Director of Data Services

Director of Data Services

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in data services or a related field, including data engineering, enterprise BI, and/or data governance, with significant leadership experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 10 years of experience managing or directing large-scale data operations, including cloud-based data platforms, analytics solutions, and governance frameworks, with a proven track record of leading cross-functional data teams and delivering strategic data solutions.

Responsibilities

• Leads operational and strategic planning for Data Engineering, Enterprise BI, and Data Governance, ensuring alignment with business needs, project prioritization, and effective resource allocation.
• Develops, implements, and manages data strategies and technology roadmaps, ensuring scalable and secure data architectures that support the company’s growth and innovation objectives.
• Plans, coordinates, and directs all operational activities related to data management, data engineering pipelines, business intelligence platforms, and governance frameworks to support mission-critical business functions.
• Partners with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to identify, evaluate, and deploy data-driven solutions that optimize operational efficiency and enhance decision-making across the organization.
• Oversees and provides technical direction for key data initiatives, including cloud data platforms, analytics tools, data security, and compliance, ensuring alignment with long-term business and IT goals.
• Collaborates with IT and business leaders to develop, refine, and execute data strategies that drive enterprise-wide value, promote data stewardship, and maximize the company’s data assets.
• Fosters a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making across all levels of the organization, ensuring teams are equipped to meet future business challenges through cutting-edge technologies.
• Provides strategic oversight and ensures operational excellence across Data Engineering, Enterprise Business Intelligence, and Data Governance programs.
• Defines and communicates project milestones, data service level agreements (SLAs), and resource allocation to the executive team, department leads, data engineers, analysts, and end users.
• Develops and reviews budgets for data-related initiatives and ensures alignment with organizational goals, financial guidelines, and strategic objectives.
• Monitors the performance of data systems, pipelines, and platforms to assess operating costs, productivity, and scalability requirements; ensures the systems meet business growth demands.
• Benchmarks, analyzes, and reports on data management processes, BI infrastructure, and governance practices, making data-driven recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Oversees the deployment, monitoring, maintenance, and development of data architectures, cloud platforms, and analytics tools within the portfolio, ensuring high availability and performance.
• Collaborates with the enterprise PMO to support business case development, cost/benefit analyses, and financial justification for data investments and initiatives.
• Leads research and evaluation of emerging data technologies, platforms, and solutions in support of new business opportunities and operational enhancements.
• Develops and enforces data policies, including those governing architecture, data security, data privacy, disaster recovery, and compliance, in line with industry best practices.
• Oversees vendor, outsourcer, and consultant contract negotiations and ensures data-related service agreements meet technical and business needs.
• Establishes regular, transparent communication with executives, department heads, and key stakeholders to ensure alignment on data-related strategies, initiatives, and performance updates.
• Develops and leads a team of Data Engineering, Enterprise BI, and Data Governance professionals.
• Provides strategic, tactical, and daily direction to the data services team. Communicates the organization’s mission, values, and operating principles to both direct and indirect reports, fostering alignment with business objectives.
• Establishes and maintains an optimal workflow cadence across data services, ensuring high performance, data accuracy, and excellence in delivery and customer experience. Partners with leadership to ensure the team is engaged, motivated, and driven towards continuous improvement and innovation.
• Implements and enforces clear hiring criteria, onboarding practices, and training programs to build a highly skilled and diverse data team capable of driving strategic data initiatives across the enterprise.
• Oversees the performance management and development process for data professionals, providing regular coaching, development planning, and performance feedback to direct reports to promote growth and retention.
• Acts as a subject matter expert and resource for department leaders and team members, assisting with complex data-related challenges and providing guidance on best practices.
• Ensures data services align with enterprise priorities and deliver exceptional value to internal stakeholders and external customers.
• Ensures data quality, compliance with IT security standards, and adherence to data governance frameworks, while managing risk-related metrics such as data privacy, profitability, and compliance across the team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in the insurance industry or insurance tech domain, with exposure to core components such as underwriting, claims, billing, and actuarial data solutions.
• Proven experience working closely with line of business leaders, including finance and business units, to drive data initiatives that align with enterprise goals.
• Experience in Worker’s Compensation, commercial multi-peril, or property and casualty insurance is preferred. Exposure to InsurTech companies or direct experience with an insurance carrier is highly desirable.
• Experience delivering data-driven, customer-facing digital initiatives in enterprise environments within industries such as insurance, financial services, banking, real estate, or e-commerce.
• Experience delivering customer experience (CX) technology solutions or programs is preferred.
• Expertise in managing in-house data platforms and solutions that provide operational efficiencies while delivering new data insights and services for enterprise-wide use.