Principal Business Process Owner

Who We Are

Join a team that puts its People First! As a member of First American's family of companies, National Commercial Services provides single-point service for simple to multi-property/multi-state national commercial real estate transactions. Since 1889, First American (NYSE: FAF) has held an unwavering belief in its people. They are passionate about what they do, and we are equally passionate about fostering an environment where all feel welcome, supported, and empowered to be innovative and reach their full potential. Our inclusive, people-first culture has earned our company numerous accolades, including being named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for eleven consecutive years. We have also earned awards as a best place to work for women, diversity and LGBTQ+ employees, and have been included on more than 50 regional best places to work lists. First American will always strive to be a great place to work, for all. For more information, please visit www.careers.firstam.com.

What We Do

The Business Process Owner is responsible for continuously optimizing and modernizing operational workflows across the full title insurance lifecycle, from order opening through post-closing and policy issuance. This role applies a data-driven, customer-first principles approach to simplify, standardize, and improve processes, while owning specific process domains, training on implementation and driving them toward scalable, automated solutions. Working closely with cross-functional teams, the analyst translates operational needs into efficient, compliant workflows that balance automation and human input. By leveraging production data, embedding regulatory requirements, training and supporting enterprise-wide adoption, the role ensures consistent, measurable improvements and helps institutionalize best practices across geographies and business segments.

HOW YOU’LL CONTRIBUTE

• Execute the enterprise vision, strategy, and roadmap for assigned critical process domains across the 1031 exchange transaction lifecycle, driving modernization, simplification, scalability, and operational excellence.
• Serve as the primary subject matter expert and governance lead for assigned functional domains for enterprise process standards, governance frameworks, and optimization initiatives.
• Apply a customer-first principles mindset to challenge legacy operating models and redesign workflows into scalable, digital-first, and automation-enabled solutions that improve customer, employee, and operational outcomes.
• Partner with leadership, operational stakeholders, product teams, and technology organizations to align process transformation initiatives with enterprise strategy, operational priorities, and long-term business objectives.
• Lead enterprise-wide process reengineering efforts for assigned processes, spanning multiple business units, geographies, and operational models to drive consistency, efficiency, compliance, and measurable business impact.
• Translate complex operational and regulatory requirements into strategic workflow solutions, system capabilities, automation opportunities, and integration strategies that amplify human performance and improve operational scalability.
• Leverage advanced production data analysis, operational metrics, benchmarking, and root cause methodologies to identify improvement opportunities, influence strategic decisions, and continuously optimize operational performance.
• Develop, maintain, and govern enterprise process documentation standards, including SOPs, process maps, controls, governance models, and operational frameworks to ensure sustainability, scalability, audit readiness, and regulatory compliance, making recommendations to change or update when necessitated.
• Embed regulatory, compliance, audit, and risk management requirements into all process design decisions while balancing innovation, operational agility, and governance needs.
• Lead cross-functional governance forums and influence organizational adoption of standardized enterprise workflows, ensuring alignment across operations, compliance, product, and technology teams.
• Mentor and provide strategic guidance to Business Process Owners, operational leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders to foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and operational discipline.
• Champion enterprise automation, workflow optimization, and emerging technology initiatives that modernize operations and improve scalability across the organization.
• Partner in shaping technology strategy and operational transformation initiatives involving title production systems, workflow orchestration, and digital process enablement.
• Other duties as assigned.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

Required Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure

• 12+ years of progressive experience within the functional area, including demonstrated leadership of enterprise-scale process transformation and operational modernization initiatives.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Information Systems, or related field preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading complex enterprise process reengineering initiatives across highly matrixed, multi-functional, and geographically distributed organizations.
• Extensive experience driving enterprise process governance, workflow standardization, automation strategy, and operational transformation at scale.

Knowledge, SKILLS, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Deep expertise in title insurance and escrow operations, including comprehensive knowledge of the end-to-end transactional lifecycle and operational dependencies.
• Advanced experience working with title production systems and platforms (e.g., Ignite, FAST, SoftPro, ResWare, RamQuest, Qualia, or similar systems).
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and executive communication skills, with the ability to influence senior leadership and translate complex operational concepts into actionable enterprise strategies.
• Proven ability to lead multiple high-impact initiatives simultaneously within fast-paced, evolving, and highly matrixed environments.
• Expertise with process mapping, workflow analysis, operational metrics, and data visualization tools (e.g., Visio, Lucidchart, Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or similar platforms).
• Demonstrated digital and transformation mindset with the ability to drive organizational change, challenge legacy thinking, and leverage technology to fundamentally reimagine operational workflows.
• Executive presence with demonstrated ability to influence enterprise decision-making, drive alignment across competing priorities, and lead through ambiguity.
• Advanced knowledge of process governance, operational risk management, compliance controls, and enterprise operating model design.
• Ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution to drive measurable business outcomes across enterprise functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive experience within the title insurance and escrow industry, including direct operational exposure across national or multi-state environments.
• Experience leading enterprise workflow automation and operational transformation initiatives within title and escrow operations.
• Strong understanding of enterprise process governance, operational risk management, and regulatory compliance frameworks.
• Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, or other continuous improvement certifications preferred.
• Experience influencing or partnering on enterprise technology strategy, system configuration, platform modernization, or digital transformation initiatives involving title production systems.
• Proven experience leading organizational change management and enterprise adoption initiatives associated with large-scale operational transformation programs.

Pay Range: $129,300.00 - $172,300.00 Annually

This hiring range is a reasonable estimate of the base pay range for this position at the time of posting. Pay is based on a number of factors which may include job-related knowledge, skills, experience, business requirements and geographic location.

First American will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws (e.g., the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act).

First American intends to conduct a review of an applicant’s criminal history in connection with a conditional offer. First American reasonably believes that a criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following material job duties for this position potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment: handling of confidential, proprietary or trade secret information belonging to First American or its customers, administrating or facilitating financial transactions, and the ability to meet customer-imposed criminal history requirements.

What We Offer

By choice, we don’t simply accept individuality – we embrace it, we support it, and we thrive on it! Our People First culture is inclusive for all employees - not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it's the key to our success. We are proud to foster an authentic and inclusive workplace For All. You are free and encouraged to bring your entire, unique self to work. First American is an equal opportunity employer in every sense of the term.

Based on eligibility, First American offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401k, PTO/paid sick leave and other great benefits like an employee stock purchase plan.

About Us

Our people are the foundation of First American’s success and that is the reason we put them first.

This philosophy has cultivated a culture of happy employees who are highly engaged, passionate about their work and leave each day feeling they have made a difference.

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