Head Business Operations UKI & MEA

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Head Business Operations UKI & MEA

lead · Operations

About the Role

This is a pivotal leadership role with the opportunity to steer and drive business operations for the UKI & MEA region, shaping how end-to-end operational delivery enables growth, client impact and execution excellence across the Treaty life cycle — from quote stage through to treaty closure. 

You will lead core operations services across treaty onboarding, accounting, cash management and operational performance, while using data, early insights and strong stakeholder engagement to anticipate business needs and translate them into clear priorities and action. 

As a regional operations leader, you will build and empower a high-performing leadership team of Team Leaders, Managers and Experts, strengthening the management system, driving service excellence and fostering a culture of ownership, client centricity, collaboration and continuous improvement. 

You will be accountable for regional operational performance, cost targets, risk discipline and the successful execution of priorities that strengthen the business and support sustainable growth. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Shape global L&H Re Operations by acting as an active member of the L&H Re Business Operations leadership team, representing regional priorities and performance while contributing to continuous improvement at a global level 

• Lead and steer Technical Accounting Processing and Sales Operations services for the UKI & MEA region, ensuring high-quality delivery, operational resilience and measurable business outcomes in line with agreed KPIs, Market Unit, Finance and Actuarial requirements 

• Build trusted partnerships with Market Units, Finance, Actuarial and the wider value chain — proactively managing expectations and converting stakeholder feedback into concrete, impactful action plans 

• Deliver early business and operational insights for the region, identifying trends, risks and opportunities that support better decision-making and stronger execution across the value chain 

• Drive a disciplined stakeholder management rhythm, ensuring transparency, alignment and timely escalation on priorities that matter most to the business 

• Take ownership of complex and long-standing issues, mobilising teams and stakeholders to resolve blockers and deliver sustainable, lasting improvements 

• Embed Swiss Re's corporate culture across the unit by creating an environment of empowerment, accountability, inclusion and client focus 

• Lead a multi-team operations unit with clear performance expectations, strong governance and a sharp focus on talent, engagement and delivery excellence 

• Develop, coach and empower a strong local leadership team of Team Leaders, Managers and Experts, translating regional priorities into practical execution and measurable results — and mentoring key talents across the organisation 

• Lead cross-functional and cross-location initiatives that simplify processes, improve controls and unlock better ways of working across the value chain 

• Continuously evolve the organisational structure, capabilities, processes and management routines to respond to changing business needs and future growth 

• Contribute to group-wide strategy and transformation priorities, ensuring decisions and initiatives are effectively embedded and executed within the region 

• Apply strategic thinking to assess the organisation's competitive position — understanding market and industry trends, internal strengths and weaknesses, and the competitive landscape to inform priorities and direction 

About the Team 

The L&H Business Operations department is part of L&H COO within Swiss Re. The team plays a vital role in enabling the treaty life cycle from treaty signing through to contract closure. Its work has direct impact on client experience, operational performance, risk management and Swiss Re’s reputation in markets around the world. This role sits at the centre of the regional operating model, connecting business priorities with execution across teams, locations and the broader L&H Reinsurance value chain. 

About You 

You are a confident, commercially aware leader who brings both strategic vision and a hands-on approach to execution. You thrive in complex, dynamic environments, turning ambiguity into clarity and inspiring those around you to deliver at their best. You lead with integrity, build trust across diverse stakeholder groups and are deeply committed to developing the people and teams around you. You bring a global mindset, a strong client orientation and a genuine passion for continuous improvement and operational excellence. 

We are looking for candidates who meet these requirements: 

• Substantial experience in shared services, accounting, operations or a comparable environment, with a demonstrable track record of improving business performance and service delivery at a regional or global scale 

• Solid managerial experience leading teams in shared services or financial services, with the proven ability to steer complex regional operations across multiple teams, team leaders and managers across locations 

• Strong data literacy and experience applying data processing techniques, with a natural affinity for identifying process improvements and translating data insights into operational action 

These are additional nice to haves: 

• Experience in Life & Health (L&H) Reinsurance or a comparable reinsurance or insurance environment 

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional transformation initiatives, simplifying processes and embedding new operating models in a structured, sustainable way 

• Multilingual capability — fluency in English is essential; proficiency in additional languages relevant to the UKI & MEA region is a strong advantage 

• Experience contributing to group-wide strategy, translating global priorities into regional execution with measurable outcomes 

• A track record of mentoring and developing talent, building leadership pipelines and fostering cultures of ownership, inclusion and high performance 

• Strong negotiation and influencing skills, with the confidence and credibility to engage and align stakeholders at multiple levels of a complex organisation 

• Experience working in a dynamic, international and matrixed environment, with a positive, adaptable and solutions-focused mindset 

Compensation & Work Model 

For Folkestone, the base salary range for this position is between £112,000 and £168,000 for a full-time role. 

The specific salary offered considers: 

• The requirements, scope, complexity and responsibilities of the role. 

• The applicant's own profile including education/qualifications, expertise, specialisation, skills, experience and location. 

In addition to your base salary, Swiss Re offers an attractive performance-based variable compensation component, designed to recognise your achievements. 

Furthermore, you will enjoy a variety of global and location specific benefits. Eligibility may vary depending on the terms of Swiss Re policies and your employment contract. 

Our company has a hybrid work model where the expectation is that you will be in the office at least three days per week.

#Li-Hybrid

About Swiss Re

Swiss Re is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. We anticipate and manage a wide variety of risks, from natural catastrophes and climate change to cybercrime. We cover both Property & Casualty and Life & Health. Combining experience with creative thinking and cutting-edge expertise, we create new opportunities and solutions for our clients. This is possible thanks to the collaboration of more than 15,000 employees across the world.

Our success depends on our ability to build an inclusive culture encouraging fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. We embrace a workplace where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and develop professionally regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, skillset, thought or other characteristics. In our inclusive and flexible environment everyone can bring their authentic selves to work and their passion for sustainability.

If you are an experienced professional returning to the workforce after a career break, we encourage you to apply for open positions that match your skills and experience.

We may use AI-powered tools to support the review and evaluation of applications for this position. These tools provide additional insights to our recruitment teams, but all hiring decisions are carefully reviewed and made by people. To learn more about how we use AI in recruitment and how we handle your personal data, please review our Data Privacy Statement before applying.