Director OF Application Development

Come join one of America’s fastest-growing insurance companies. Since 1848, National Life Group has aimed to keep our promises, providing families with stability in good times and in bad. Throughout that history, we have provided peace of mind to those families as they plan their futures. Our mission extends beyond the insurance and annuities policies that we offer. We strive to make the world a better place through our grants from our charitable foundation, paid volunteer time for our employees, environmentally sustainable and healthy workplaces, and events that promote the work of nonprofits in our own backyard. We foster a collaborative environment with opportunities for growth and encourage our associates to live our values: Do good. Be good. Make good. Please note that we do not offer visa sponsorship for this position. Summary The IT Director, OnBase Application Lead is a senior technology leadership role responsible for driving enterprise content management (ECM) and workflow solutions using the Hyland OnBase platform. At NLG, OnBase is at the heart of everything we do, integrating with every major business application (new business and in‑force processing, contact center, portals, etc.). This role partners closely with business stakeholders to deliver innovative, scalable, and secure solutions that align with National Life’s strategic transformation goals. The IT Director, OnBase Application Lead serves as a key liaison between business and IT, ensuring that OnBase capabilities are fully leveraged to optimize processes, enhance customer experience, and enable operational efficiency. This role reports to the AVP, Enterprise Applications and plays a critical role in enterprise transformation initiatives. This position currently offers an onsite work schedule, with the expectation that you will be in the office four (4) days per week during onsite core days. Our current onsite core days are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The work schedule type and core days are subject to change with advance notification and manager discretion. Key Areas of Impact Enterprise Content Management (ECM) and document management solutions Integration of OnBase with enterprise systems (CRM, portals, policy administration, etc.) API‑driven and event‑based integrations across platforms Digital transformation initiatives for internal and external stakeholders ROI/ROE‑driven solution design and business case development Responsibilities Lead the strategic direction, roadmap, and governance of the OnBase platform Drive innovation by aligning business needs with scalable IT solutions, from ideation through execution Partner with cross‑functional IT teams (Architecture, Security, Data, Applications) to design and implement integrated solutions Act as the primary point of contact for business stakeholders for ECM Provide technical leadership and oversight for OnBase architecture, development, and deployment Ensure best practices in solution design, configuration, integrations, and performance optimization Lead and mentor our ECM agile development team, including onshore and offshore resources Oversee vendor relationships, including Hyland and outsourced IT partners Collaborate with business and PMO to develop business cases (CBA), quantify value, and track outcomes Drive continuous improvement in customer experience through automation and digital enablement Ensure compliance with security, data governance, and regulatory requirements Requirements 10+ years of experience in IT, with significant experience in enterprise applications and platform leadership 5+ years of hands‑on experience with Hyland OnBase (administration, development, architecture) OnBase Technical Expertise Deep expertise in OnBase including: Document Management, Workflow, WorkView, Thick, Unity and Web clients, document ingestion (DIP, COLD, MBI) Proficiency with OnBase integrations using Unity API and .NET‑based integrations Experience integrating OnBase with enterprise systems such as CRM, ERP, new business and policy administration systems Knowledge of OnBase architecture including application server, database (SQL Server), and storage strategies Experience with OnBase upgrade planning, patching, and environment management (DEV/UAT/PROD) Strong understanding of performance tuning, system monitoring, and troubleshooting within OnBase environments Experience implementing governance, security, and compliance controls within OnBase (audit trails, access controls, retention) General Technical & Leadership Skills Strong understanding of ECM, workflow automation, and document management best practices Experience with API integrations, microservices, and event‑driven architectures Experience in financial services (Life & Annuity preferred) Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, or related field Demonstrated ability to lead, influence, and manage distributed teams Strong communication, stakeholder management, and executive presentation skills Experience working in Agile and/or hybrid delivery environments Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, transformational environment Leadership Competencies Strategic thinker with strong business acumen Ability to build trust and influence across all levels of the organization Courage to drive change while fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment Commitment to coaching, mentoring, and developing high‑performing teams Benefits Your benefits start day one and are flexible and customizable to you and your family’s specific needs. Base Pay Range The base pay range for this position is the range National Life reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for the position taking into account the wide variety of factors, including: prior experience and job‑related knowledge; education, training and certificates; current business needs; and market factors. The final salary or hourly wages offered may be outside of this range based on other reasons and individual circumstances. Additional Compensation and Benefits The total compensation package for this position may also include a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. The successful candidate may also be eligible to participate in National Life’s discretionary annual incentive programs, subject to the rules governing such programs. If hired, the employee will be in an "at‑will" position and National Life reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors. #J-18808-Ljbffr