President & Chief Operating Officer

Role Role: President & Chief Operating Officer Type: Regular Full-Time Professional Location: Canada The Opportunity: President and COO, Specialty Life Insurance (SLI) in partnership with Empire Life Specialty Life Insurance (SLI) is hiring a visionary and execution-focused President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). This leader's core mandate is to deliver accelerated, profitable growth by aggressively scaling our insurance and financial products distribution footprint. The ideal candidate possesses a track record of year-over-year sales leadership success and will be accountable for identifying and capturing major organic and strategic market opportunities. The President and COO provides full P&L oversight and accountability and is tasked with driving operational excellence to support responsible management and scaling of the business. This requires a sharp focus on strategic vision development, priority setting, focus on revenue growth, talent development, continuous leveraging of technology and data to enhance efficiency, and disciplined execution of processes to achieve maximum financial performance (EBITDA). This executive will set the organizational vision, cultivate top-tier talent, and lead the development of the internal systems and operations required for SLI’s long-term market expansion. Key Accountabilities Growth & Performance: Drive consistent organic growth to increase in-force premium value and overall business assets. Strategic Leadership: Define the company's vision, mission and strategic direction, ensuring full alignment with the Corporation's long-term objectives and maximizing shareholder return. People Leadership: Create and manage a high-performing leadership team that understands and executes the strategic vision. Create a culture of high performance, continuous improvement, execution with excellence. Capital Allocation: Oversee financial stewardship, including budget approvals, review of financial performance, expense management, and resource deployment. Stakeholder Relations: Build and maintain trusting relations with the Board, key partners (including Empire Life), and critical shareholders. Digital Scaling: Optimize the proprietary DTC technology stack to significantly increase Settled Premium and improve digital conversion funnels for scalable growth. Operational Mandates: Establish and enforce a system for the delivery of critical operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and measurable outcomes across all functional areas. Market Intelligence: Maintain continuous awareness of market dynamics and industry trends to inform strategy and maintain competitive advantage. Compliance & Fiduciary Duty: Serve in a fiduciary capacity, enforcing adherence to all legal guidelines, in-house policies, and ensuring the Corporation’s compliance with Canadian financial service regulations and business ethics. Required Qualifications and Experience A Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university in a specialty related to the duties of the position and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience Minimum of 10 years’ relevant experience, in such areas as life insurance distribution leadership, operations, revenue generation, insurance and/or asset management, including at least 5 years’ experience in the establishment of operational plans, development of policy and providing strategic advice to senior executives on a broad range of operational business issues Proven success in scaling a high-growth, technology-driven platform and managing DTC or digitally focused omnichannel operations. Deep understanding of Canadian insurance and securities regulations, including direct experience in high-compliance roles (e.g., oversight of Ultimate Designated Person functions or Chief Compliance Officer). Expert command of financial statements, budgeting, capital allocation models, and risk management practices within a private-equity-backed or high-growth environment. Core Leadership Competencies The successful candidate must possess the decisive qualities required to lead and drive value creation in a high-stakes, time-sensitive environment. Visionary Leadership: Superior ability to define a compelling organizational vision and effectively delegate while maintaining accountability. Communication & Influence: Exceptional communication skills for conveying complex strategy to the Board and engaging employees and external stakeholders. Decisiveness: An adept problem-solver who displays the courage, clarity, and conviction necessary to analyze situations, drive results, and meet aggressive deadlines. Execution: Translates business strategy and vision into clear, well aligned, operational plans and tactics. Demonstrates resolve and implements clear work processes to achieve desired results. Team Development: Develops and uses effective strategies and interpersonal skills to influence and guide others toward the accomplishment of identified objectives and goals; Learns continuously by pursuing every opportunity to acquire relevant knowledge and to grow personally and professionally. What we offer Generous vacation and personal time allotments Comprehensive health and dental benefits, fully covered by the company, including Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Opportunity to work with engaged and professional team and colleagues Continuous professional development opportunities and training initiatives Full-time remote work flexibility available nationwide in Canada Get to know us About Us: Specialty Life Insurance in partnership with Empire Life Specialty Life Insurance is a leading Canadian provider revolutionizing the life insurance industry. Our core mission is to offer fast, effortless, and affordable personal protection products to every Canadian, ensuring financial security for their loved ones. We believe securing life insurance should be surprisingly painless. That’s why we specialize in innovative no medical life insurance solutions. We eliminate the need for medical exams and piles of paperwork, providing a simple, streamlined application process with instantaneous rapid approvals. We are dedicated to making life insurance accessible to all Canadians, including those traditionally considered hard to insure. With over $33 billion of coverage provided and 50,000 Canadians protected, we are committed to using technology and a dedicated team to deliver reliable client support and peace of mind. Join us to be part of a team that values innovation, simplicity, and a commitment to protecting the future of Canadian families. SLI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity, are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and welcome everyone to participate in our application process. We encourage those of all backgrounds and experiences to apply, even if you don't believe you meet each unique qualification outlined. Applicants will receive equal consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age. SLI welcomes applications from people with disabilities and disabled people. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the screening and selection process. Please note: Due to the high volume of applications, we will only be reaching out to candidates whose qualifications closely align with the role requirements. We appreciate your interest and understanding. This job description outlines the general responsibilities and requirements of the role. Duties may evolve as business needs change, and additional tasks may be assigned as necessary. #J-18808-Ljbffr