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Careers at KKR Verified
Financial Services, Private Equity

VP, Service Leader of Agency and New Business Operations

Des Moines, IAOnsiteFull TimeVice PresidentPosted 1 month agoVisa sponsorship available

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Required skills

  • new business operations
  • agency operations
  • exception resolution
  • service level attainment
  • issuance velocity
  • customer outcomes
  • process improvement
  • operational efficiency
  • people leadership
  • performance expectations

Nice to have

  • operational transformation
  • manual processing
  • transactional processing
  • exception-based service models
  • technology-enabled service models
  • sales operations

Role summary

The VP, Service Leader of Agency and New Business Experience will report to the Director, Individual Markets Insurance Operations. This role involves setting operational priorities, managing vendor partnerships, driving team effectiveness, and aligning sales strategy with operational execution to achieve pipeline performance. The leader will shift the team's focus from transaction processing to exception intelligence, process improvement, and enhancing firm experience through smarter processes and technology. Responsibilities include leading daily operations, coaching a high-performing team, establishing operating rhythms, resolving escalations, and implementing operational improvements. The position is based in Hartford, CT or Des Moines, IA.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director, Individual Markets Insurance Operations, the Service Leader of Agency and New Business Experience function — setting operational priorities, managing vendor partnerships, driving team effectiveness, and aligning sales strategy with operational execution to deliver pipeline performance. This leader will evolve the team's focus from transaction processing toward exception intelligence, process improvement, and firm experience, continuously improving operational efficiency through smarter processes and technology while elevating the value the team delivers to firms and financial professionals. This position is based in Hartford, CT or Des Moines, IA.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Lead daily new business and agency operations, delivering exception resolution quality, service level attainment, issuance velocity, productivity, and customer outcomes aligned with business objectives and process improvement priorities.
  • Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team by setting clear performance expectations, building analytical and exception-handling capability, managing capacity, and fostering accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
  • Establish daily, weekly, and monthly operating rhythms — reviewing exception volumes, automation fallout trends, service levels, quality, workload distribution, aging, and operational risks — and drive timely corrective actions.
  • Monitor exception volumes and processing trends, partnering with Domain, Product Owner, and Technology teams to refine workflows so the team can focus its expertise on the cases that most benefit from hands-on attention.
  • Partner with Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) and vendor partners to ensure operational execution, service quality, and productivity align with business expectations and firm experience standards.
  • Lead resolution of operational issues, firm complaints, complex cases, and escalations, ensuring timely follow-through and positive outcomes for firms and financial professionals.
  • Implement operational improvements that strengthen quality, reduce recurring exceptions, improve efficiency, and enhance team capability as the team modernizes its processes and tools.
  • Partner with Sales Operations Support to ensure daily operational priorities reflect firm expectations, reduce escalation volume, and reinforce an ownership mindset across the team.

    • QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor's degree, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
  • 10+ years of experience in insurance, financial services, or new business/agency operations, including 5+ years in a people leadership role.
  • Demonstrated experience managing vendor or TPA relationships and driving SLA performance.
  • Working knowledge of automation and workflow tools (e.g., Pega), with insurance and regulatory knowledge relevant to new business issuance and agency operations.
  • Experience setting AI strategy or leading AI adoption across a team or function
  • Ability to coach teams on the effective and responsible use of AI
  • Preferred: experience leading operational transformation from manual/transactional processing toward exception-based, technology-enabled service models.
  • Preferred: familiarity with sales operations, distribution, or agency management structures.
  • Preferred: industry designations such as FLMI, LOMA, or ACS.

    • CRITICAL COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS

  • People leadership and coaching — builds high-performing, accountable teams and coaches with a growth mindset.
  • Data-driven performance management — uses metrics, exception trends, and operating rhythms to run the business and drive corrective action.
  • Vendor and TPA management — sets SLA expectations, monitors performance, and holds partners accountable to firm experience standards.
  • Sales-Operations alignment — partners with Distribution and Sales Operations to translate firm expectations into operational priorities.
  • Cross-pod planning and dependency management — orchestrates work across Domain, Product, and Technology to advance process and automation improvements.
  • Insurance and regulatory acumen — brings working knowledge of new business issuance, agency operations, and applicable regulatory requirements.
  • Operational transformation mindset — shifts teams from production-based work toward analytical, relationship-based, and exception-focused work.
  • Trust-based partnership and communication — removes barriers, addresses issues proactively, and builds credibility across functions.

    • This is the expected annual base salary range for this position. Actual salaries may vary based on factors, such as skill, experience, and qualification for the role. Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus, based on factors such as individual and team performance. Base Salary Range $160,000 to $180,000

    KKR is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals seeking employment are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by applicable law.

    KKR will provide reasonable accommodations as required by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. Individuals seeking an accommodation for the application or interview process should email Benefits@kkr.com. Emails sent for unrelated issues, such as following up on an application, will not receive a response.

    If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access https://www.kkr.com/careers because of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by sending an email to Benefits@kkr.com. Only emails left for this purpose will be returned.

    Massachusetts Applicants: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. This notice applies only to applicants and employees who work or will work in Massachusetts, in accordance with applicable state law.

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