Head of Claims & Benefits Operations

Location Designation: Hybrid - 3 days per week 

The Head of Claims & Benefits Operations, will drive operational excellence within Claims & Benefits and lead enterprise-wide service execution across Service Operations. This leader is accountable for the end-to-end performance of a large, complex organization of claims professionals, including the Claims Contact Center, Life Claims, Annuity Claims, and Waiver of Premium Claims. The organization is responsible for paying approximately $5 billion in claims annually and plays a critical role in delivering on New York Life’s promise to policyholders and beneficiaries during pivotal life moments. As a core member of the Service Operations Senior Leadership Team, this role guides and supports overall service strategy and execution, partnering closely with Service Experience, Technology, Risk, Compliance, Finance, and Field leadership to deliver a unified, customer-first service model.

Key Responsibilities:

Enterprise & Service Leadership:

Set and execute the strategic vision for Claims & Benefits Operations in alignment with enterprise Service strategy and Service Operations SLT priorities. Serve as a senior member of the Service Operations SLT, guiding and supporting overall service strategy, execution discipline, and cross-service alignment beyond Claims & Benefits.

Operational Execution & Financial Accountability:

Lead Claims & Benefits Operations with accountability for accurate, compliant, and empathetic delivery of approximately $5B in annual claims payments. Ensure disciplined execution through strong controls, transparent reporting, measurable outcomes, workforce strategy, capacity planning, and productivity management. Maintain delegated authority for high-dollar claims and claims-related settlements in partnership with Legal and Risk.

Unified Beneficiary & Agency Experience:

Drive a more unified, end-to-end beneficiary experience across Life, Annuity, and Waiver claims, reducing fragmentation and improving clarity during emotionally significant moments. Partner with Agency leadership to support agents in capturing benefits and enabling comprehensive financial advice, reinforcing a One NYL experience for beneficiaries and agents.

Modernization & Continuous Improvement:

Champion modernization initiatives including digital claim intake, auto-adjudication, intelligent routing, and enhanced customer communications. Leverage data, analytics, and workflow insights to improve customer, beneficiary, agent, and employee experience while embedding Continuous Improvement principles and maintaining strong governance, risk management, and compliance controls.

Cross-Enterprise Partnership:

Partner closely with Technology, UX, Data, Operations, Compliance, Office of General Counsel, Risk, Training, and Communications to ensure aligned delivery. Provide executive oversight on complex escalations, regulatory matters, and sensitive cases while coordinating upstream and downstream service partners.

People Leadership & Culture:

Lead and develop leaders across Claims & Benefits, cultivating a growth mindset and change leadership culture aligned to Service priorities. Build leadership bench strength, reinforcing accountability and ethical judgment, and ensuring succession planning for critical roles.

Required Education and Experience:

Experience:

A minimum of 10+ years of experience leading large, multi-functional operations within Financial Services or Insurance, with significant financial accountability. Demonstrated success executing multi-year transformation and modernization initiatives. Strong enterprise leadership capability with experience influencing across highly matrixed organizations and operating in regulated environments.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field required. Master’s degree in Business or related discipline preferred.

This position offers an exciting opportunity for an executive leader to shape one of New York Life’s most critical operational functions. By advancing a unified beneficiary experience, supporting Agency-led financial advice, and guiding enterprise service strategy and execution, the Head of Claims & Benefits Operations strengthens trust, improves scalability, and positions Service Operations as an industry leader.

Pay Transparency

Salary Range: $180,000-$260,000 

Overtime eligible: Exempt 

Discretionary bonus eligible: Yes 

Sales bonus eligible: No 

Actual base salary will be determined based on several factors but not limited to individual’s experience, skills, qualifications, and job location. Additionally, employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition to base salary, employees may also be eligible to participate in an incentive program.

Please note: This role requires FINRA licensed and/or FINRA Associated Person pre-hire fingerprinting.

Our Benefits

We provide a full package of benefits for employees – and have unique offerings for a modern workforce, including leave programs, adoption assistance, and student loan repayment programs. Based on feedback from our employees, we continue to refine and add benefits to our offering, so that you can flourish both inside and outside of work. Click here to discover more about our comprehensive benefit options or visit our NYL Benefits Site.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

At New York Life, fostering an inclusive workplace is fundamental to who we are and how we serve our communities. We have a longstanding commitment to creating an environment where individuals can contribute their best and succeed together. This foundation is rooted in our core values of humanity and integrity, ensuring that every employee feels valued and supported. By embracing a broad range of perspectives and experiences, we achieve greater success and fulfill our promise of providing financial security and peace of mind to families across all communities. Click here to learn more about New York Life’s leadership in this space.​

Recognized as one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, New York Life is committed to improving local communities through a culture of employee giving and volunteerism, supported by the Foundation. We're proud that due to our mutuality, we operate in the best interests of our policy owners. To learn more about career opportunities at New York Life, please visit the Careers page of www.NewYorkLife.com.

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Job Requisition ID: 93493