Director, Computer Systems & Operations

Sammons Financial Group • Sioux Falls, SD

11d

About The Position

Sammons Financial Group is seeking a forward-thinking leader to oversee core production operations and help shape the future of its technology delivery environment. The position may be filled at the Director or Manager level based on the candidate’s skills, experience, and alignment with the role’s scope.

The organization is responsible for critical nightly operations, production scheduling, mainframe systems programming, and centralized processing. The leader will oversee these functions while developing a vision for evolving traditional operational teams into proactive production delivery and active support teams. The role works closely with the Life Insurance Development Team, hardcopy communications, and mailing departments to connect technology operations with business processes and customer commitments.

The role is accountable for reliable, accurate, and timely production commitments, while identifying opportunities to improve processes, collaboration, and operational practices. It also includes staff leadership and development, management of geographically dispersed staff, and willingness to travel several times per year to remote locations. Regular attendance is required, and the role must be able to respond to emergencies outside regularly scheduled work hours.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, or an associate’s technical degree with supplementary work experience.
• At least 5 years of experience in a computer operations environment with increasing responsibilities.
• Effective leadership, management, decision-making, and motivational skills.
• Ability to manage geographically dispersed staff.
• Proficiency in IBM mainframe production batch and online environments.
• Demonstrated proficiency with open-system and mainframe job scheduling software.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated accountability, openness, integrity, and respect when dealing with internal and external customers.
• Willingness and ability to respond to emergencies outside regularly scheduled work hours.
• Criminal background check required; a credit and criminal background check is required due to the financial nature and accountability of the position.
• Candidates must not require immigration sponsorship or work authorization for this role now or in the future.

Responsibilities

• Ensure business requirements for batch and online processing are met.
• Develop, coordinate, review, and enforce standards and procedures for computer operations across all locations.
• Plan, coordinate, and direct system programming projects supporting the mainframe environment while containing costs.
• Monitor mainframe system utilization and participate in planning, budgeting, and acquisition of mainframe systems and equipment.
• Review and approve hardware and software invoices for accuracy and monitor vendor adherence to service-level agreements.
• Develop and maintain Model Audit Rule-compliant procedures for departmental processing.
• Establish, maintain, and ensure departmental compliance with Record Information Management requirements.
• Use the Performance Management system to provide feedback, guidance, and reviews to team members.
• Train and develop Team Leaders in employee development, corrective action, performance evaluations, and use of the Performance Management system; perform these responsibilities directly when no Team Leader is on staff.
• Help staff develop technical and decision-making skills while ensuring adherence to company core values.
• Work with developers and testers to develop efficient and cost-effective testing strategies.
• Coordinate with business units and developers to schedule processing to meet business needs.
• Ensure quality control when implementing programs, JCL, and other components in production environments.
• Create and maintain a work environment that embraces corporate shared values and the employee-owner culture.
• Travel several times per year to manage staff at remote locations.
• Participate in other initiatives and projects as necessary.
• Maintain regular attendance as required to meet business service levels and workflow demands.
• Respond to emergencies outside regularly scheduled work hours.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, HSA and FSA options, and term life insurance.
• Competitive compensation with a performance-based incentive program tied to clear goals and individual and/or company success.
• 100% company-funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and automatic enrollment in a 401(k).
• Friday afternoons off year-round, generous paid time off, and paid holidays.
• Paid development time, tuition reimbursement, and professional development opportunities across industry, individual, and leadership programs.
• Volunteer time off and a company nonprofit matching gift program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director