About us

Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) is a proud member of the Southern Cross whānau, shining brightly in the market in both New Zealand and Australia.  We’re incredibly proud to be the market leader and it’s an exciting time to join the beating heart of the business and to be there when our customers need us the most.

The needs and expectations of our customers are changing faster than ever, and we are right here with them providing assurance on their travels.  We have a diverse and inclusive culture where team members are empowered to make decisions and succeed. Together, we are committed to achieving extraordinary results.

About the role:

Join us as the Head of Operations Centre of Excellence, where you will play a pivotal role in shaping our operational effectiveness landscape during this transformative phase of growth. In this newly created position, we seek a passionate and strategic leader who can navigate the complexities of our business environment, driving efficiency and fostering a culture of excellence.

Drive operational efficiency and lead a high-performing team responsible for managing first-line risk, complaints, fraud prevention, and quality assurance. You will also oversee learning and development, change management, and business continuity while supporting the Contact Centre Sales and Service teams and Claims teams to enhance customer interactions and claims processing. 

You will work cross functionally across the enterprise influencing at every level of leadership. You will be empowered to co-design the future state of the operational centre of excellence to deliver strategic outcomes.

Key responsibilities:

About you:

• Senior leadership experience in an insurance or financial services environment
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach to implementing new strategies
• Track record of successfully driving operational improvements and cost efficiency
• Demonstrated capacity to foster innovation and a culture of continuous improvement
• Experience in large-scale change and project execution
• Comfortable driving process automation through technology adoption
• Strong financial acumen with experience in budgeting, financial analysis, and resource management
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively at all levels of the organisation, from the Board to the front line
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to derive actionable insights from data
• Demonstrated expertise in stakeholder management, effectively engaging and building relationships with both internal teams and external partners.

There are lots of reasons you’d want to work with us

Here are just a few: 

You will be supported to continually learn and improve your skills, share knowledge and ideas and be part of an amazing values-based culture where people are at its heart.  We're here with you and your whānau.

• Fully subsidised medical insurance for you and your immediate whānau 
• Subsidised pet and travel insurance and special discounts for your whānau 
• Additional parental leave benefits
• Life & terminal illness insurance
• Excellent work/life balance, including 5 days of wellbeing leave 
• Opportunity to purchase flexi leave 
• Flexible working options including work from home several days a week.

Here at Southern Cross Travel Insurance, we recognise that people are as diverse as the places our customers travel to. We are committed to our journey of providing an inclusive culture for our team, where diversity is embraced and celebrated. Applications are welcome from individuals from all walks of life, including diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Want to apply?

If this sounds like you, please get in touch with your cover letter and CV.

Please note that applicants for this position should meet legal requirements to work in New Zealand. Successful candidates will also be required to complete pre employment background checks.