Director, Staff Operations (Middle Market)

If you’re passionate about helping people protect what matters most to them at a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales, as well as innovating and simplifying processes and operations to provide the best customer value, then Nationwide’s Property and Casualty team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers and partners are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

This Staff Operations Director will support the Middle Market Custom Solutions and Middle Market Sales and Distribution business units. The role will partner with business leaders and cross-functional teams to advance strategic priorities, improve processes, and support effective execution across the organization.

Success in this role requires the ability to manage multiple projects, translate business needs into actionable plans, and communicate insights and recommendations to senior leadership.

Qualified candidates will bring:

• Knowledge of Middle Market underwriting and commercial insurance operations

• Experience leading projects, improving processes, and coordinating work across multiple stakeholders

• The ability to create clear, executive-ready presentations and deliver them effectively

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including confidence presenting to senior leaders

• Experience working with business systems and data to develop meaningful reports and insights

• Strong organization, judgment, collaboration, and problem-solving skills

Job Description Summary

Our Senior executives are most effective when surrounded by strong key people. This role is exactly that, an extension of the leader that helps get things done! Are you ready for a high profile role where you function in a “chief of staff” capacity and are accountable to ensure key results are completed correctly and on time? If you can work with little direction, keep strategic imperatives in mind, pivot and adapt to changing priorities and projects, we want to know more about you!

As a Staff Operations Director, you'll lead multiple staff administrative operational functions within a major business unit, subsidiary or similar operation. This includes developing program management policies, standards and methods and performing program and project analysis.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Establishes and maintains processes to ensure alignment of business initiatives and business results.

• Facilitates the definition, maintenance and improvements of processes to provide cost-effective stewardship of assets and results.

• Directs the financial management, project/resources budgeting and resource planning processes for the business unit, product or functional assignments. Provides executive level reporting and analysis.

• Manages additional support services such as facilities, communications, licensing, reporting, accounting, office services, etc.

• Adheres to operational standards and methods, analyzes problem situations and acquires data.

• Serves as key member of business unit leadership team.

• Serves as primary liaison to other operations/business units for affected operations and/or products.

• Manages associates, including performance management, salary planning and administration, training and development, workflow and organizational planning, hiring and placement and disciplinary actions.

• Serves as a leadership development role based on office needs and individual career path development plans.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to the business unit executive/officer; leads a team of professionals and/or vendors. 

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education: Undergraduate studies in business, accounting and finance preferred. 

Experience: Typically, ten or more years of demonstrated experience in business management with emphasis on financial analysis, project management and leadership. At least five years of management experience required. 

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: In-depth knowledge of business unit products services organizational structure and critical initiatives. Working knowledge of insurance or financial services operations including technology, financial analysis, and quality/training initiatives preferred. Demonstrated decision-making skills, including the ability to recognize, analyze and improve operational and financial performance. Strong verbal and written communications skills for internal/external contacts, negotiations and presentations.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence. 

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and HR Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt)

Working Conditions: Normal office environments. Occasional travel.

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.

We currently anticipate accepting applications until 09/23/2026. However, we encourage early submissions, as the posting may close sooner if a strong candidate slate is identified before the deadline.

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

This position could be filled within any of the lower 48 U.S. states.

Smoke-Free Iowa Statement: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries comply with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas on or around company premises as well as company issued vehicles. The company offers designated smoking areas in which smoking is permitted at each individual location. The Act prohibits retaliation for reporting complaints or violations. For more information on the Iowa Smokefree Air Act, individuals may contact the Smokefree Air Act Helpline at 888-944-2247.

For NY residents please review the following state law information: Notice of Employee Rights, Protections, and Obligations LS740 (ny.gov) https://dol.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/02/ls740_1.pdf

NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES:

We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Nationwide does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Nationwide employee or hiring manager in any form without a signed Nationwide Client Services Agreement on file and search engagement for that position will be deemed unsolicited in nature. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is subsequently hired as a result of the referral or through other means.

Nationwide pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement within the actual starting salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. If a Sales job, Sales Incentives, based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range. Note on Compensation for Part-Time Roles: Please be aware that the salary ranges listed below reflect full-time compensation. Actual compensation may be prorated based on the number of hours worked relative to a full-time schedule.

The national salary range for Director, Staff Operations : $122,000.00-$214,000.00

The expected starting salary range for Director, Staff Operations : $122,000.00 - $182,000.00