation: Utilize superior communication and facilitation skills to ensure the successful delivery of strategic initiatives. Establish strong relationships with customers and business partners by demonstrating area expertise and enterprise business acumen. Negotiate with clients and outside vendors as required.

• Measurable Impact: Focus on delivering initiatives that provide measurable business impact and contribute to the acceleration of growth. Develop new tools and reports to aid in data collection, analysis, and strategic planning to achieve superior results.

• Industry Insight: Stay up to date on business trends and developments within the insurance industry. Anticipate industry changes and offer innovative solutions that result in superior customer experience.

May perform additional duties as assigned.

Reporting Relationship

Typically AVP or above
 

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• In-depth knowledge of business unit's functions and systems.
• Senior level knowledge of insurance industry, its products and services.
• Senior level knowledge of project management tools and techniques.
• Requires excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with peers and management.
• Ability to exercise professional judgment and assume responsibility for decisions which have an impact on quality of service and costs.
• Advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office suite and other business related software systems.
• Ability to drive strategy and implement systems, processes, and procedures that improve  customer experience and result in profitable growth.
• Focuses on objectives to set direction and drive superior results.
• Uses metrics and information analysis and accesses technology resources as needed.
• Value driven to provide superior solutions to internal and/or external customers.
• Acts with a sense of urgency to advance priorities of the organization.
• Thinks creatively and uses diverse ideas to solve problems.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related discipline required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Typically a minimum of 10 years of related work experience

 

#LI-Remote

#LI-DM1

In certain jurisdictions, CNA is legally required to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. In District of Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Washington, the national base pay range for this job level is $97,000 to $189,000 annually. Salary determinations are based on various factors, including but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and location. CNA offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to help our employees – and their family members – achieve their physical, financial, emotional and social wellbeing goals.  For a detailed look at CNA’s benefits, please visit cnabenefits.com.

CNA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact leaveadministration@cna.com.