Chief Operating Officer - Academic HealthPlans

Academic HealthPlans, Inc (AHP), part of the Brown & Brown team, based in Grapevine, Texas seeks a Chief Operating Officer. Academic HealthPlans (AHP) is a technology-driven and care-focused organization providing tailored health and wellness solutions for students at colleges and universities nationwide. We take a 360-degree approach to student well-being, offering health insurance plans for domestic students, international students, and student-athletes. Beyond health insurance, our solutions include campus-wide services such as telehealth, custom behavioral health and resiliency resources, student assistance programs, and nutrition and fitness tools. We serve as the backbone of these solutions through our advanced plan administration services. Our industry leading technology simplifies enrollment, waiver management, billing, and reporting, offering flexibility, automation, and deep integration with university systems and third-party platforms.

The position is in the office with occasional work-from-home workdays.

This position may have access to sensitive information such as PII and/or PHI. As such, all AHP teammates sign and adhere to AHP’s Information Security Handbook covering information security policies and procedures.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key member of the executive leadership team responsible for overseeing and optimizing the organization’s operational performance across all business units. This role ensures alignment between strategic objectives and operational execution, driving efficiency, scalability, and client satisfaction. The COO will lead cross-functional teams, manage critical business processes, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. The COO will be responsible for managing the Operations and Client Experience team, Information Technology team, and Finance.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned operations leader with experience in healthcare and insurance, preferably college health.

Your Impact

• Partner with the CEO and executive team to define and execute organizational strategy and annual operating plans.
• Oversee all operational functions, including client experience, business processes, technology enablement, and compliance.
• Translate strategic goals into actionable operational objectives and measurable KPIs.
• Ensure exceptional client satisfaction through effective process management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Oversee client onboarding, waiver processes, and support systems to maintain high retention and engagement.
• Collaborate with technology leadership to align operational needs with software development, infrastructure, and cybersecurity initiatives.
• Develop detailed Software Product Roadmaps to sustain business unit market competitiveness, meet current and prospective client needs, enable internal efficiency, process reengineering initiatives, and support financial performance.
• Provide evaluation, selection, oversight, and performance management of Technology vendors and partners.
• Support adoption and optimization of business systems (e.g., Zendesk, RingCentral) and reporting dashboards.
• Develop and manage operational budgets, monitor cost performance, and identify opportunities for savings.
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA, cybersecurity policies, and corporate integrity standards.
• Recruit, develop, and manage high-performing teams across operations and client experience functions.
• Work closely with Marketing, Sales, Technology, and Account Management to ensure operational alignment with business objectives.
• Serve as a liaison to parent company leadership for enterprise-wide initiatives and compliance requirements.

Successful Candidate Will Have

• 10 years of senior leadership experience in operations, preferably in healthcare, insurance, or technology sectors.
• Proven track record of managing complex operational functions and delivering measurable improvements.
• Strong understanding of business process management, project management methodologies, and technology integration.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with experience interfacing with C-level executives and clients.
• Demonstrated ability to lead in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with competing priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with CRM and workflow tools (Zendesk preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Business or related field preferred.

Risk Strategies is the 9th largest privately held U.S. brokerage firm offering comprehensive risk management advice, insurance and reinsurance placement for property & casualty, employee benefits, private client services, as well as consulting services and financial & wealth solutions. With more than 30 specialty practices, Risk Strategies serves commercial companies, nonprofits, public entities, and individuals, and has access to all major insurance markets. Risk Strategies has over 200 offices and more than 5,400 employees as part of the Accession Risk Management Group family of companies.

Industry recognition includes being certified a Great Place to Work in 2023 and on the Inc. 5000 list as one of America's fastest growing private companies. Risk Strategies is committed to being good stewards for our company, culture, and communities by having a strong focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance issues.