Manager, Operations Risk

TEAM OVERVIEW

Operations Risk identifies and mitigates the inherent and residual operational risks in the business and develops the controls that protect day-to-day operations. The team carries two strategic priorities: maturing a proactive, technology-enabled anti-fraud program across the full fraud cycle, and bringing consistent risk-and-controls governance to operational change and automation — evaluating risk and validating controls before launch, not after. The function is evolving from reactive, manual controls toward proactive, data-driven monitoring, and this role helps lead that evolution.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The candidate will lead Global Atlantic’s Operations Risk team, with a mandate spanning operational risk management, the Operations anti-fraud strategy, and risk-and-controls governance for operational change. This role is as much about building as running: the successful candidate will help mature new capabilities and lead the team through change, not simply maintain today’s processes. We are looking for someone who is driven, strategic, and analytical, comfortable turning data and risk insight into action. Successful candidates excel in a dynamic environment, take on a diverse set of responsibilities, manage multiple initiatives at once, and lead a team to deliver quality results. The role requires collaboration at all levels of the organization, strong written and verbal communication, and the ability to work independently while leading a team. There is room to grow scope as the function matures.

RESPONSIBILITIES MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Help evolve the function and lead the team through change — standing up new capabilities in monitoring, analytics, and controls rather than maintaining the status quo.
• Oversee and manage Operations Risk processes; partner with Risk Owners to identify and mitigate inherent and residual operational risks that can threaten performance, reputation, or compliance.
• Own ongoing risk assessment and the annual Risk and Control Self-Assessment (RCSA); investigate materialized risk events and drive remediation to durable closure.
• Develop, evaluate, and maintain operational controls; analyze operational data to detect trends and strengthen monitoring.
• Lead execution and continued maturation of the Operations anti-fraud strategy across the fraud cycle — preventative, detective, and corrective controls — striking the balance between strong fraud mitigation and minimal customer friction.
• Advance proactive, real-time fraud detection: orchestrate fraud tools and data (identity verification, caller authentication, transaction and pattern monitoring) and mature red-flag procedures for both paper and digital environments.
• Own fraud risk assessments and trend analysis, deliver front-line and fraud-staff training, and define the governance and execution of detective controls as the program scales.
• Embed risk-and-controls governance into operational change and automation initiatives — engaging from design through launch, completing pre-build risk assessments and risk-register entries, and confirming controls are evaluated, built, and owned before go-live.
• Maintain the controls library and a standard risk-assessment and risk-register playbook, and establish a recurring cadence to retest controls after go-live so they stay current.
• Lead, motivate, and develop the team, including career-development plans; build a strong team and culture; anticipate future needs and create capacity plans to scale resources.
• Develop and maintain excellent relationships with internal GAFG partners, technology partners, and external vendors; prepare and deliver clear communications and reporting on risk, fraud, and controls to senior leaders. Partner with Compliance and Audit as needed.

DESIRED ATTRIBUTES AND CHARACTERISTICS:

• A track record of building or maturing a capability or process — not only running an established one — and of leading a team through change.
• Experience with anti-fraud operations, financial-crime controls, or fraud tooling (e.g., identity verification, caller authentication, transaction monitoring).
• Experience with operational risk and controls — risk assessment / RCSA, control design and validation, and risk registers.
• Comfort using data and analytics to detect risk and drive decisions; a monitoring mindset.
• Familiarity with operational automation or digital process change is a plus.
• Experience with insurance administration and TPA / vendor management.
• Strong problem-solving and process-improvement skills; strong communication and interpersonal skills; excels working autonomously while leading a team.
• Adaptability and intellectual curiosity to grow with an evolving function; ability to prioritize across multiple initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior people-leadership or team-lead experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of life, annuity, or preneed experience, with strong product and industry knowledge.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Exposure to anti-fraud, operational risk, or controls functions strongly preferred.
• Experience leading change or standing up new processes or capabilities preferred.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel; comfortable working with data and reporting; familiarity with risk or fraud tooling a plus.
• Strong relationship-building and organizational skills; comfortable interacting with all levels of the company.
• Comfortable working under pressure and against tight deadlines; responsible, conscientious, and self-motivated.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; strategic thinker able to influence outcomes internally and externally.