Director, Data

Position Summary

Manages and directs data analytics team and the data subcouncil for the specified data domain.

We are looking for a strong, business-oriented Data & Analytics leader to transform both our Claims data strategy and the way our analytics organization operates. This leader will build a high-performing analytics capability, establish strong operating discipline, and translate Claims business priorities into a modern data and analytics strategy.

Location Requirement

This is an Erie, PA-based leadership position. Relocation to Erie and regular in-office presence are required. Relocation assistance is available.

What We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate will:

• Be a strong people leader and organizational builder with demonstrated experience leading Data & Analytics teams.
• Bring strong executive presence and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders, challenge thinking, and translate complex data and technology topics into business terms.
• Have experience evolving an analytics organization from reactive reporting and request fulfillment to proactive business decision support.
• Establish effective operating practices for intake, prioritization, capacity management, work assignment, delivery, performance measurement, and accountability.
• Translate business strategy and challenges into a clear data and analytics strategy, roadmap, and measurable outcomes.
• Have sufficient technical depth to effectively challenge and guide data engineers, architects, analysts, and technology partners without needing to be a hands-on developer.
• Understand modern cloud data architecture, preferably AWS, including data lakes/lakehouses, pipelines, curated data products, data quality, governance, lineage, and legacy-to-cloud modernization.
• Understand modern BI and analytics practices and how to create trusted, consistent data and reporting for business decision-making.
• Have experience building and developing teams, setting expectations, creating accountability, and providing transparency into work and results.
• Have demonstrated experience leading organizational and technology transformation and guiding teams through significant change.
• Understand the practical application of AI and advanced analytics and help shape how Claims can responsibly leverage these capabilities.

Preferred Experience

• P&C insurance and/or Claims
• Guidewire
• AWS
• Qlik/Qlik Sense
• Data products and modern data architecture
• Data governance and data quality
• AI/ML or advanced analytics strategy
• Legacy data modernization
• SAS exposure is helpful but not required

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manages overall operations of designated area of authority. Interviews, hires, trains and directs personnel. Prepares and conducts performance assessments, coordinates discipline and oversees employee development as required.
• Works with the enterprise data council to build and maintain enterprise data governance framework. (Data governance framework–establishment of policies, standards, and processes to manage data.)
• Leads specified data domain subcouncil ensuring that the enterprise data governance framework is implemented and maintained within the specified data domain.
• Works with the enterprise data council and the data analytics subcouncil to build enterprise data analytics capability. (Data analytics–transformation of raw data into information).
• Plans and oversees research and analysis of information within the specified data domain. Participates in research as needed. Communicates results of research analysis to general and senior management in order to facilitate decisions and the development of strategy for the specified data domain.
• Works with the enterprise data council and IT data team to enable data related technologies.
• Leads management of external and internal data solutions for the specified data domain.
• Works with the enterprise data council to maintain the data program roadmap.
• Maintains and applies current knowledge of generally accepted data governance, data management, and data analytics methods. Participates in continuing professional development/education opportunities.
• Identifies and implements data related process improvements. Acts as change agent in supporting data as an asset within specified data domain.

The first 7  duties listed are the functions identified as essential to the job. Essential functions are those job duties that must be performed in order for the job to be accomplished.

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the incumbent. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instruction and to perform any other duties as requested by their supervisor, or as become evident.

Duties and Responsibilities (cont'd if applicable)

Capabilities

Qualifications

Minimum Educational and Experience Requirements 

• Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of experience successfully delivering data insight required. 
• Master’s degree in mathematical or technical discipline preferred. 

Additional Experience 

• Previous experience in a data focused leadership position preferred. 
• Experience working as part of a data governance and data quality team preferred.  
• Experience developing, maintaining, and monitoring enterprise data governance policies and standards preferred.
• Knowledge of insurance products, competitive practices and state and federal regulatory laws as related to P/C insurance preferred. 
• Strong knowledge of policy processing and familiarity with pricing practices and agency operations preferred.
• Ability to work collaboratively across the organization, analyzing problems and developing and implementing effective solutions in a complex and ever-changing environment preferred. 
• Track record of being able to distill highly technical information into palatable, meaningful statements for both technical and non-technical audiences preferred.
• Familiarity with the data warehousing and big data solutions and products available on the market preferred.
• Familiarity with different modeling techniques such as data modeling and predictive modeling preferred. 
• Experience with effective participation and collaboration as part of a leadership team including IT preferred.
• Experience managing vendor relationships and contract that support information management to maximize long-term value and ensure effective utilization by staff preferred.

Physical Requirements