Group 1001 is a consumer-centric, technology-driven family of insurance companies on a mission to deliver outstanding value and operational performance by combining financial strength and stability with deep insurance expertise and a can-do culture. Group1001’s culture emphasizes the importance of collaboration, communication, core business focus, risk management, and striving for outcomes. This goal extends to how we hire and onboard our most valuable assets – our employees.

Group 1001, and its affiliated companies, is strongly committed to providing a supportive work environment where employee differences are valued. Diversity is an essential ingredient in making Group 1001 a welcoming place to work and is fundamental in building a high-performance team. Diversity embodies all the differences that make us unique individuals.  All employees share the responsibility for maintaining a workplace culture of dignity, respect, understanding and appreciation of individual and group differences.

Position Description

The IT Business Solutions Partner (IT BSP) will serve as the strategic partner for Annuity Customer Service Operations and collaborate directly with business leaders to define, source and lead strategic initiatives that enable them to achieve key technology-dependent organizational objectives.

The IT BSP will develop a trusted relationship between the business and IT by shaping an alignment strategy, connecting teams to innovate and drive value of services, and orchestrating the portfolio of capabilities.  The IT BSP will develop a high Business IQ and help raise IT savvy of these business operations to collectively envision how technology can enable excellence in Customer Service.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Partnering -  Act as a strategic connector between the IT department and business partner for the purpose of business technology strategy development, solution discovery, service management, risk management, and relationship management.
• Business-IT Alignment -  Ensure that the IT services, initiatives, and strategies are fully aligned with the business objectives and priorities. This involves understanding the business processes, plans, and needs to better align IT solutions with business goals.
• Demand Management -  Identify, prioritize, and advocate for business needs and opportunities for improvement within the IT department. The BSP helps in managing business demands, ensuring that IT efforts are aligned with the highest business value.
• Relationship Building - Develop and maintain strong relationships with business stakeholders and within the IT department to facilitate effective communication, collaboration, and mutual understanding of challenges and goals. Help raise business IQ within the IT organization.
• Innovation Facilitation - Identify and leverage opportunities for innovation within the business and IT. This involves staying informed about new technologies, market trends, and business practices that could benefit the organization.
• Service Management - Oversee the delivery of IT services to the business, ensuring they meet the agreed-upon standards and service levels. This involves working closely with service management teams to address any issues, improve service delivery, and ensure customer satisfaction.
• Portfolio Management – maintain a rolling portfolio of business capabilities across roadmaps and ensure IT services and resources are aligned; partner closely with PMO for executive reporting;
• Project Support - Provide support for IT projects from inception through delivery, ensuring that projects are aligned with business needs, adequately resourced, and successfully delivered.
• Lead Inception – Lead teams through the Inception Phase, including needs assessment, ideation, strategy, innovation, and solution definition. Output can include; Requirements, RFPs, Project Proposals; Business Case; Solution architecture; Resource Model; Procurement Needs; Security review; Contracts;
• Lead Initiatives - May perform as Project Manager, Product Manager, Squad Lead, Change Advisory Board, Project Governance.
• Resource Management – Secure IT resources across a hybrid matrix organization; Define and build squads that act as COE; Work with resource managers for onboarding/offboarding and performance assessment;
• Change Management - Facilitate change management processes to ensure that changes in IT services or business processes are smoothly implemented, with minimal disruption to the business. This includes communicating changes, educating users, and managing any resistance to change.
• Value Realization - Monitor and measure the value that IT brings to the business, ensuring that both parties can clearly see the benefits of their collaboration. This includes defining key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to assess performance and value delivery.
• Communication - Act as a key communication link between the business and IT, ensuring that both sides understand each other's needs, expectations, and constraints. This involves translating technical language into business terms and vice versa.
• Account Management: Financial Management – budgeting, contracting, expense accounting, reporting;  Administration – approvals, procurements, host QBR’s, facilitate Steering Committees; Vendor Management – onboarding, services, valuation ;

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelors degree with 10+ years of experience in IT Services
• Excellent leadership, communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skill
• Excellent Business acumen and ability to drive consensus
• Strong strategic thinking and collaboration skills
• Ability to develop Business IQ and convey to IT stakeholders
• Proven experience working directly with business partners, external customers and senior leadership
• Broad knowledge of information technology capabilities and characteristics,
• Project management experience
• Experience with entire SDLC and Agile model
• Good analysis and diagnosis skills
• Proven success in contributing to a team-oriented environment
• Proven ability to work creatively and analytically in a problem-solving environment
• Experience in Life and Annuities Operations technology a plus.
• Knowledge of Annuities is a plus.

Benefits Highlights:  

Employees who meet benefit eligibility guidelines and work 30 hours or more weekly, have the ability to enroll in Group 1001’s benefits package. Employees (and their families) are eligible to participate in the Company’s comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plan options.  Employees are also eligible for Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance, Short and Long-Term Disability, and to enroll in the Company’s Employee Assistance Program and other wellness initiatives.  Employees may also participate in the Company’s 401K plan, with matching contributions by the Company. 

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