Technology Project Manager - Data

Nationwide Mutual Insurance • Columbus, OH

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

Nationwide is seeking a Technology Project Manager to lead strategic and priority initiatives within its Data, Operations, Technology, and Strategy (DOTS) organization. The role connects business strategy and analytical needs with trusted, governed, reusable data and AI capabilities that support reporting, analytics, automation, intelligent experiences, and emerging AI use cases. The project manager coordinates business stakeholders, delivery teams, technology partners, governance, architecture, risk partners, and vendors to deliver complex data initiatives predictably and responsibly.

The position is accountable for delivery outcomes and execution practices, including prioritization, decision-making, risk and crisis management, responsible AI use, and continuous improvement. Potential initiatives include improving data access and quality; developing a future-state data strategy using a federated lakehouse architecture; modernizing platforms and integration patterns; establishing governed data products and semantic models; strengthening metadata and lineage; enabling self-service analytics; and delivering AI-enabled business capabilities.

The project manager translates strategy and demand into scope, milestones, schedules, resource and funding plans, deliverables, and measures of success. They lead initiatives from intake and planning through build, onboarding, validation, testing, release, adoption, and stabilization. The role includes management of dependencies, financials, risks, vendors and contracts, change, governance, and executive communications, while supporting secure engineering practices and continuous value realization through fit-for-purpose Agile, Lean, and DevOps methods.

This role follows a hybrid schedule with in-office presence two days per week in Columbus, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; or Scottsdale, Arizona. Candidates must live within commuting distance of these locations. Remote candidates may be considered, but the posting also specifies the location and hybrid requirements. The role does not qualify for employer-sponsored work authorization, and Nationwide does not participate in the STEM OPT Extension program.

Requirements

• The role-specific ideal skill set calls for 8 or more years of project management experience, including 5 or more years of demonstrated proficiency delivering data outcomes or projects.
• The general job qualifications state six or more years of experience in technology or a related field, including three years of demonstrated proficiency delivering outcomes or projects.
• Familiarity with cloud and modern data-platform concepts such as lakehouse architectures, ETL/ELT, data integration, SQL, Snowflake, Databricks, or comparable technologies.
• Ability to make sound decisions and recommendations.
• Ability to influence, build relationships, and set priorities.
• Excellent communication skills for interacting with associates at all levels, senior management, and vendors.
• Strong planning, delivery, financial, dependency, and risk management skills.
• Ability to lead through change and drive alignment across teams.
• Awareness of emerging technologies and industry trends.
• Undergraduate studies in management information systems, engineering, mathematics, computer science, data analytics, or a comparable combination of experience and education are strongly preferred; a bachelor's degree is preferred.
• Candidates must be based within commuting distance of Columbus, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; or Scottsdale, Arizona.
• The role does not qualify for employer-sponsored work authorization; Nationwide does not participate in the STEM OPT Extension program.

Nice To Haves

• Technology certifications, project management certifications, CSM/SaFE, Agile, or Lean designations are encouraged.
• Insurance and/or financial services industry knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Partner with business and data leaders to define priorities, analytical needs, AI opportunities, business cases, and outcomes.
• Translate demand into project scope, milestones, deliverables, success measures, resource plans, funding needs, and integrated schedules.
• Sequence work across data domains, platforms, governance, analytics, AI capabilities, and shared technology teams.
• Establish ownership, decision rights, dependencies, acceptance criteria, and adoption plans.
• Manage initiatives from intake and planning through build, data onboarding, validation, testing, release, adoption, and stabilization.
• Establish project operating practices for integrated planning, milestone reviews, dependency and risk management, financial management, change management, decision forums, status reporting, vendor and contract management, and executive governance.
• Coordinate business teams, project teams, engineering, architecture, security, privacy, responsible AI, data governance, analytics, and vendors.
• Drive delivery against scope, schedule, budget, quality, controls, and business outcomes using fit-for-purpose methods such as Agile planning and iterative releases.
• Provide concise status reports and executive communications focused on progress, risks, decisions, and next steps.
• Use automation, AI-enabled tools, and standardized practices to improve planning, reporting, risk identification, and team productivity with appropriate human oversight.
• Foster accountability, healthy challenge, responsible innovation, strong data stewardship, and Nationwide's values.
• Drive end-to-end delivery of business outcomes, benefits realization, incremental value, planning, and dependency and scope definition.
• Lead medium- to complex-scale initiatives and manage their dependencies and financials.
• Balance demand and capacity and use standard tools and KPIs to improve performance and maintain delivery momentum.
• Manage budgets, forecasts, contract adherence, and delivery against expected outcomes.
• Apply secure software and systems engineering practices throughout the delivery lifecycle to protect data and technology solutions.
• Coach, influence, and mentor team members and peers to strengthen delivery discipline, collaboration, and effectiveness.
• Drive continuous improvement through Agile, Lean, and DevOps practices, including automation and inspection cycles.
• Lead transparent communication and change management, surfacing status, decisions, impacts, and critical issues.
• Contribute to contract negotiations and statement-of-work development, and oversee vendors to achieve expected goals.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life insurance.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Paid time off, with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days per full calendar year, prorated quarterly based on hire date.
• Nine paid holidays.
• Eight hours of Lifetime paid time off.
• Eight hours of Unity Day paid time off.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Company-paid pension plan.
• Business casual attire.

What This Job Offers

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