Data & AI Product Delivery Vertical Lead

Overview

The Group Benefits Data & AI (GB D&AI) team is looking for a Product Delivery Lead (the ‘role’) to work closely with one of our core GB value streams (e.g., underwriting, claims, distribution, etc.) to manage, define, shape, prioritize and lead the delivery and evolution of key D&AI solutions supporting value stream business objectives. More specifically, this role will drive the ongoing capture and prioritization of new demand for features and/or enhancements to Guardian’s data and information products as articulated by key business leaders on one or more of our key value streams. These data and information products include simple reports, enabling interfaces, AI/GenAI automation models, consumer-facing data consumption capabilities, to the underlying data definitions and reference data that define our business.

In addition, this role will have accountability for planning and leading the delivery of prioritized D&AI work, collaborating with the Data and AI Product Design Leads and our supporting IT engineering and Data Science partners. In this context, the role will work closely with the GB business value stream teams to ensure their participation in requirements collection, UAT, training, and activation in support of full business value realization.

From a strategic management perspective, the Product Delivery Lead will develop a keen understanding of value stream processes, supporting systems and key data elements. Moreover, the role will establish and nurture relationships with both value stream executive leadership, as well as functional and analytic SMEs in the value stream to keep a pulse on the latent needs and direction of the business. Using these relationships, the role will anticipate future value stream needs, constantly updating and communicating the backlog of features to be addressed in the value stream’s D&AI product roadmap.

Finally, the Product Delivery Lead will manage/mentor/apprentice earlier tenure staff, both directly and in a matrix fashion, helping foster the development of the next generation of D&AI leaders.

You are:

• You are a highly independent senior manager with the ability to become rapidly conversant in insurance business processes.
• You have an aptitude for using and shaping data solutions in support of business objectives, and are able to clearly articulate the value that can be attributable to various data/info products.
• You are highly organized, staying abreast of multiple stakeholders’ priorities, the status of multiple parallel initiatives/projects, the state of value realization and adoption for production data assets.
• You communicate fluidly, able to articulate how data solution functionality will meet business needs in a brief non-technical manner.
• While you are not directly a technologist (you may have come from a business or analytical background), you are have a special understanding of Data & AI technologies and understand how they are used an combined to devise solutions at a high level.
• You are reliable in terms of your commitments, honest and brave with issues/escalations, and have a client service mentality.

You have:

• 10+ years of experience with an increasing proficiency in data and analytic solutions
• BS or BA required; MS or MBA preferred
• 3+ years working in an agile environment (as a PO or PM capacity would be preferred)
• 3+ Experience managing staff/teams, as well as geographically complementary teams, often organized on a product delivery basis (highly matrixed)
• 5+ Experience with industry program management tools (such as JIRA, AgileCraft, ATIIM, etc.), as well as desktop collaboration/ideation tools (Sharepoint, MSOffice, OneDrive, Lucid, Draw.io, etc.)
• Experience in insurance industry preferred, but not required (especially group products such as dental/vision/disability/etc, P&C, or health)
• Experience with enterprise data management principles such as data ownership/stewardship (experience as a data domain or product owner would be a plus)
• Ability to carefully document and capture business requirements in detail, including metric calculation logic, quality/timeliness expectations, analytic functionality, hierarchies, etc., as well as functional user journeys as they relate to data solutions
• A person with exceptional verbal and written communication skills, proficient at working with a variety of team members and creatively aligning their interests
• Outstanding organizational and time management skills; ability to multi-task and driving teams to meet aggressive delivery commitments
• Proactive problem-solving and information research skills
• Ability to manage/mentor earlier tenure and/or less experienced staff to help grow future leaders and deepen value stream knowledge on the broader team
• Ability to accept change in stride, remaining flexible due to changing business needs
• Natural ‘teacher’, able to coach business partners on optimal use of data assets to meet stated/latent business needs
• Adept user of data consumer analytic tools such as Tableau, PowerBI, Databricks, SQL, etc.
• Able to see the “big picture”, and influence, engage others to meet common goal

You Will:

Value Stream Counseling:

• Foster meaningful relationships with collaborators in the value stream
• Consult with value stream business partners to identify and shape new and existing ways for data and AI to enable business processes and aspirations
• Lead decisioning/status, prioritization, and ideation meetings with various stakeholder groups, from executives to expert practitioners
• Maintain a data info product roadmap supported by technical capabilities/delivery to keep business abreast of vision and timing
• Capture demand and stay responsive to emergent needs by value stream business partners
• Express expertise in processes and support data assets by educating business partners (directly 1:1, in formal training sessions, and informally), and provide feedback to Data and AI Product Design Leads on usage characteristics of value stream data solutions

Product Management:

• Serve as the primary owner of value stream data and information products, managing the roadmap and ongoing enhancements to existing/new capabilities
• Accountable for the overall agile delivery of new data/info products, establishing the features, business rules and test conditions with business input, but then coordinating support with technical partners to detail these into technical stories/tasks
• In concert with D&AI Product Design and Data Engineering team members, contribute to the evaluation of proposed tools, technologies, and platforms from a business lens
• Support quarterly delivery planning to ensure resources are aligned with value stream requirements
• Manage testing, both directly as a point tester and via coordination with key business SMEs
• Take full accountability for solution adoption, ensuring the appropriate change management and/or training needs are met such that D&AI solution use drives desired business outcomes

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Work closely with business leaders to understand strategic goals and challenges
• Collaborate with technical D&AI and IT teams, vendors, and partners to ensure solution feasibility and delivery
• Translate business requirements into functional specifications and data needs

Governance and Compliance:

• Ensure solutions adhere to industry regulations, data security standards, and organizational policies
• Monitor and mitigate risks related to solution implementation

Location:

• Three days a week at a Guardian office in New York, NY, Stamford CT, or Boston, MA

Salary Range:

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise

At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals.  Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being

As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits. Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact applicant_accommodation@glic.com.

Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.