Assistant Vice President, Information Technology

The Assistant Vice President leads and manages teams of Information Technology professionals that are charged with meeting the strategic, operational, and day-to-day objectives of EquiTrust. The Assistant Vice President acts as an advisor and coach to the team and carries out their duties and responsibilities in a manner that is consistent with EquiTrust’s Company Values of Integrity, Leadership, Accountability, Teamwork, and Passion. The Assistant Vice President is responsible for coordinating teams to deliver new software capabilities and support ongoing enhancements. The incumbent will plan, organize, lead, control, and coordinate the provision of services associated with information systems. The Assistant Vice President will work closely with Information Technology teams, portfolio management teams, and business teams to deliver information systems under their administration.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Leads a team of Information Technology professionals, including but not limited to the following activities: making recommendations and decisions for hiring, termination, promotion, and transfers, assessing and completing performance appraisals, responsibility/workload allocations, and task completion, employee engagement, succession planning, and talent development, problem identification and resolution and other day-to-day people management and leadership responsibilities.
• Collaborates with senior management to develop and implement IT strategies aligned with organizational goals, key initiatives, and portfolio management by working collaboratively and fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.
• Drives innovation and identifies opportunities for leveraging technology to improve business processes and efficiency.
• Directs and manages IT resources to promote projects from initiation to completion, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to budget and quality standards.
• Cultivates strong professional and interpersonal relationships with internal stakeholders, including department heads, to understand their IT needs and priorities.
• Effectively communicates IT strategies, initiatives, and project updates to stakeholders through clear and concise presentations, reports, and meetings. Facilitates open communication channels within the IT department to encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing, and problem-solving.
• Develops and manages IT budgets, allocating resources effectively, and optimizing IT investments.
• Implements IT policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure compliance, security, and efficiency.
• Identifies and mitigates IT risks, ensuring compliance with regulations and standards, and implementing security best practices to protect data and systems.
• Supports the Information Technology team and other departments on an as-needed basis.
• Willingly takes on additional responsibilities as requested to accomplish department and Company objectives.
• Actively participates and contributes to the goals and objectives of the Company by working collaboratively and fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong understanding of information systems, architecture, processes, design patterns, standards, and systems integration with experience in agile development environments to make informed decisions and guide technical teams.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning skills to develop and implement IT strategies aligning with organizational key initiatives.
• Strong problem-solving skills to identify and address complex IT issues, analyze root causes, and develop effective solutions. Must also be able to identify and solve situations outside the parameters of normal activity.
• Ability to cultivate and maintain strong professional and interpersonal relationships with the IT Team, stakeholders, and industry peers to support collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Experience in recruiting, training, and managing IT teams, fostering collaborative and high-performing teams and work environments.
• Strong organizational skills to prioritize tasks, manage competing priorities, effectively prioritize, and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, adjusting priorities and approaches to meet changing business requirements and priorities.
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional development to stay updated on emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices in IT management.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills to evaluate complex information, assess alternatives, and make well-informed decisions that align with organizational initiatives—the ability to think critically and analytically, evaluate situations from multiple perspectives, and synthesize information to develop innovative solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and drive results independently, proactively identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing solutions without heavy oversight.

Training or Work Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in Information Technology with 4 years of managerial experience required.
• Experience in Insurance and Financial Services companies preferred.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or Business Administration required.
• Master's degree in the field of Computer Science, Information Systems, or Business Administration preferred.

Working Conditions:

• Hybrid - West Des Moines, Iowa; Chicago, Illinois
• Infrequent travel (less than 5% of the time)

#LI - TH1

#LI – HYBRID

EquiTrust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in the U.S. Federal E-Verify program. Applicants have rights under federal and state employment laws. To learn more, visit https://www.equitrust.com/careers/opportunities/applicant-notices/.