Director, DAIO Process Improvement

We’re determined to make a difference and are proud to be an insurance company that goes well beyond coverages and policies. Working here means having every opportunity to achieve your goals – and to help others accomplish theirs, too. Join our team as we help shape the future.   

We are seeking a Director, Process Improvement to play a critical leadership role in advancing operational excellence across our Data, Analytics, AI, and Operations (DAIO) organization.

This role sits at the intersection of strategy, execution, and continuous improvement, and is responsible for driving measurable performance outcomes through strong process design, disciplined execution, and data‑driven decision‑making. The Director will partner closely with senior leaders across DAIO and the enterprise to translate strategic priorities into scalable, sustainable ways of working.

This role will have a Hybrid work schedule, with the expectation of working in an office (Columbus, OH, Chicago, IL, Hartford, CT or Charlotte, NC) 3 days a week (Tuesday through Thursday).

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the Process Improvement capability within DAIO, focused on improving efficiency, quality, and delivery outcomes.
• Act as a change leader, partnering with cross‑functional teams to embed Lean and Agile ways of working.
• Identify, prioritize, and lead high‑impact DAIO process improvement initiatives, leveraging optimization, automation, and artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, quality, speed, and decision‑making while delivering measurable business results.
• Apply structured improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, Hoshin, or hybrid approaches) to drive standardization and consistency.

• Partner with senior leaders to translate strategic goals into actionable initiatives with clear success measures.
• Develop and maintain roadmaps that align improvement efforts to enterprise and DAIO priorities.
• Establish and manage key performance indicators (KPIs) and balanced scorecards to track progress and outcomes.
• Accountable for aggregation and development of executive‑level materials and insights that inform leadership decision‑making.

• Establish and maintain performance metrics and reporting that provide transparency into process health and outcomes.
• Lead root cause analysis for performance gaps and guide teams through structured problem‑solving.
• Ensure consistent tracking of initiatives, milestones, risks, and dependencies.

• Lead and develop a small team focused on process improvement and operational excellence.
• Coach leaders and teams on Lean and Agile principles, practices, and behaviors.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and learning.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Finance, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 12+ years of experience in process improvement, operational excellence, transformation, strategy execution, or related leadership roles.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross‑functional initiatives in large, matrixed organizations.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with a data‑driven mindset.
• Proven ability to influence and communicate effectively with senior leaders and executive audiences.

Preferred:

• Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent).
• Experience within financial services, insurance, or similarly regulated environments.
• Deep familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, or related execution frameworks.
• Experience developing executive‑level materials such as scorecards, dashboards, or strategy updates.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, SAFe, Scrum).

Candidate must be authorized to work in the US without company sponsorship. The company will not support the STEM OPT I-983 Training Plan endorsement for this position.

Compensation

The listed annualized base pay range is primarily based on analysis of similar positions in the external market. Actual base pay could vary and may be above or below the listed range based on factors including but not limited to performance, proficiency and demonstration of competencies required for the role. The base pay is just one component of The Hartford’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include short-term or annual bonuses, long-term incentives, and on-the-spot recognition. The annualized base pay range for this role is:

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