Director New Business Operations

Athene; West Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Athene in West Des Moines is hiring a Director, New Business Operations to lead New Business Processing, Suitability, and the Hybrid Contact Center, ensuring compliant, customer-focused service and scalable solutions.

You will partner across Distribution, Technology, Compliance, Legal and Finance, coach leaders, drive operational excellence, and champion responsible AI-enabled improvements in a regulated environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant experience with 4+ years in leadership within insurance/financial services.
• Proven ability to lead large-scale operational change and drive innovation.
• Experience leveraging data, AI-enabled solutions, and automation.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead New Business Processing, Suitability, and Hybrid Contact Center operations to meet service and compliance goals.
• Develop strategies to improve end-to-end new business processes and producer/policyholder experience.
• Monitor performance with KPIs and drive continuous improvements and scalable solutions.
• Build cross-functional partnerships with Distribution, Technology, Compliance, Legal, Risk, and Finance.
• Coach managers and foster an inclusive high-performing culture with People-Centered Leadership.
• Champion change management and AI-enabled capabilities with governance and risk management.

Skills

Leadership

Data analytics

Process optimization

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Workflow automation

AI-enabled solutions

Job description

We are driven to do more. More for our customers and the financial professionals who offer our products. If you are driven to do more and love the challenge of pursuing more, Athene is your kind of company. You will find we offer more than the basics to create an inclusive and dynamic work environment at our various locations.

Purpose

The Director, New Business Operations is responsible for leading the effective and efficient execution of Athene’s New Business organization, including New Business Processing, Suitability, and the New Business Hybrid Contact Center. Reporting to the Vice President, Operations – New Business, this leader is accountable for delivering operational excellence through efficient, compliant, and customer-focused service while developing organizational capability to support Athene’s continued growth.

Accountabilities

• Lead New Business Processing, Suitability, and Hybrid Contact Center operations to achieve service, quality, productivity, compliance, and customer experience objectives.
• Develop and execute operational strategies that improve end-to-end new business processes, enhance producer and policyholder experiences, and support Athene's continued growth.
• Monitor operational performance using key performance indicators, identify opportunities through data and analytics, and drive continuous process improvement, automation, and scalable solutions.
• Build strong cross‑functional partnerships with Distribution, Technology, Compliance, Legal, Risk, Product, Finance, and Workforce Management to optimize operational effectiveness and successfully deliver strategic initiatives.
• Lead, coach, and develop managers while fostering an inclusive, high‑performing culture grounded in accountability, continuous learning, innovation, and People‑Centered Leadership.
• Champion change management initiatives, operational excellence, and responsible adoption of AI‑enabled capabilities to improve efficiency while maintaining strong governance, risk management, and compliance.

Qualifications and Experience

• 7+ years of relevant experience; including 4+ years of formal or informal leadership within insurance, annuities, financial services, or related operations.
• Demonstrated expertise leading New Business Operations, Suitability, Contact Center Operations, or similar insurance operations with a track record of operational excellence, process optimization, and organizational leadership.
• Proven ability to lead large‑scale operational change, influence cross‑functional stakeholders, develop high‑performing leaders, and drive innovation using strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem‑solving skills.
• Experience leveraging technology, workflow automation, AI‑enabled solutions, and data‑driven decision making to improve operational performance, scalability, and customer experience while maintaining appropriate governance.
• Strong knowledge of insurance operations, regulatory requirements, operational risk management, and compliance within a highly regulated environment.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience.

Athene is a Military Friendly Employer! Athene is committed to inclusion and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.