Director of Platform Modernization & Integration

National Life Group•Addison, IL

52d•Onsite

About The Position

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. Role Summary We are seeking a visionary, solution-oriented leader who understands the Life & Annuity (L&A) industry and can connect business, distribution, and customer needs with scalable, modernized technology solutions. If you're driven to redefine how the Life & Annuity business operates, bringing innovation to legacy systems, streamlining operations, and elevating customer and distributor experiences through technology - this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact. The Director of Platform Modernization & Integration will lead strategic initiatives that transform how National Life Group's core business systems operate and connect. This role works closely with the Senior Director of Technology Transformation, and partners across IT, business operations, and distribution leadership to drive modernization across our most critical platforms, including New Business, Policy Administration, Distribution, Finance, and Investments. The ideal candidate will bring a deep understanding of Life & Annuity operations, legacy-to-modern system integration, and insuretech platforms, along with a forward-thinking mindset that blends business acumen with technical fluency. This position currently offers an onsite work schedule, with the expectation that you are 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.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in the Life & Annuity (L&A) industry, with a strong understanding of business operations, distribution, and product administration.
Proven experience leading business and technology transformation initiatives, with emphasis on modernization and integration.
Experience in business operations management, business analysis, program or project leadership, and vendor management.
Strong knowledge of system integration principles across legacy and modern technology stacks.
Understanding of the IT value chain, including UI/UX, APIs, data orchestration, and change management.
Solid understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and how it applies to transformation efforts across design, development, testing, deployment, and support phases

Nice To Haves

10+ years of progressive experience in the insurance industry with focus on modernization or transformation.
Experience collaborating directly with technology leadership (e.g., CTO, Senior Director, or CIO).
Background in platform strategy, architecture, or technology modernization within Life & Annuity environments.
Strong leadership experience managing cross-functional or matrixed teams.
Project and change management experience in agile or hybrid delivery frameworks.

Responsibilities

Transformation Leadership & Strategy
Collaborate with the Senior Director, Technology Transformation, to define and execute a multi-year modernization and integration roadmap.
Lead initiatives that enhance business capabilities, operational efficiency, and customer experience through modern technology.
Partner with business and IT stakeholders to translate strategy into actionable transformation programs.
Drive modernization of systems and workflows that enable more agile, digital-first business operations.
Modernization & Integration Delivery
Oversee integration strategies that connect legacy ecosystems with new platforms and insuretech applications.
Champion data interoperability, system scalability, and alignment across front, middle, and back-office systems.
Ensure platform designs and integrations support business agility, compliance, and long-term maintainability.
Identify emerging technologies that can drive new business value or operational efficiencies.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
Build trusted relationships across business and technology teams to ensure alignment and shared accountability.
Work closely with vendors, solution architects, and engineering teams to deliver transformation outcomes.
Communicate progress and impact clearly to leadership and stakeholder groups at all levels.
Serve as a change agent - inspiring innovation, influencing adoption, and ensuring transformation success.
Execution & Operational Excellence
Oversee delivery management of key modernization and integration projects.
Ensure all initiatives adhere to compliance, security, and data governance standards.
Partner with product management, engineering, and business process leaders to deliver measurable results.

Benefits

Your benefits start day one and are flexible and customizable to your and your family's specific needs. Check out the BENEFITS of a Career at National Life!
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.

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