AVP, Discovery & Definition Practice Lead

Who Are We?Taking care of our customers, our communities and each other. That’s the Travelers Promise. By honoring this commitment, we have maintained our reputation as one of the best property casualty insurers in the industry for over 170 years. Join us to discover a culture that is rooted in innovation and thrives on collaboration. Imagine loving what you do and where you do it.Job CategoryTechnologyCompensation OverviewThe annual base salary range provided for this position is a nationwide market range and represents a broad range of salaries for this role across the country. The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment. As part of our comprehensive compensation and benefits program, employees are also eligible for performance-based cash incentive awards.Salary Range$153,700.00 - $253,700.00Target Openings1What Is the Opportunity?Travelers is undergoing a significant shift in how we build and deliver technology, and the quality of what gets delivered starts upstream. This role owns the enterprise standards, tools, and practices that shape how we define what gets built, from opportunity framing through requirements and definition of ready. Working within the SDLC+ Value Stream and in close partnership with the VP of Product Enablement, the Technical Design & Build Lead, Experience Design, and Product Owners, this leader will advance and mature how we ideate and define requirements across the enterprise.This is a senior individual contributor role with enterprise-wide influence, a leader who sets the standard for how discovery and definition work gets done at Travelers. Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the US. The company does not sponsor/support H-1B petitions, TN, or Forms I-983/STEM OPT, this this role.Discovery & Definition PracticeOwn the enterprise standards, tools, and practices that define what gets built — from opportunity framing through requirements and definition of ready, across software, data, and AI-driven solutionsEstablish and operationalize upstream quality standards that are consistently applied, measurable, and built with delivery realities in mindPartner with Experience Design, Business Analysts, and Product Owners to create a cohesive upstream lifecycle that spans disciplines and connects modern requirements practices to delivery outcomesProduct Owner Craft & CapabilityOwn PO craft standards, role maturity models, and capability-building for Product Owners across all lines of business — the substance, not a separate standing meetingDevelop and sustain role maturity models, learning pathways, and onboarding frameworks that elevate the PO craft, delivered through partnership with the Agile & Product Practice Leads Connect forum rather than a standalone communityEmbed systems thinking and outcome-based practices into how Product Owners work, shifting teams from order takers to solution designersAI-First Workflow IntegrationIntegrate AI-augmented discovery and definition workflows into enterprise practice — connecting modern experience design tooling, requirements platforms, and structured definition practices into a shared upstream ecosystemChampion AI literacy and tooling adoption across the product and discovery community, with a focus on adoption maturity, not just availabilityEvaluate, pilot, and scale AI tools that improve the quality and speed of upstream delivery workCross-Functional AlignmentWork closely with line-of-business Product Owners, Circle and Value Stream leaders, Experience Design, and the Technical Design & Build Lead to ensure discovery and definition practices are embedded in how solutions are designed and builtServe as the enterprise authority on upstream quality — influencing without direct authority across a large, matrixed organizationWhat Will Our Ideal Candidate Have?Master's degree - MBA, MS in Technology Management, or equivalent10 or more years of progressive experience in product ownership, business analysis, or agile delivery3 or more years in a senior enterprise role with cross-functional accountabilityDemonstrated experience influencing enterprise standards or practices without direct authorityDeep proficiency in structured requirements practices including user story mapping, jobs-to-be-done frameworks, BDD/ATDD, and definition of ready/done standardsExperience building or leading a Community of Practice, Center of Excellence, or enterprise capability programWorking knowledge of AI-augmented product and delivery workflows, with the ability to assess, pilot, and scale toolingFluency across agile delivery frameworks - Scrum, Kanban, SAFe - with the judgment to adapt them rather than prescribe themProven ability to connect discovery and definition work to business outcomes, OKRs, and value stream performanceWhat is a Must Have?3 years of Agile delivery experience.5 years of business and/or technology related experience.2 years of experience as a coach.2 years of people leadership/management experience or equivalentDemonstrates an in-depth knowledge of one or more business units (i.e. Claim, Risk Control, IT, Project Management, Production, Application Development, etc.).What Is in It for You?Health Insurance: Employees and their eligible family members – including spouses, domestic partners, and children – are eligible for coverage from the first day of employment.Retirement: Travelers matches your 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to your first 5% of eligible pay, subject to an annual maximum. If you have student loan debt, you can enroll in the Paying it Forward Savings Program. When you make a payment toward your student loan, Travelers will make an annual contribution into your 401(k) account. You are also eligible for a Pension Plan that is 100% funded by Travelers.Paid Time Off: Start your career at Travelers with a minimum of 20 days Paid Time Off annually, plus nine paid company Holidays.Wellness Program: The Travelers wellness program is comprised of tools, discounts and resources that empower you to achieve your wellness goals and caregiving needs. In addition, our mental health program provides access to free professional counseling services, health coaching and other resources to support your daily life needs.Volunteer Encouragement: We have a deep commitment to the communities we serve and encourage our employees to get involved. Travelers has a Matching Gift and Volunteer Rewards program that enables you to give back to the charity of your choice.Employment PracticesTravelers is an equal opportunity employer. We value the unique abilities and talents each individual brings to our organization and recognize that we benefit in numerous ways from our differences. In accordance with local law, candidates seeking employment in Colorado are not required to disclose dates of attendance at or graduation from educational institutions.If you are a candidate and have specific questions regarding the physical requirements of this role, please send us an email so we may assist you.Travelers reserves the right to fill this position at a level above or below the level included in this posting.To learn more about our comprehensive benefit programs please visit .SummaryLocation: CT - Hartford; MN - St. PaulType: Full time