Head of Information Technology/ VP

Come join one of America’s fastest-growing insurance companies. 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.
This role requires a minimum of 10 years of Life and Annuity information technology experience.
National Life Group is in the midst of significant growth and enterprise transformation, requiring technology to evolve to the next gen of maturity to enable greater scale, better customer experiences, and foster top-line growth. The role of the Chief Technology Officer is to lead the modernization of the company’s core insurance platforms and technology ecosystem so the organization can grow efficiently, innovate faster, and compete effectively in a rapidly changing life insurance and annuity market.
The CTO will play a lead role in transforming and managing core technology platforms while driving innovation through technology and thought leadership. The CTO will be responsible for assessing the talent to ensure they are fit for purpose and provide the skills, capabilities, behaviors, and processes required to deliver a modern, agile, and integrated environment. The CTO will lead transformations across cloud computing, contemporary software architectures, continuous delivery and DevOps, Advanced Analytics, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence. Additionally, the CTO will be a key partner in promoting new ways of working, including advanced concepts in Agile, Lean Product Development, Lean Operations, and Design Thinking. Collectively, the CTO is expected to lead these transformations to facilitate National Life’s transformation as it competes in the AI era.
Through disciplined execution, strong partnerships, and clear executive communication, this leader will ensure that technology investments are aligned with business priorities, deliver meaningful returns on investment, and support sustained growth. Ultimately, the CTO will help position National Life’s technology capabilities as a strategic advantage.
850 people) IT organization. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to organize complex work streams and collaborate effectively with colleagues and business leaders to influence transformation in a highly outsourced, multi-vendor environment, including onshore and offshore teams. Top candidates will have demonstrated success and feel comfortable working in this heavily outsourced, globally distributed environment.
This is a senior and critical role within the technology leadership team and will report directly to the Chief Information Officer and will have consideration for the CIO role in succession planning.
Responsible for all aspects of establishing quality technology platforms and services.
Develop and instill a core innovation and incubation strategy that fosters emerging technology solutions that capture economic value across the National Life organization.
Responsible for ensuring the operating model is optimized in terms of cost and quality of service, and that internal resources and supplier partner relationships meet the agreed model and service framework.
Create a culture of continuous improvement that proactively manages the resolution of complex problems, identifies their underlying causes and improves processes accordingly.
Operate in a fast-paced environment while building trust with IT and the business
Establish credibility through relationships with business leaders and the IT organization as a whole
Infuse AI into IT practices consistently to make it a fabric of IT development operations
work diligently to understand business needs and tie those needs back into the IT organization, creating transparency as well as a customer-centric IT environment.
Bring process and rigor to the IT organization, with particular emphasis on shoring up the architecture and software development lifecycle methodology.
Assess the IT leadership team and develop or fortify as needed.
Being able to present and story tell the IT Vision, Technical direction, and various transformation “pitches” to a wide variety of audiences spanning from Board, executive team, business leaders, business operations and IT teammates
Bringing thought leadership by being asked to participate in various thought leadership areas, strategies, meetings, committees as more than just an IT representative
20+ years of information technology experience and 10+ years of IT leadership and business transformation work in the life and annuities business is required.

• Deep understanding of the business landscape of a Life & Annuity organization, including but not limited to New Business, Underwriting, Claims, InForce management, Product development, Actuarial analysis, and Investment management.
• Recognized achievement in delivering a successful major technology transformation program, and in the delivery of a modern heavily cloud-based environment.
• Proven track record in identifying opportunities and delivering innovative and pragmatic digital solutions that challenge the status quo.
• Willingness to roll-up his/her sleeves and go both deep and wide into technology issues.
• Ability to effectively present technical or complex information to senior management with simplicity.
• Significant experience working with technology vendors through strategic partnership and managing a diverse workforce of internals and externals. Examples include eApplication, Policy Administration, eDelivery, Automated Underwriting, Digital Experiences, Hierarchy based compensation, Licensing and Contracting, Broker/Dealer automation, Fraud and Risk Management, CRM and Workflow
• Strong financial management experience and demonstrable track-record in driving continual improvements in the cost base.
• Experience developing and deploying IT change programs with detailed business case development and delivery at the board or business unit level.
• Broad experience in architecture and application software delivery.
• Adept at defining IT vision and strategy and identifying initiatives that lead to target state architectures and outcomes.
• Adept at continuous learning, especially in emerging areas of technology, modern work practices, and digital transformation.
• Broad experience in application software delivery, infrastructure, security, data, and vendor management
• Adept at defining the IT technical direction and identification of initiatives that lead to target state architectures and outcomes. Then bringing people along towards the target state through leadership and influence
• Adept at continuous learning, especially in emerging areas of technology, modern work practices, and digital transformation
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, engineering, or a related engineering of science field is required.

MBA or master’s degree is required.

AI PROFICIENCY EXPECTATIONS

At National Life Group, we view AI as an enabler of human potential. We use AI to help us work smarter, serve more clients, and keep our promises, while remaining a relationship-driven business where our people are our greatest strength.
Leverage approved AI tools, where appropriate, to improve the efficiency, quality, and impact of their work.
Stay curious and open to new AI-enabled ways of working.
Exercise sound judgment by reviewing and validating AI-generated content.
Maintain accountability for the accuracy, quality, fairness, and integrity of work products by adhering to National Life’s AI guiding principles.
Use AI responsibly and in accordance with company policies related to confidentiality, data privacy, security, compliance, retention and intellectual property.
Applicants in AI-forward roles are also expected to:

Identify practical opportunities to apply AI to improve workflows, productivity, analysis, and business outcomes.
Create effective prompts, workflows, controls and HITL review processes that support responsible AI use.
Critically evaluate AI-generated outputs for accuracy, quality, bias, fairness, confidentiality, compliance, security and business relevance.
Partner appropriately with Legal, Compliance, Risk, Security, Data/Technology, and business stakeholders to move AI ideas from experimentation to responsible adoption.
Help model responsible, human-centered AI adoption across the organization.
Your benefits start day one and are flexible and customizable to your and your family’s specific needs. 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; The final salary or hourly wages offered may be outside of this range based on other reasons and individual circumstances.
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. 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.
National Life is accepting applications for this role on an ongoing basis and the role remains open until filled.
National Life Group® is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, VT – founded in 1848, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, Addison, TX – chartered in 1955, and their affiliates. Each company of National Life Group is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. Life Insurance Company of the Southwest is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York. Equity Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, is a Broker/Dealer and Registered Investment Adviser affiliate of National Life Insurance Company. Fortune 1000 status is based on the consolidated financial results of all National Life Group companies.
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