Chief Operating Officer

Job Title: Chief Operating Officer

Location: Remote (Chicago, IL)

Advocus National Title Insurance Company

Advocus National Title Insurance Company, formerly Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. (ATG), is building on nearly 60 years of financial strength, industry leadership, and trusted partnerships to become a leading national title insurance underwriter and settlement services organization.

While our roots were founded in supporting the legal community and protecting consumers, our future is focused on growth, innovation, and expanding access to high-quality title, escrow, and underwriting solutions across the United States.

The name Advocus reflects who we have always been and who we aspire to become. Advocacy remains at the core of our organization—not only advocating for our agents and customers, but also for the integrity of the real estate transaction itself.

As the industry evolves, Advocus is uniquely positioned to expand through a balanced strategy of underwriting growth, agency partnerships, direct title and escrow operations, and technology-enabled solutions designed to meet the changing needs of consumers, lenders, real estate professionals, and settlement providers.

Our commitment remains unwavering:

• Deliver exceptional service and expertise.
• Protect consumers in one of the most significant financial transactions of their lives.
• Support independent agents and business partners through collaborative relationships.
• Expand our underwriting footprint into strategic growth markets across the country.
• Develop and strengthen direct title and escrow operations in key metropolitan markets.
• Invest in technology, automation, and customer-focused solutions that enhance the settlement experience.
• Foster long-term partnerships built on trust, integrity, and shared success.

For nearly six decades, Advocus has successfully navigated industry change while maintaining a steadfast commitment to financial stability, operational excellence, and customer advocacy. Today, we are leveraging that foundation to create a modern, scalable platform capable of serving customers, agents, attorneys, lenders, and real estate professionals nationwide.

Our Values

Our values guide every decision we make and every relationship we build:

Advocacy

We champion the interests of our customers, attorneys, agents, partners, and communities while promoting confidence and integrity throughout the real estate transaction process.

Service

We are committed to delivering exceptional experiences through responsiveness, expertise, accountability, and a relentless focus on customer success.

Leadership

We embrace innovation, drive continuous improvement, and seek opportunities to shape the future of the title and settlement services industry.

Education

We believe informed customers and partners make better decisions, and we are committed to providing knowledge, training, and resources that create lasting value.

Growth

We pursue strategic expansion through underwriting, agency, and direct operational growth while maintaining the financial strength, culture, and service standards that define our organization.

A Legacy of Financial Strength

Advocus has maintained a Financial Stability Rating® of A’ (A Prime), Unsurpassed, from Demotech, Inc. since 1995—the highest rating awarded to a regional title insurance underwriter in the United States.

This financial strength, combined with our commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and customer advocacy, positions Advocus to continue expanding as a trusted national underwriter and settlement services provider for decades to come.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as the senior operational executive responsible for the overall management, growth, profitability, service delivery, and operational execution of Advocus National Title Insurance Company’s title insurance, escrow, agency, and underwriting operations.

The COO will oversee both established and emerging markets, with primary responsibility for the Illinois attorney title market, national underwriter agency operations, direct title and escrow operations, and strategic expansion initiatives throughout the United States. The COO will collaborate closely with the President, executive leadership team, underwriting counsel, technology teams, and business development leaders to drive operational excellence, scalable growth, customer satisfaction, profitability, and market expansion.

This role requires a deep understanding of title insurance underwriting, independent title agency operations, escrow operations, attorney-state and non-attorney-state regulatory environments, national agency management, and the development of direct title and escrow operations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as a strategic partner to the President and Executive Leadership Team.
• Develop and execute operational strategies that align with the company’s long-term growth objectives.
• Lead and mentor operational leadership teams across title, escrow, underwriting, and support functions.
• Establish and maintain a culture of accountability, customer service excellence, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement.
• Drive organizational alignment across all divisions and geographic markets.
• Provide executive leadership and strategic oversight for technology initiatives across title, escrow, and underwriting operations.
• Partner closely with IT, product, and business stakeholders to identify operational efficiencies, prioritize development initiatives, and implement scalable technology solutions.
• Lead the design, enhancement, and ongoing optimization of workflows within title production systems (TPS), escrow platforms, underwriting systems, and related operational technologies.
• Partner to implement integration strategy and execution with key partners, vendors, customers, and third-party service providers to improve automation, data exchange, and customer experience.
• Partner to develop and implement next generation customer facing platforms and portals, ensuring alignment with business objectives, customer needs, scalability requirements, and future growth strategies.
• Utilize data, reporting, and performance metrics to evaluate technology effectiveness, improve workflows, and support strategic decision making.

QUALIFICATIONS AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

National Operations and Expansion

• Lead the strategic growth of direct title and escrow operations throughout Florida and Texas.
• Ensure compliance with Texas Department of Insurance regulations and escrow licensing requirements.
• Develop market-entry and growth strategies for key metropolitan areas.
• Build operational infrastructure, compliance processes, and sales partnerships necessary for sustainable growth.
• Management of services and performance of title agency relationships throughout expansions states for underwriting services.
• Develop strategies to recruit, retain, and support independent title agents operating under Advocus underwriting agreements.
• Establish direct operations performance standards, production goals, compliance requirements, and service expectations.
• Partner with underwriting and legal teams to manage risk exposure and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Create scalable processes for onboarding, training, auditing, and supporting agency partners nationwide.
• Develop strategic plans for agency growth in targeted states and regions.

Illinois Attorney Market Operations

• Provide executive oversight of all Illinois attorney title operations.
• Ensure compliance with Illinois title insurance regulations and attorney-agent business models.
• Monitor operational performance, production metrics, customer satisfaction, and profitability within the Illinois market.
• Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, technology adoption, operational efficiency, and attorney engagement.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Superior communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Well versed in current and emerging technologies.
• Regular travel.
• Remote work allowed at the discretion of the President.
• Participation in local and national trade associations.

Financial and Operational Management

• Own operational budgets, forecasts, staffing plans, and profitability targets.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including:
• Open orders
• Closed orders
• Pull-through rates.
• Revenue per file
• Expense management
• Productivity metrics
• Customer satisfaction scores
• Service-level agreements (SLAs)
• Employee retention and engagement
• Drive operational efficiencies through process improvement and technology utilization.
• Identify opportunities to reduce expenses while improving service levels.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s degree or other professional licensing preferred. Seven years of proven managerial or supervisory experience. Broad knowledge of title insurance and real estate conveyance procedures.

Compensation And Benefits

• Competitive base salary with performance-based incentives and bonuses.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance options.
• Retirement plan with employer matching.
• Paid time off (PTO) and holiday pay.
• Continuing education and professional development opportunities.

To apply, please submit your resume and application via LinkedIn.

Please click to learn more about our benefit offerings for Washington State; https://www.rate.com/careers/open-positions/disclosures

Advocus National Title Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer that welcomes and encourages all applicants to apply regardless of age, race, sex, religion, color, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital or parental status, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy or other reason protected by law Click here to apply online