Vice President, Information Technology - Data Integrations And Enterprise Architecture

Title: Vice President, Information Technology - Data Integrations and Enterprise Architecture

Location: Chicago, IL; Des Moines, IA; Fargo, ND; Sioux Falls, SD or Remote

Job Summary:

As the VP for Data Integrations and Analytics, you will be responsible for all technology aspects of data integration, data engineering, and analytics initiatives within our organization. Your expertise and guidance will be instrumental in defining and executing our technology strategy for data infrastructure, enabling data-driven decision-making, and ensuring seamless integration of data from various sources. You will be responsible for managing a team of data engineers and analysts, working collaboratively with cross-functional teams, and driving the implementation of data integration and analytics initiatives to meet business objectives. You will partner closely with the Chief Digital and Data Officer driving strategy forward for both data analytics as well as our data engineering and integration strategies.

As the VP for Architecture, you will have oversight over the Architecture function lead by the Chief Architect, AVP of Architecture. The Chief Architect provides direct and matrixed oversight over architects who work closely with our business units to implement their business strategies. In addition, the Chief Architect provides technology thought leadership on foundational elements critical to IT operations and advances the maturity of the architecture function across IT.

Responsibilities:

Data Security and Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with relevant data privacy regulations and industry standards.
• Implement data security measures and access controls to protect sensitive information.

Unique Role Requirements:

• Optimal candidate has experience with Data Mesh-type implementations
• Strong knowledge of data integration tools, ETL frameworks, data warehousing, and data modeling concepts.
• Familiarity with cloud-based solutions (e.g., AWS, Azure, Snowflake, Salesforce, MS Azure) and big data technologies.
• Experience as an Architect and leading domain and solution architects
• Experience with data eventing and streaming solutions (e.g., MuleSoft Anypoint, Confluent Kafka, Azure MQ)
• Experience with API platforms and API management (e.g., Azure API Management)
• Proficiency in programming languages (e.g., Python, SQL) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).

Essential Functions:

• Partner with senior business decision makers to prioritize and fund initiatives and ensure scoping and design of technology solutions is in alignment with needs.
• Ensure continued focus building a strong IT capability through people, process and technology.
• Collaborate with the CIO to provide vision and leadership for planning, developing and implementing information technology initiatives across all areas of the organization.
• Maintain future state technology roadmap definitions to ensure effective investments are made to enable scale, quality, and maintenance and overall cost effectiveness.
• Participate in other initiatives and/or projects as necessary.
• Develop and manage vendor relationships, while ensuring effective integration, as needed, into overall IT capability.
• Budget and manage financial plans, while maintaining an awareness of industry benchmarks to serve as a basis of comparison.
• Lead by example, coaching, mentoring and infusing the technology team with the right leadership thinking and motivation to help them develop and grow to ensure overall organizational success.
• Commitment to embrace Sammons Financial Group Companies shared values (Respect, Accountability, Integrity, and Openness)
• Contribute to and directly lead aspects of the overall technology transformation through committed quality delivery, continuous improvement, innovation enablement and strong leadership coaching and example setting.
• Collaborate directly with the IT leadership team to identify, recommend, develop, implement, and support cost-effective technology solutions to business problems.
• Drive and reinforce commitment to internal controls processes such as those under Model Audit Rule and Record Information Management.
• Exercise leadership influence and direction with her/his organization to develop, optimize and manage application and/or infrastructure portfolios to attain all IT service level agreements for the user community within the organization.
• As stated within the Company Attendance and Punctuality policy, regular attendance is required and expected in order to meet the business service levels and workflow demands.

Qualifications:

• $194,161 - $360,585 - Range includes data points from multiple labor markets. The specific range is dependent on the labor market where the incumbent will be hired to perform the position. Starting salary is dependent on candidate qualifications and experience. For a narrower salary range specific to your labor market, please inquire Sammons Financial Group offers incentive programs for defined goals subject to eligibility and performance. Monetary rewards are based on individual and/or overall company performance
• Demonstrated ability to present and adapt ideas in business-friendly and user-friendly language
• Demonstrated strong negotiating and influence leadership skills
• Minimum 15 years' Applicable experience
• Due to the financial nature and level of accountability of this position, a credit and criminal background check is required - The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires Sammons Financial Group Companies to notify you that, as a routine part of processing this application for employment, Sammons Financial Group may request a consumer report on you to verify all information contained in this application. Such report may include information about work-related behaviors, performance, character, general reputation, and personal characteristics, in addition to information about your previous employment, education, credit history and criminal records
• Demonstrated consistent leadership effectiveness in technology and business related strategic planning, operations, implementation delivery and overall IT capability (people, process, technology) development
• Criminal background check required.
• Strong, established leadership track record of human capital management principles, practices, and procedures
• Demonstrated, proven understanding and track record of high quality program/project management and execution
• Master's Degree Computer Science, Information Systems, or Business Administration with technology as a core component preferred
• Keen working knowledge of applicable industry laws and regulations as they relate to IT
• Bachelor's Degree in the field of Computer Science, Information Systems, or Business Administration preferred
• Our competitive benefit package includes: Health, Dental, Vision, Company Paid Retirement, PTO and Holiday Pay
• Demonstrated exposure to systems management, hardware platforms, enterprise software applications, and outsourced systems, vendor management, including management of offshore/near shore resources with keen awareness of technology and related business trends; Proven experience and ability in managing systems complexity with positive outcomes
• Considerable working knowledge of business theory, business processes, management, budgeting, and business office operations and end to end integration models; Must be able to effectively apply industry recognized best practices