Director, Optimization & Operational Excellence
Job ID: 9143
Working Business Language: English; this role is considered a head-office role and will be required to communicate with internal stakeholders across Canada where the primary business language utilized is English
Salary: At Wawanesa, salary is only one component of a holistic, comprehensive and competitive offering that we provide to our employees. In addition to salary, full-time and part-time permanent employees are eligible for an annual bonus plan, leave of absence top-up programs and provided with generous vacation time, personal days, premium free benefits and pension plan.
The salary offered for this role is determined with consideration to various factors, including but not limited to: your work location, local labour market conditions, external market salary data, internal pay equity and the knowledge, skills, experience and anticipated proficiency in the role. The salary offered is estimated to be within the following range: $150,000- $190,000. Candidates with salary expectations outside of the range are still encouraged to apply.
About Us
At Wawanesa, we're proud to offer a hybrid work environment that offers flexibility to our employees in balancing in-office (2 days per week OR 15 hours per week in a Wawanesa office) and remote work. You may work from any of the following locations: Winnipeg, MB; Wawanesa, MB; Vancouver, BC; Calgary, AB; Edmonton, AB; Lethbridge, AB; Toronto, ON; Kitchener, ON; Thunder Bay, ON; Ottawa, ON; Montreal, QC; Moncton, NB; Dartmouth; NS
The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company ("Wawanesa Mutual"), founded in 1896, is one of Canada's largest mutual insurers, with over $3.5 billion in annual revenue and assets of $10 billion (CAD). Wawanesa Mutual, with its National Headquarters in Winnipeg, is the parent company of Wawanesa Life, which provides life insurance products and services throughout Canada, and Western Financial Group, which distributes personal and business insurance across Canada. Wawanesa proudly serves more than 1.7 million members in Canada, and we are home to more than 3,600 employees distributed across the Canadian regions and communities where we operate. We give back to organizations that strengthen communities, donating more than $3.5 million annually to charitable organizations, including over $2 million annually in support of people on the front lines of climate change. To learn more visit wawanesa.com.
We are currently looking for dedicated, driven, and enthusiastic individuals who thrive in an environment that welcomes change and are looking for an opportunity for diverse experience and advancement on a growing team.
Job Overview
The Director, Optimization & Operational Excellence is responsible for delivering on a multi-year modernization and optimization of process and technology initiatives that will drive material efficiency gains across the enterprise while improving member and employee experience by re-designing the end-to-end processes for conducting day to day transactions across core parts of the business.
Job Responsibilities
- Define a clear vision for Optimization & Operational Excellence bringing deep thought leadership on process excellence and continuous improvement which challenges and improves processes and resource models to meet or exceed quality, cost, and service metrics rooted in customer expectations.
- Lead the execution of Operational Excellence initiatives and ensuring their alignment to the overall Wawanesa strategy and goals focusing on creating enterprise efficiencies through ongoing process improvements
- Use project and program management skills including task breakdown, prioritization and planning, clarification of ownership, change management and pro-active risk management
- Build effective relationships with the multiple stakeholders across technology and business areas as well as external stakeholders to execute on a common mission, vision and scope
- Lead the development, capturing, promotion and education of best practices around business transformation and productivity in the areas of tools, processes, experiences and supporting behaviours
- Work as an advisor to all business units within the organization as they embark on a transformation exercise providing leadership and guidance on approach
- Deploy and monitor process improvement initiatives, ensuring benefit realization and coordination with various stakeholders
- Provide Lean Six Sigma analysis and process improvement guidance to business sponsors
- Collaborate with sponsors and stakeholders to develop a pipeline of optimization projects, identifying and building new use cases for process improvement and automation, leveraging technologies such as RPA and other automated optimization processes
- Embed change management practices in the portfolio
- Act as a change agent, promoting the benefits and value of continuous improvement at all levels
- Develop the strategy and roadmap to mature workforce capabilities, ensuring alignment with business objectives and optimizing resource utilization to meet operational demands.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to develop durable staffing models aligned to business objectives and provide guidance on effective resource utilization.
Qualifications
- Minimum 10 years current progressive management/leadership experience in Operational Excellence, where business transformation and change are key attributes
- Degree in Business Administration or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Certificate(s) in Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Business Process Management or equivalent combination of education and experience
- High degree of business acumen, business process techniques, workforce optimization and with technology focus
- Excellent influencing skills working with many levels within the organization by building trust and strong working relationships
- High developed interpersonal skills, with a proven track record of building compelling cases and establishing credibility across diverse business units
- Strong understanding of change management practices and their integration into project management methodologies
- Exceptional communication skills with experience in developing enterprise-wide communication and engagement strategies
- Strong leadership ability, leading others to embrace, perform effectively, and adapt quickly to change
- Proven experience in leading continuous improvement and project management
- PROSCI Certified or equivalent change management methodologies and/or experience an asset
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Wawanesa is proud to be one of Manitoba's Top Employers, a Kincentric Best Employer in Canada and a Forbes Best Employer in Canada recognizing an exceptional place to work!
Diversity Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
Wawanesa is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a diverse workforce that is equitable and inclusive for all. Wawanesa provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to an individual's protected status: race/ethnicity, colour, religion, creed, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family or marital status, pregnancy/childbirth or related conditions, national origin, disability, military or veteran status, or any other protected status. Disability or medical-related accommodations are available upon request throughout all aspects of the recruitment and selection process. Candidates requiring reasonable accommodations may contact, in confidence, jobs@wawanesa.com.
If you are interested in this exciting, challenging position with Wawanesa, apply today with your Resume.
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