What are the responsibilities and job description for the SVP, Chief Data Officer position at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance?
Who are we?
A strategic and trusted insurance partner, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI), provides a broad range of commercial property, casualty and specialty insurance coverages and outstanding service to customers and brokers around the world. Part of Berkshire Hathaway’s insurance operations, we bring our solutions to market with our stellar brand name, top-rated balance sheet, and the expertise of our global team of professionals, who exude excellent capabilities and strong character.
We are a values-based organization where respect, integrity, excellence, collaboration, and passion define who we are and how we do business. We value diversity of backgrounds, experience, and perspectives and strive to foster an inclusive environment that enables all our team members to bring their best selves to work. We are one team committed to building a culture where every teammate has the opportunity to contribute and be recognized. Want to be part of the team building the finest property, casualty and specialty lines insurance company in the world?
Learn more about our unique culture and history.
Overview of the Global Chief Data Officer role:
As we evolve our business and modernize our data ecosystem, we are seeking a visionary Global Chief Data Officer (CDO) to make data a key differentiator for BHSI. This is a critical executive role responsible for building and leading our Data Office, shaping our enterprise data strategy, and fostering a culture where data is accurate, accessible, and actionable across the company. We have a significant opportunity to capitalize on data at BHSI.
The opportunity:
BHSI has grown rapidly, and with that growth comes increased complexity. Our legacy data architecture, manual processes, and siloed systems have impacted our ability to leverage data as a differentiator. As an insurance carrier, data is an essential asset that has the power to drive sophisticated insights, improve the timeliness of complex business decisions, and enable powerful intelligence that can have a direct impact on the bottom line. The CDO will be instrumental in transforming our data landscape, supporting the modernization of our data ecosystem, driving data quality, and enabling advanced analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI). This is a rare opportunity to build a modern, scalable, and governed data environment that enables BHSI to capitalize on data and differentiate us in the market.
Accountabilities:
This position will be primarily responsible for the following:
- Enterprise Data Strategy: Define and execute a forward-looking data strategy aligned with BHSI’s business goals. Prioritize initiatives that unlock value, reduce risk, and enable data-driven decision-making.
- Data Governance & Quality: Establish robust governance frameworks and data quality management practices. Ensure data is accurate, consistent, secure, and compliant across all domains.
- Data Office Leadership: Build and lead a high-performing Data Office, including a network of Data Stewards. Foster cross-functional collaboration and accountability for data ownership and stewardship.
- Data Platform Modernization: Collaborate with Technology on the transformation of our data ecosystem to support structured and unstructured data, streamline ingestion, and enable advanced analytics and AI capabilities.
- Analytics & Business Intelligence: Partner with business leaders to prioritize and deliver actionable insights through modern BI tools and self-service analytics. Reduce reporting latency and increase data utilization across teams by defining what insights are required, why they are a priority, and partner with Technology to build solutions.
- Data Culture & Literacy: Champion a data-first mindset across the organization. Launch data literacy programs, celebrate data wins, and embed data into everyday decision-making.
What we need in a CDO leader:
- Proven experience as a senior leader in the insurance industry that understands the nuances of our business and can bridge business opportunities with data solutions.
- Technical aptitude to collaborate and partner with Technology to create a modern data ecosystem that can support our global business.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills to drive change.
- A passion for transforming data into a strategic asset and a catalyst for innovation.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- 5 years as a Chief Data Officer with a proven track record of results
- 15 years of related work experience
- Deep understanding of data use in underwriting, claims, actuarial and functional areas
- Technical fluency
- Strong data governance experience
- Exceptional leadership, ability to influence and partner with others
- Ability to work within a fast paced, customer focused & team environment
- Strong communication skills
- Willing to travel as required
BHSI Offers:
- A competitive package and exciting growth opportunities for career-oriented teammates.
- A dynamic, action oriented, and thoughtful environment centered on always doing the right thing for our customers, teammates, and our other stakeholders.
- A purposely non-bureaucratic organization that embraces simplicity over complexity and emphasizes individual excellence in a team framework.
- Benefits that support your life and well-being, which include:
- Comprehensive Health, Dental and Vision benefits
- Disability Insurance (both short-term and long-term)
- Life Insurance (for you and your family)
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (for you and your family)
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Health Reimbursement Account
- Employee Assistance Program
- Retirement Savings 401(k) Plan with Company Match
- Generous holiday and Paid Time Off
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Paid Parental Leave