Director, Information Technology
Starr Insurance
- Atlanta, GA
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Define and prioritize product backlog items for Starr’s enterprise Salesforce environment based on business value, customer needs, and market trends.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to gather and refine requirements, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
- Drive the execution and delivery of features by collaborating with many cross functional teams, architects, product owners and engineers.
- Direct the decisions, advocate the use and communicate the functionality and value of the Salesforce tool at Starr to all users.
- Represent all product lines by providing feedback about enhancements and issues during monthly meetings for prioritization and resolution.
- Develop expertise in the functionality and operation of Salesforce and its critical integrations.
- Work with executives to gain understanding of current business needs and priorities.
- Hold regular meetings with the Salesforce Executive Steering Committee members and key stakeholders to collaborate on strategies and key business objectives.
- Manage a team of developers, analysts and other support personnel.
- Serve as the primary liaison between the business and IT teams, translating business needs into technical requirements.
- Work closely with the Scrum Master and development team to plan and execute sprints, ensuring timely delivery of product features.
- Validate product features and user stories, ensuring they meet acceptance criteria and deliver the desired customer experience.
- Manage product roadmaps, release plans, and communicate progress to stakeholders.
- Oversee product budgets, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and projects stay within financial constraints.
- Conduct market research and competitive analysis to inform product strategy and feature prioritization.
- Facilitate user acceptance testing and gather feedback to continuously improve the product.
- Keep abreast of all Salesforce updates, new products/features, industry trends, technologies, and regulatory changes that may impact the product.
- Provide technical guidance, career development, and mentoring to team members.
- Maintain high morale and motivate the delivery team to go above and beyond.
- Participate in cross-functional coordination, planning, and reviews with leads from other teams.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in product ownership, business analysis, or a related role within the IT sector, preferably in the insurance industry.
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) or equivalent Agile certification is highly desirable.
- Proven track record of delivering digital products from concept to launch.
- Strong understanding of Agile methodologies and principles.
- Experience with project management tools (e.g. Azure DevOps, JIRA, Confluence) and product management software.
- Advanced proficiency in computer applications: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio
- Proficiency in Salesforce preferred or desire and ability to learn
- Ability to work alone but also collaborate across groups & functions in a fast-paced setting.
- Demonstrated ability to quickly learn business workflows and system data flows.
- Able and willing to handle multiple competing tasks and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Knowledge of insurance industry practices, regulations, and challenges is preferred.
- Technical proficiency and the ability to understand complex IT systems and architecture.
- Attend daily stand-ups, sprint planning, review, and retrospective meetings.
- Refine the product backlog, ensuring that user stories are clear, concise, and ready for development.
- Provide clarification and guidance to the development team on user stories and acceptance criteria.
- Review and accept completed user stories to ensure the work meets the agreed-upon criteria.
- Communicate with stakeholders about product features, timelines, and changes.
- Monitor product performance post-launch and prioritize necessary enhancements or fixes.
- Stay informed on industry trends and incorporate best practices into product development.