Head of Certificate Operations

Job description

Who are we? Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries. People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden. What is the role? We are seeking a Head of Certificate Operations in Charlotte, NC with a hybrid work schedule. ROLE SUMMARY The Head of Certificate Operations is responsible for leading Howden US Certificate and Auto-ID functions, ensuring that client insurance certificates are issued, transferred, and delivered with accuracy, timeliness, and regulatory compliance. This role sets the strategic direction and governance standards for the issuance of Certificates of Insurance (COIs) and Auto ID cards, as well as steering the future state process to be enabled through automation. The Head of Certificate Operations partners closely with operational leaders, technology teams, transfer agents, DTC, clearing firms, and client service executives to drive process efficiency, automation, and exceptional client experience at scale. You will oversee a team of managers and analysts, providing leadership, coaching, and guidance to ensure consistency, quality, and continuous improvement across all business units. What will you be doing? Strategy, Process & Governance Define and execute the strategy for proof of insurance issuance across all business units. Establish governance frameworks, SLAs, and performance metrics to ensure efficiency, consistency, and compliance. Partner with operational and functional leaders to align proof of insurance delivery with enterprise objectives and service standards. Develop policies, controls, and audit-ready procedures that ensure compliance with regulatory, carrier, and client requirements. Provide management reporting on volumes, aging, exceptions, and regulatory metrics. Present findings and risk exposure updates to senior management and risk committees. Support internal and external audits, including SOC reports and regulatory examinations. Regulatory & Compliance Oversight Oversee adherence to state, carrier, and regulatory requirements related to proof of insurance documentation. Maintain enterprise-level visibility into audit trails, exception management, and remediation activities. Partner with compliance and risk management functions to proactively identify and mitigate operational risks. Ensure readiness for internal and external audits through standardized documentation and governance. Service Delivery Leadership Oversee end-to-end delivery of Certificates of Insurance and Auto ID issuance through Client Experience Center. Manage capacity planning, resource allocation, and service scalability across high-volume workflows. Monitor performance through dashboards and KPIs (e.g., turnaround times, accuracy rates, SLA adherence, client satisfaction). Serve as an escalation point for critical issues, coordinating with carriers and account teams to ensure resolution. Ensure quality assurance through proactive review, trend analysis, and root cause resolution. Team Leadership & People Management Oversee talent strategy: hire, train, and develop certificate operations staff across issuance, transfer, and related functions. Set performance standards and service-level agreements (SLAs) for processing turnaround times. Manage workflow distribution and staffing across issuance, transfer, and reorganization-adjacent teams. Foster cross-training between certificate operations and related back-office functions (reorg, dividends, proxy). Technology & Process Improvement Drive automation of manual certificate workflows, including digitization and straight-through processing initiatives. Active ownership and participation in technology builds and enhancements to support Certificate Operations including testing, capability feedback and future state operating model transformation. Participate as relates to certificates of insurance in the the development of a client portal Stakeholder & Client Interaction Act as point of escalation for institutional and retail client issues involving certificates. Interact with clients and prospects on capabilities, strategy and operations related to certificates of insurance as requested. Coordinate with Legal and Compliance with regard to strategy or issues arising out of certificate issuance. Key Skills & Competencies Enterprise Leadership: Proven ability to lead large-scale operations teams, across multiple regions and verticals. Process Ownership & Operational Excellence: Ability to define, standardize, elevate, and govern scalable end-to-end processes, driving sustainable solutions across people, process, and technology while ensuring operational efficiency and continuous improvement. Risk & Compliance Awareness: Strong understanding of carrier, regulatory, and documentation requirements as they relate to Certificates. Strategic Partnership: Ability to collaborate effectively with business, compliance, and technology stakeholders. Analytical Acumen: Proficiency in using performance data to drive decision-making and process optimization. Change Leadership: Experience leading transformation within shared service or COE environments. What are we looking for? Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Business , Operations, or Insurance; MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred. 8–12 years of experience in insurance operations, shared services, or enterprise process management. At least 3–5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing certificate process ownership. Proven success implementing governance, automation, and continuous improvement initiatives. Experience with insurance systems (e.g., Epic, CSR24, AMS360, or equivalent platforms). Experience with technology build to support business needs. Proven people-management experience leading operations teams of 10+ employees. Strong analytical, organizational, and vendor-management skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to senior management. Compensation and Benefits The expected base salary range for this role is $ 170,000 - $ 200 , 000 ; actual base salary will be determined based on factors including candidate experience and work location. This role is classified as non-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In addition to a competitive base salary, employees are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus. Howden also offers a variety of benefits and programs, subject to eligibility, including: Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including healthcare savings and reimbursement accounts 401(k) retirement plan Flexible Paid Time Off and paid parental leave Life and Disability insurance Our sustainability promise We’re on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world. You can read more about our sustainability work here . What do we offer in return? A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us: Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond Reasonable adjustments We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*. If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require. *Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more. Permanent