AVP, Operations - Delegated Underwriting Authority

Aviva plc; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid flexible work model

Competitive vacation package

Health benefits

Retirement savings plan

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

Aviva U.S. is building a new commercial insurance organization and seeks an AVP of Operations, Delegated Underwriting Authority.

You will lead onboarding and ongoing management of DUA relationships with MGAs, program administrators, and agents, partnering with underwriting, compliance, legal, and IT to ensure strong controls and regulatory adherence. This role requires 10+ years in P&C insurance operations, deep experience with delegated authority, sanctions screening, and audits.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in P&C insurance operations.
• Significant experience in delegated underwriting authority, MGA/MGU, or program business.
• Experience in specialty, E&S, or commercial lines insurance operations with surplus lines knowledge.
• Experience leading operational teams and managing multi-stakeholder processes.
• Knowledge of sanctions screening (OFAC) and state-specific compliance.
• Experience with audit and quality review processes in delegated authority or program environments.
• Exposure to policy administration systems and Bordereaux reporting.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Insurance, Risk Management, or related field; MBA a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end operational processes for agency and agent appointment applications.
• Oversee third-party sanctions screening and clearance across delegated authority partners.
• Oversee due diligence for Program Administrators with cross-functional collaboration.
• Develop and maintain operations procedures and guidelines for onboarding, renewal, and terminations.

Skills

P&C insurance operations

delegated underwriting authority

MGA/MGU program business

specialty/E&S/commercial lines

audits & quality reviews

policy administration systems

BDX reporting

API data workflows

OFAC sanctions knowledge

regulatory compliance experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Insurance, Risk Management, or related field

Master's in Business Administration or equivalent

CPCU or ARe or equivalent professional designation

Tools

Policy administration systems

Bordereaux (BDX) reporting

API-based data workflows

Job description

Experience Aviva Individually, we are people, but together we are Aviva. Individually, these are just words, but together they are our Values– Care, Commitment, Community, and Confidence. At Aviva, we help customers build resilience and move forward with confidence. We foster an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives are valued, innovation is encouraged, and employees are empowered to grow their careers while making a meaningful impact. As we establish Aviva’s presence in the United States, we’re seeking talented individuals inspired to build, shape, and lead this new organization. Joining Aviva U.S. means stepping onto the ground floor of a thoughtfully designed Commercial Insurance organization built for the long-term, blending underwriting heritage, disciplined execution and capital strength with agility and innovation.

What You'll Do

The AVP, Operations, Delegated Underwriting Authority (U.S.) leads all operational aspects of onboarding and managing the company's delegated underwriting authority (DUA) relationships, including Managing General Agents (MGAs), Program Administrators, and appointed agents and agencies. Reporting to the Head of Delegated Underwriting Authority, U.S., this role builds, owns, and continuously improves the operational infrastructure, procedures, and controls that support the full lifecycle of delegated authority relationships— from agency and agent appointment and due diligence through ongoing monitoring, audit, compliance, and eventual termination or transition. This is a critical operational leadership role that partners closely with Underwriting, Compliance, Legal, Claims, IT, and external Program Administrators to ensure delegated business is onboarded and managed with strong controls, consistent processes, and regulatory compliance across all U.S. jurisdictions. The role requires a leader who can design scalable operating procedures, oversee cross-functional processes such as sanctions screening and due diligence, and drive a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement across the DUA operations function.

Key Responsibilities

Agency & Agent Appointment

Own and lead the end-to-end operational process for agency and agent appointment applications, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant processing. Partner with Underwriting and Compliance to ensure appointment standards and state licensing/appointment requirements are consistently met.

Third-Party Sanctions Screening & Clearance

Oversee the third-party sanctions screening and clearance process for all prospective and existing delegated authority partners, agencies, and agents. Ensure screening processes remain current with OFAC and other applicable regulatory requirements, escalating and resolving potential matches appropriately.

Program Administrator Due Diligence

Oversee the Program Administrator due diligence process and checklist, ensuring thorough, consistent, and well-documented review of new and renewing Program Administrators. Partner with Underwriting, Compliance, and Legal to ensure due diligence findings are appropriately actioned prior to binding authority.

Operations Procedures & Guidelines

• Communications & Training: development and delivery of operational communications and training materials to Program Administrators, agents, and internal stakeholders.
• Policy & System Information: maintenance of accurate policy and system information supporting delegated authority processing.
• Cancellations: procedures governing policy cancellation processing and controls.
• Submission Clearance: oversight of the submission clearance process to prevent duplicate or conflicting submissions.
• Policy Transfusion Workflow: management of data workflows including API feeds and Bordereaux (BDX) reporting.
• Transaction Logs: maintenance and oversight of transaction logging for audit and reconciliation purposes.
• Policy Renewal, Termination, Rescission & Reinstatement: ownership of end-to-end procedures governing these policy lifecycle events.

Audits & Quality Reviews

Own the audit and quality review program for delegated authority operations, including scheduling, execution, findings management, and remediation tracking. Partner with Program Administrators and internal stakeholders to drive continuous improvement based on audit outcomes.

What You'll Bring

• 10+ years of progressive experience in P&C insurance operations
• Significant experience in delegated underwriting authority, MGA/MGU, or program business
• Demonstrated experience in specialty, E&S, or commercial lines insurance operations; deep familiarity with surplus lines regulatory requirements strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience leading operational teams and managing complex, multi-stakeholder processes
• Strong working knowledge of insurance regulatory requirements, including sanctions screening (OFAC), surplus lines, and state-specific compliance requirements
• Experience with audit, quality review, and due diligence processes within a delegated authority or program business environment
• Experience with policy administration systems, Bordereaux (BDX) reporting, and API-based data workflows preferred
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Insurance, Risk Management, or related field
• Masters in Business Administration or equivalent advanced degree, a plus
• CPCU, ARe, or equivalent professional insurance designation preferred

What You'll Gain

At Aviva U.S., we put people first - our employees, our customers, and our communities. We’re proud of a culture built on care, inclusion, and collaboration, where your voice matters and your growth is supported. We’re not just about insurance; we’re about making a real difference by protecting what matters most.

The salary band for this position ranges from a base of $120,000-$170,000. Please note that individual salary is determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills and experience.

• Compelling rewards package including base compensation, eligibility for annual bonus, retirement savings, health benefits and volunteer opportunities.
• Hybrid flexible work model.
• Outstanding career development opportunities.
• Competitive vacation package.

Travel Requirements: Up to 15% travel for executive leadership meetings, strategic planning sessions, broker and client engagements, industry conferences, and cross-functional business initiatives.

Physical Requirements: This position is primarily performed in an office or remote work environment and requires prolonged periods of computer use, analysis of complex business and actuarial data, communication with internal and external stakeholders, and participation in virtual and in-person meetings.

Aviva U.S. welcomes applications from all qualified individuals and has a process in place to provide accommodations for persons with disabilities at all stages of the hiring process and during employment. If you require an accommodation during the interview or hiring process, please contact your Aviva Talent Acquisition Partner so that an appropriate accommodation can be arranged.

We help our 19.5 million customers to save for the future and manage the risks of everyday life. To give these customers the best possible products and service we know we must make Aviva the most attractive choice for talented, entrepreneurial people with diverse backgrounds and an evolving range of expertise and insight. So, we’re passionate about helping our 23,000 people to do the best work of their lives, to enable them to make a positive difference to the lives of our customers.