UFG is currently seeking a VP - Technology Operations who will be ultimately responsible for the strategic success of Technology Operations. Establishes and maintains the direction and objectives for the team. Works to define and implement an approach for adoption of emerging technology. A high level, strategy-oriented position with an advanced need for technical expertise.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for strategic direction for IT operations team, including management of end-to-end budget process and organizational structure
• Stays up to date on emerging technologies to identify investment areas for UFG and makes recommendations accordingly.
• Drive and maintain an optimal technical ecosystem, ensuring all disciplines have high uptime, stability and performance. Consistently seek ways to improve efficiencies with UFG’s support applications
• Present on and communicate IT vision and to a variety of audiences internally, including executive management, ensuring messages are understood and necessary action plans are being implemented.
• Provide ultimate oversight and maintain the accountability of the data strategy supporting all business units and functional areas, creating accountability throughout multiple levels of the organization.
• Suggest and implement the use of innovative technologies that will provide benefits to the organization, aligning day to day efforts with future technology strategy (cloud, AI, etc.)
• Accountable for the company approach to cyber security defense, ensuring UFG is protected.
• Define, refine and deploy appropriate application/user administration and permissions.
• Align best practices to internal and external compliance standards and strategize/execute talent development accordingly.
• Identify and implement technology and operations improvements to reduce costs or improve system performance
• Utilizing a risk assessment framework, prioritize and execute upon technology modernization to improve business results and/or save costs.
• Manage production deployments to deliver timely and predictable business outcomes.
• Manage vendors and partner with vendor management office where necessary.
• Improve Help Desk and User provisioning by enabling team to reduce ticket handoffs, decrease response times, and create efficiencies in process
• Accountable for customer satisfaction of all UFG stakeholders. Recommend and execute process improvements as needed.
• Demonstrate strong leadership skills to improve the performance, engagement, development, and retention of employees
• Direct department goals, holding others accountable and ensuring alignment with underwriting on the execution of underwriting portfolio management strategies.
• Work cross functionally to drive strategic initiatives, process improvements and technological advancement.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with internal business partners to assure that corporate goals are achieved, service standards are met, and any concerns are addressed.
• Regularly engage with executive management to ensure team strategy and vision are well understood.
• Defining and implement a UFG approach to adopting emerging technologies (AI, cloud migration).

Qualifications:

Education:

• 4-year degree in computer science, engineering or related technical discipline preferred.

Certifications/Designations:

• Willingness to obtain relevant certifications/designations within 2 years of hire.

Experience:

• 10 years of strategic leadership experience
• Management of highly technical discipline
• Experience working in the areas of: Cloud architecture, database &network environment

Knowledge, skills & abilities:

• Ability to confidentially manage a team budget and make strategic decisions accordingly.
• Ability to review contracts and interpret date/information accurately to use in deicsion making.
• Ability to work well in technical environment.
• Advanced knowledge in database environment management; cloud architecture; servers & infrastructure
• Expertise in Data and networks.
• Experience in integrations, performance & architecture
• Ability to use data to make informed decisions and recommendations for the business.
• Advanced leadership capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team toward a vision/strategy.

Working Conditions:

• General Office Environment