Position Title: AVP, Individual Portfolio and Operational Enablement
Reports To: EVP Individual Insurance Division
Department: Individual
Term: Permanent Full-Time​


Work Arrangements: This is a hybrid role. You will work in our office in Waterloo, ON a minimum of two (2) assigned, consecutive days every other week, plus a fifth (5th) assigned day per month. You are welcome to work from the office more than the minimum requirement and there may be some roles that are required to work in our office more than the minimum requirement.


The Opportunity: Equitable is growing! We are looking for a AVP, Individual Portfolio and Operational Enablement to join our team!

The AVP, Individual Portfolio and Operational Enablement is accountable for developing, prioritizing and managing the overall project portfolio for the Individual Insurance division, as well as the successful implementation and delivery of the project portfolio, including business, technology and strategic projects and initiatives. In partnership with the Individual Leadership Team, various project sponsors and the Head of Technology for Individual, this individual will oversee initiatives from concept to business case, to delivery and ultimately ensure expected outcomes are achieved.

This individual is a key leader on the Individual Leadership Team, partnering closely with all department leaders and well as corporate IT partners to enable the successful execution of the business strategy for Individual Insurance.


What you will be doing:

• Lead the Individual Insurance division's cycle in developing, prioritizing, and resourcing the project portfolio for the coming year - aligning the portfolio to the division's strategic plan and objectives.
• Partner with the Individual Leadership Team to evaluate project proposals and distill into a portfolio to be executed
• Report to the Individual Executive Steering Committee on the progress of key initiatives - both project delivery progress, as well as expected outcomes as part of the divisional financial plan. Provide reporting to the Executive Team, on portfolio overview for Individual.
• Lead a team of Product Owners who provide ownership of a particular technology or operational 'assets', assess the administration of client/advisor experiences, lead the non client-facing system agile squads in delivering both large and small implementations and assess/remain current with competitors similar offerings.
• Lead a team of project managers who manage the execution of waterfall delivery projects, product implementations and larger more complex, cross divisional/enterprise initiatives.
• Lead a team of business analysts who provide solution analysis, process design, business requirements for systems analysts and write and execute user acceptance testing.
• Lead the Individual Production Support team, a team of specialized system implementation professionals who deliver production support for individual systems and resolution of system and policy administration issues, as well as operational audits and underwriting rule management.
• Partner across the enterprise - Simplification Program, Individual and Corporate Technology teams, Impact Team to ensure effective and efficient delivery of portfolio initiatives, as well as understand any impact on enterprise-wide initiatives that will have an impact on the Individual teams.

What you will bring:

• Excellent communication skills, both executive level communication as well as the ability to clearly articulate strategic objectives and outcomes to all levels of the organization.
• Personal Effectiveness - Excellent negotiation and influencing skills
• Strategic mindset, and an ability to influence division leaders and executives
• 15+ years experience the insurance industry
• History of demonstrated ability to lead change management
• Strong and proven leadership experience, including the ability to recruit, develop, and retain talent
• Proven project management and project planning experience under both waterfall and agile methodologies
• Very strong understanding of project management methodology, business analysis and testing techniques
• Strong technical understanding of the functionality and strengths of multiple insurance administration systems for policy admin, commissions payments, illustrations, workbench and others
• Good technical understanding of web applications
• Superb organizational skills
• Coaching and skills development for a variety of insurance professionals
• Ability to lead external RFPs to evaluate system solutions
• Strong financial acumen - Budget and resource management, as well as connecting expected project outcomes to financial plan

What's in it for you:

• A healthy work-life balance with employee wellness top of mind
• Annual bonus program, annual vacation allowance, and company-paid benefits program
• An additional paid volunteer day each year so you can spend time giving back to the community
• Immediate enrollment in the company's pension program with employer matching
• Employee resource groups that support an inclusive work environment
• Tuition support and specialized program assistance
• An onsite full-service cafeteria with a variety of daily options
• Discounts on company products and services, and access to exclusive employee perks
• Regular EQ Together events focused on company togetherness and collaboration

As part of the recruitment/offer process you will be required to:

• Provide two professional references (minimum one supervisor and above)
• Undergo a criminal background check
• Undergo verification of your educational successes
• Undergo a credit check

This role is open due to an existing vacancy.

To learn more about Equitable, we encourage you to explore our organization.

At Equitable, we are committed to providing equal access to employment opportunities across our organization. Please contact our HR team at careers@equitable.ca if you would like to receive our job postings in an alternative format or require an accommodation with the application process.

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