Director, IT Portfolio Management

Sammons Financial Group • Chicago, IL

13d • $115,531 - $240,690

About The Position

Responsible for Project and Portfolio Management (PPM) strategy, planning and delivery for PPM processes, data and systems while negotiating common metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with the PPM business process owners. Lead development, promotion, support and improvement of repeatable processes, methods, measures and leading practices across the enterprise to provide reliable data to leaders to enable value-added business decisions. Participate in the ongoing process improvement of IT governance with IT Leaders while supporting the development and implementation of associated IT policies and processes through strategic direction. Responsible for managing and coordinating the IT operational metrics and reporting processes to track, develop, report and communicate IT operational, portfolio and process performance.

Requirements

• Minimum 7 years' IT governance, project and program management experience, or the equivalent combination of education and/or relevant experience Preferred
• Experience working in an Information Technology organization Preferred
• Proven experience with project and portfolio processes, SDLC, waterfall and agile methodologies and management of IT Policy and associated processes and procedures Preferred
• Demonstrated superior organization, leadership, project management, risk analysis/mitigation, critical thinking and decision-making skills
• Strong analytical skills necessary to synthesize data from multiple sources
• Demonstrated ability to prepare and present compelling communication both internal and external to IT as well as to executive leadership
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across a complex organization and simultaneously support multiple business units and activities at once
• Excellent leadership skills including demonstrated ability to develop, manage and execute processes that will successfully plan, manage, track, analyze and communicate on all aspects of IT operations with the ability to effectively administer numerous high priority activities at once
• Ability to work and excel in a variably paced, highly technical environment, with excellent customer service while maintaining the ability to guide and focus others
• Understands negotiating and influencing leadership skills with demonstrated ability to influence without authority
• Understands change leadership skills with demonstrated ability to effectively identify organizational change and lead others through change
• Demonstrated ability to present and adapt ideas effectively
• Demonstrated working knowledge of: Insurance business, including asset accumulation and risk management businesses, insurance concepts and IT operation metrics
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of: portfolio theory and project management methodologies, service delivery models, process definition and management and creation of best practices, success metrics; as well as project management tools, and the Microsoft software suite (Word, Excel, Visio and PowerPoint, etc)

Nice To Haves

• College Degree in field relevant to role Preferred
• Program Management Professional (PgMP) Preferred
• Professional in Project Management (PPM) Preferred
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead the definition of PPM information management principles, guidelines, patterns, and standards around data accuracy, reporting and measurements.
• Facilitate continuous planning processes to ensure alignment of strategy, road-map and portfolio goals across the individual business units and, where applicable, across the enterprise. Includes strong meeting administration to support execution of the continuous planning and lean business case process objectives and goals.
• Lead and monitor the implementation of PPM measurement systems throughout the enterprise. Provide technical mentoring, guidance and clarification to other process experts and implementation resources.
• Provide insightful analysis of data and key metrics to effectively communicate and educate the IT Leadership of operational and portfolio trends assisting them in addressing the overall health of IT.
• Deliver key management communications associated with the department when necessary; may prepare and present executive level communication materials – both internal and external to IT including Executive Committee level – by synthesizing information from various sources.
• Support PPM measurement roadmap for the analytical evaluation for projects/programs/portfolios. Identify measurement and technology trends/benchmarks and evaluate their impact on the global enterprise-wide portfolio.
• Develop and maintain operational metrics and reporting processes for the IT organization; ensure understanding within the various IT Business Units of all key points, essential processes and data points required by the department.
• Partner with IT Leaders and Management on key metrics and data points essential to track all aspects of IT operations. Review analysis findings to recommend appropriate changes in process, requirements or data approach.
• Manage the day-to-day collection, analysis and reporting of information related to IT performance; ensure timely and quality delivery of reporting packages.
• Recommend establishment of new or modified reporting methods and procedures to improve report content and completeness of information; may prepare and provide instructions concerning generation, completion and distribution of reports according to new or revised practices and procures relating to reporting processes.
• Lead organizational change initiatives as required.
• Develop and manage financial plans and models as requested.
• Commitment to embrace Sammons Financial Group Companies shared values (Accountability, Connection, Openness, Respect and Integrity).
• As stated within the Company Attendance and Punctuality policy, regular attendance is required and expected in order to meet the business service levels and workflow demands.
• Participate in other initiatives and/or projects as necessary.

Benefits

• Sammons Financial Group offers a competitive benefit package that includes: Health, Dental, Vision, Company Paid Retirement, PTO and Holiday Pay.
• Our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a 100% company-funded retirement plan, so you can save for retirement without contributing a penny of your own paycheck.
• Healthy balance between work and personal lives. Friday afternoons off all year long, competitive PTO, and generous number of paid holidays.
• Our incentive program for defined goals subject to eligibility and performance. Monetary rewards are based on individual and/or overall company performance.

What This Job Offers

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