AI Underwriting Data Manager

Location: Waltham, MA (hybrid)

NEXT’s mission is to help entrepreneurs thrive. We’re doing that by building the only technology-led, full-stack provider of small business insurance in the industry, taking on the entire value chain and transforming the customer experience. 

Simply put, wherever you find small businesses, you’ll find NEXT.

Since 2016, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of small business customers across the United States get fast, customized and affordable coverage. We’re backed by industry leaders in insurance and tech, and we still have room to grow — that’s where you come in.

Seize the opportunity to be a part of an exciting transition in the insurance industry! We're inviting an accomplished and forward-thinking data manager to join our AI Underwriting team. This pivotal role will have you innovating and developing groundbreaking digital underwriting features in partnership with our insurance, data, engineering, and machine learning teams.

What You'll Do:

• Manage a team of analysts, including training and guidance, establishing clear goals and responsibilities, and ongoing performance management
• Manage the overall budget for underwriting third-party data.
• Deliver substantial savings by identifying efficiencies and ways to in-house data services.
• Own and drive the product roadmap for data integrations.
• Serve as the key business connection for external data vendors.
• Negotiate with vendors to receive the best possible pricing.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to identify and onboard new external data vendors.
• Manage the Proof of Concept process for testing and evaluating new data vendors.
• Create detailed product requirements for services that leverage data integrations.
• Define success criteria for Proofs of Concept and evaluate results in partnership with underwriting.
  
• Prioritize PoCs and provide regular reporting on progress and outcomes to senior leadership.
  
• Oversee vendor performance metrics and usage reporting, using results to inform strategic decisions.
  
• Escalate critical vendor issues and maintain high-level relationships with vendor leadership.
  
  

What We Need:

• Budget Oversight: Proven experience in managing and tracking a data budget, including forecasting, monitoring monthly expenditures, and identifying areas to optimize spending.
• Vendor Negotiation: Strong negotiation skills to secure favorable terms with data vendors, ensuring cost-effective solutions that meet business needs.
• Relationship Management: Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with external data vendors, ensuring smooth collaboration and service delivery.
• API Proficiency: Proficient in using API clients such as Postman to test, run, and troubleshoot API services.
• Technical Documentation: Ability to read, understand, and apply API documentation for integration purposes.
• Service Evaluation: Capability to assess new data services, including running Proof of Concepts (PoCs) to determine their fit for the company’s needs.
• Roadmap Development: Experience in developing and maintaining a roadmap for data integrations, aligning with the company’s strategic goals and underwriting needs.
• Executive Communication: Strong presentation skills to effectively communicate the integration roadmap and progress to executives and other senior stakeholders.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to work closely with internal stakeholders, including product, engineering, and underwriting teams, to ensure successful implementation of the roadmap.
• Data Analysis: Ability to interpret vendor data using SQL or Python to validate performance and support strategic decisions.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some underrepresented people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At NEXT, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

One of our core values is 'Play as a Team'; this means making sure everyone has an equal chance to participate and make a difference. We win by playing together. Next Insurance is an equal opportunity employer and prioritizes building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants of any type and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job-related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state, and local laws. Next's policy is to comply with all applicable laws related to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.