Portfolio Manager Life & Annuity

Unclassified - Addison, TX

Full-time - Senior

Addison, TX

About the position

The Portfolio Manager will report directly to the PMO Vice President and will serve as a crucial advocate and partner for both business and technology teams. This role is designed to develop an integrated view of the enterprise portfolio of projects that are essential for delivering strategic advantages aimed at achieving growth and operational efficiency objectives. The ideal candidate will possess extensive solution delivery experience and will leverage a diverse skill set that includes methodologies such as business process re-engineering, full project lifecycle management (covering iterative, waterfall, and agile approaches), financial management, and technology acumen. Furthermore, the candidate will be responsible for integrating business strategy into project delivery, ensuring that the projects align with the overall goals of the organization. In this position, the Portfolio Manager will work closely with business and technology teams to create a cohesive view of the enterprise, linking business and technology concepts to deliver tangible value. The right candidate will be a self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset, capable of challenging the status quo to generate value for the enterprise through innovative ideas, intellectual debate, and collaboration with teams to ensure successful project delivery. The candidate will also need to demonstrate executive presence and a hands-on approach, engaging personally in the work of the project team while paying attention to detail and embodying the principles of Servant Leadership. The role encompasses various responsibilities, including project and portfolio management, leadership, collaboration, and communication. The Portfolio Manager will partner with PMO leaders to ensure compliance with established project management processes, perform analyses of non-compliances, and identify opportunities for improvement. They will create project and portfolio definitions/charters that align with strategic objectives, assess current capabilities, and translate internal client needs into actionable value. Additionally, the Portfolio Manager will provide governance, reporting, and oversight for the portfolio, ensuring that project goals are met within approved timeframes, scopes, and budgets. They will also be responsible for measuring quality, timeliness, and benefits realized across all projects in the portfolio, driving continuous improvement in delivery benchmarks.

Responsibilities

• Partner with PMO leaders to ensure compliance with established project management processes and technology processes.
• Perform analysis of non-compliances and identify improvement opportunities.
• Create project and portfolio definitions/charters for overall delivery that include alignment to strategy, business benefits, financials, technology design, and overall value creation for the enterprise.
• Work with the business and technology teams to assess current capabilities and identify high-level requirements.
• Translate internal client needs into actionable value by being a key member of the team that creates ideas and converts them into realistic and well-orchestrated project plans.
• Collaborate with PMO leaders to optimize resource planning, resource acquisition, and utilization of both employees and contractors.
• Provide governance, reporting, and oversight for the portfolio to all stakeholders and teams to ensure project goals are accomplished within approved timeframe, scope, and budget.
• Use data effectively and accurately to manage the portfolio for resources, timeframe, and scope as well as risks and limitations.
• Be metrics driven and improve delivery benchmarks year over year.
• Responsible for measuring quality, timeliness, and benefits realized across delivery of all projects in the portfolio.
• Demonstrate command of the portfolio by maintaining detailed knowledge of the portfolio at all times and being prepared to talk about value, financials, and progress with short notice or ad-hoc for various audiences, including Executive Leadership.
• Diligently manage to the vision of the portfolio, reminding all stakeholders of deviations from the goal and being able to foresee risks.
• Demonstrate ability to 'sell' initiatives; understand what motivates key stakeholders, listen to their concerns, and address them effectively using influence.
• Demonstrate ability to manage and reduce conflict; provide a calming force to project teams.
• Work closely with the technology team and PMO Team to understand, communicate, and effectively manage the connections between business and technology within the portfolio.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with technology, business partners, and key stakeholders, especially the executive sponsors of initiatives.
• Accountable to ensure all stakeholders needed for the projects and the portfolio overall are informed and are a part of key decisions.
• Promote the understanding of project management importance and be a brand ambassador for the project delivery team.
• Responsible for mentoring project teams and providing real-time feedback.
• Accountable for the performance of projects within their portfolio.
• Mentor team members in the development of business analysis and project management disciplines, applying industry best practices/standards for continuous improvement.
• Work with PMO team to set annual performance objectives and actively communicate progress against those goals. Ensure every member of the team has a comprehensive individual development plan.

Requirements

• PMP certification is required.
• 10 plus years of relevant work experience, with a specific emphasis on strategic solution delivery.
• Experience managing programs with budgets of $10+ million.
• Master's degree in Strategy, Finance, Technology, or Operations.
• Certifications on Life Insurance, Annuities, and Retirements from organizations widely recognized within the industry such as LOMA, ACU, AAPA are preferable.
• Executive presence with excellent communication skills.
• Knowledge of operations functions within life insurance or annuity business is preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of technology terms and technical knowledge to interface with IT teams.
• Financial acumen is required to report on budgets for large portfolios.
• Understanding of industry trends & regulations to ensure accurate governance of projects and financial reporting.
• Understanding of Business/IT projects to help in prioritizing certain initiatives over others.
• Ability to view short and long-term impacts of different options and make decisions based on cost-benefit analysis, financial judgment, business acumen, and experience.
• Ability to forecast resource and financial trends based on prevailing environmental conditions.
• Ability to anticipate, understand, and communicate risks as well as manage change in a way that minimizes anxiety in the team and any losses for the company/business unit.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in the life insurance or annuity industry.
• Familiarity with agile project management methodologies.
• Strong analytical skills to assess project performance and identify areas for improvement.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance bonuses.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions.
• Professional development opportunities and training programs.
• Flexible work hours and remote work options.