Director, Data and AI Platform Strategy

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association•Chicago, IL

2d•$147,051 - $194,887

About The Position

The Director, Data and AI/ML platform strategy is a strategic leadership role responsible for developing and executing the data and AI/ML platform strategy, sharing the vision for platform as a product. This position will own end-to-end platform product delivery and program management for mission-critical data platforms and AI platform initiatives. The role involves collaborating with engineering, product, data science, and business stakeholders to define and manage core technical platform products that serve as foundational capabilities for data platforms, enabling the delivery of data and analytical products. Key technical data products include common Ingress/egress, data quality agents, data engineering agents, AI and ML agentic platforms, and other capabilities. This role requires demonstrated ability to manage team members, large projects, collaborate with program managers and senior leaders, oversee IT-wide platform initiatives, manage stakeholders, and drive organizational impact through process excellence, strategic thinking, and cross-functional leadership.

Requirements

BS or equivalent experience
12+ years of progressive experience in data and platform product management, technical program management, platform delivery, or related roles within complex data, analytics, or software environments.
Experience with AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics concepts to enhance data product capabilities.
Experience working in agile product development environments.
Experience mentoring and coaching individual contributors and people managers on product delivery, stakeholder management, and agile execution.
Proven track record of defining and delivering overall data and AI/ML platform strategy in support of data and analytic products and roadmap.
Proven track record of defining and delivering platform products and capabilities at scale.
Strong strategic thinking and communication skills with ability to influence at all levels of the organization across engineering, product, and executive leadership.
Ability to translate technical data concepts into business value and strategy.
Experience in managing large data and AI/ML platform portfolio and roadmap starting from business case development, delivery management, to value tracking.
Deep understanding of modern data and AI/ML architectures including expertise in cloud-based data technologies, AWS, Snowflake, Databricks, Redshift, Kafka and others.
Strong understanding of data and AI/ML engineering principles, including ETL, data warehousing, and real-time data processing.
Knowledge of data security, governance, and compliance frameworks, including SOC 2, HIPAA, and HITRUST.
Ability to drive cross-functional collaboration, influencing stakeholders across engineering, product, and executive leadership.
Proven ability to own product roadmaps and delivery plans for data platforms, cloud migrations, or AI/ML initiatives, translating business needs into executable programs.
Strong background in program and delivery management, including scope, schedule, dependency, risk, and quality management across multiple workstreams.
Ability to represent data platform initiatives in enterprise governance, leadership forums, and transformation efforts.

Nice To Haves

MS degree

Responsibilities

Drive the overall data and AI/ML platform strategy vision across BCBSA products and position BCBSA data and analytic portfolio for scale and growth to enable rapid innovation of data/analytical products and insights.
Manage the portfolio of strategic foundational data and AI/ML platform initiatives, including cloud migration Products, Analytics and Engineering teams.
Define and drive the roadmap for foundational platform products that enable internal customers, from definition to consumption.
Own and drive the adoption strategy for platform products, using KPIs and metrics to demonstrate value.
Develop business cases for foundational platform products and technical capabilities to support BCBSA data and analytic products, and seek executive input to influence the overall data and AI/ML platform roadmap.
Build and lead high-performing platform product strategy members, mentoring and coaching team members to foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and collaboration.
Drive business outcomes, ensuring delivered capabilities create measurable value.
Manage tech-debt remediation and modernization efforts while balancing new platform product capabilities development.