ABOUT DESCARTES UNDERWRITING

Descartes was born out of the conviction that the ever-increasing complexity of risks faced by corporations, governments and vulnerable communities calls for a renewed approach in insurance. Our team brings together industry veterans from the most renowned institutions (AXA, SCOR, Swiss Re, Marsh, Aon, ...) and scientists on top of their field to bring underwriting excellence.

After 7 years of existence, Descartes has secured a leading position in parametric insurance for weather and climate-related risks utilizing machine learning, real-time monitoring from satellite imagery & IoT.

After a successful Series B raise of $120M USD, we launched Descartes Insurance, a 'full stack' insurer licensed to underwrite risk by the French regulator ACPR. With a growing corporate client base (400+ and counting), our diverse team is headquartered in Paris and operates out of our 18 global offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. Descartes is trusted by a panel of A-rated (re)insurers to carry out its activities.

ABOUT YOUR ROLE

Descartes Underwriting is seeking an Operations Project Team Lead to join our Operations Team. You will report to the Head of Operations, and you will be a key contributor of the deployment of Operations team’s projects.

Our Operations Team underpins every aspect of Descartes Underwriting and Descartes Insurance activity, ensuring that our business processes run smoothly and efficiently from lead generation all the way to accounting flows and claims payments. In an environment where the Salesforce platform plays a critical role in our daily operations, the Operations Project Team implements, maintains and runs business tools that help our business logic.

Joining us means getting hands-on experience with impactful projects, collaborating across departments and countries, gaining in-depth understanding of complex insurance proceedings, and being part of a team that’s always looking for ways to improve and innovate while maintaining accuracy, compliance, and a positive experience for policyholders.

You will be in close and effective cooperation with all business units and play a vital role in the following activities:

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, mentor, and empower the Operations Project team
  • Proactively develop the skills and expertise of team members to enhance their performance and career growth, notably in project management and deployment of best practices;
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the team, proactively identifying opportunities for process optimization and innovation within the Operating Platform in collaboration with other departments to improve the overall efficiency of the company.

Strategic Planning and Roadmap

• Develop a deep understanding of our users' needs by engaging regularly with stakeholders across Operations, Finance, Marketing, CIO office and Business Development teams, to improve process and workflow integrations, specifically in operations solutions;
• Contribute actively to defining the strategic direction of the Operating Platform, maintaining a comprehensive understanding of the interconnections between various tools in close collaboration with the Product team;
• Define and maintain the team's roadmap, effectively managing priorities to align with business objectives, encompassing both project initiatives and ongoing operational tasks (run) in close collaboration with the Product team.

Stakeholder Management and Communication

• Ensure seamless and proactive communication with both internal users and the technical development team (DSD);
• Coordinate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to ensure project alignment and successful outcomes;
• Ensure clear and consistent communication of the team's progress, both internally within the team and externally to relevant stakeholders.

Project Execution and Guidance

• Provide guidance and oversight for the planning, execution, and monitoring of all projects within your team's scope;
• Champion the delivery of high-quality projects within agreed scope, ensuring alignment with business goals;
• Ensure adherence to data governance policies and promote data quality standards within operational projects;
• Build and manage a pool of external consultants, ensuring their effective integration to provide flexibility and specialized expertise as needed.

ABOUT YOU

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS 

• Completed a master’s degree from a leading Engineering school or Business school with a specialization in Data Analytics or/and Engineering sciences or/and Risk management or/and operations;
• 5-10+ years’ experience in a similar position (technology or IT environment) or in a consulting position in a fast-paced environment;
• Experience managing projects with multiple stakeholders and fostering alignment;
• Previous experience in insurance is valued but not mandatory.

SKILLS

• Good interpersonal skills & ability to work with different profiles;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex information in a clear and compelling manner;
• Curiosity & basic understanding of the best practices and technical landscape of the development software lifecycle;
• Familiarity with project management methodologies and technology development processes;
• Fluency in French and English.

WHY JOIN DESCARTES UNDERWRITING ?

• Opportunity to work and learn with teams from the most prestigious schools and research labs in the world, allowing you to progress towards technical excellence; 
• Commitment from Descartes to its staff of continued learning and development (think annual seminars, training etc.) ;
• Work in a collaborative & professional environment ;
• Be part of an international team, passionate about diversity ;
• Join a company with a true purpose – help us help our clients be more resilient towards climate risks;
• A competitive salary, bonus and benefits;
  
• You can benefit from a punctual home office days.

At Descartes Underwriting, we cherish value of diversity whatever it may be. We are committed to fighting against all forms of discrimination and for equal opportunities. We foster an inclusive work environment that respects all differences.

With equal skills, all our positions are open to people with disabilities.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

• Step 1: HR Interview with our Talent Recruiter
• Step 2: In person technical project and case study
• Step 3: In person team interview to meet our team and discover our offices