VP Operations / COO JN -092026-181949

Goodwin Recruiting; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Onsite in Denver

Job summary

Goodwin Recruiting in Denver, CO is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to lead scalable systems and operational infrastructure that support rapid growth from about $7 million to $50 million in annual revenue while maintaining excellent client and employee experiences.

This onsite leadership role offers base salary with performance-based incentives tied to integration milestones, service metrics, and company growth.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of operational leadership in an independent insurance agency or brokerage.
• Hands-on Applied Epic configuration, workflows, and reporting.
• Proven background in agency mergers and acquisitions, especially systems integration.
• Knowledge of licensing, carrier appointments, and P&C compliance.
• Experience managing IT infrastructure and HR functions preferred.
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Bachelor’s degree in business/insurance; industry designations are a plus.
• Willingness to reside in or relocate to the Denver, Colorado metro area.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Service Department with KPIs, SLAs, and continuous improvement.
• Own operational and technology integration for acquired agencies, including data conversions.
• Serve as Applied Epic SME, overseeing system administration and feature evaluation.
• Oversee licensing, carrier appointments, and regulatory reporting across states.
• Manage IT infrastructure, security, vendor relations, and business continuity planning.
• Direct Human Resources functions including recruiting, onboarding, benefits, and performance management.
• Partner with executives on strategic growth and staffing models to support scaling.

Skills

Applied Epic expertise

Operational leadership

M&A integration

Licensing & compliance

IT & HR management

Leadership & communication

Education

Bachelor’s in business/insurance

CIC/CPCU/CISR a plus

Tools

Applied Epic

Job description

Chief Operating Officer – Denver, CO

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing independent insurance agency that is on a dynamic growth path, scaling from approximately $7 million to $50 million in annual revenue through organic expansion and acquisitions. As Chief Operating Officer, you will play a critical role in building scalable systems and operational infrastructure to support this growth while maintaining excellent client and employee experiences.

Chief Operating Officer Benefits & Compensation

• Total on-target earnings between $150,000 and $200,000, including a competitive base salary plus performance-based incentives tied to integration milestones, service department performance, and company growth
• Full leadership role with direct impact on operational strategy and company expansion
• Collaborative culture focused on growth and innovation in the insurance sector

Chief Operating Officer Requirements & Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of progressive operational leadership experience within an independent insurance agency or brokerage
• In-depth, hands-on expertise with Applied Epic, including configuration, workflows, and reporting
• Proven background in agency mergers and acquisitions, specifically systems integration and data conversion
• Working knowledge of insurance licensing, carrier appointment processes, and P&C compliance
• Experience managing IT infrastructure and Human Resources functions preferred
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Bachelor’s degree in business, insurance, or related field preferred; industry designations such as CIC, CPCU, or CISR are a plus
• Willingness to reside in or relocate to the Denver, Colorado metro area

Chief Operating Officer Preferred Background & Skills

• Experience leading service departments with measurable improvements in client retention and satisfaction
• Ability to develop and execute repeatable acquisition integration playbooks
• Familiarity with emerging technologies, including AI, to enhance operational efficiency
• Experience managing remote teams and ensuring culture alignment across locations

Chief Operating Officer Day‑to‑Day Responsibilities

• Lead the Service Department, setting and monitoring standards, SLAs, and KPIs to drive continuous improvement
• Own operational and technology integration for acquired agencies, managing data conversions and workflow alignment
• Serve as the Applied Epic subject‑matter expert, overseeing system administration, permissions, and complementary technology evaluation
• Oversee agency compliance, licensing, carrier appointments, and regulatory reporting across all states of operation
• Manage IT infrastructure, security protocols, vendor relationships, and business continuity planning
• Direct Human Resources functions including recruiting, onboarding, benefits administration, and performance management, ensuring consistency across all locations
• Partner with executive leadership to develop strategic growth plans, operational infrastructure, and staffing models to support scaling efforts

This role will initially start as Vice President, transitioning to Chief Operating Officer during an amicable leadership change. The position is based onsite in Denver with relocation support available for the right candidate. If you have a strong operational background within insurance agencies and are excited by leading growth through M&A-driven complexity, this leadership opportunity offers significant impact and growth potential.

, $150,000 - $175,000,