Director, Data Management

Job ID: 7970 Working Business Language: This role is considered a head-office role and will be required to communicate with internal stakeholders across Canada where the primary business language utilized is English. Salary: At Wawanesa, salary is only one component of a holistic, comprehensive and competitive offering that we provide to our employees. In addition to salary, full-time and part-time permanent employees are eligible for an annual bonus plan, leave of absence top-up programs and provided with generous vacation time, personal days, premium free benefits and pension plan. The salary offered for this role is determined with consideration to various factors, including but not limited to: your work location, local labour market conditions, external market salary data, internal pay equity and the knowledge, skills, experience and anticipated proficiency in the role. The salary offered is estimated to be within the following range: $160, 000 - $215, 000. Candidates with salary expectations outside of the range are still encouraged to apply. About Us At Wawanesa, we're proud to offer a hybrid work environment that offers flexibility to our employees in balancing in-office (2 days per week OR 15 hours per week in a Wawanesa office) and remote work. You may work from any of the following locations: Winnipeg, MB; Wawanesa, MB; Vancouver, BC; Calgary, AB; Edmonton, AB; Lethbridge, AB; Toronto, ON; Kitchener, ON; Thunder Bay, ON; Ottawa, ON; Montreal, QC; Moncton, NB; Dartmouth; NS The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company ("Wawanesa Mutual"), founded in 1896, is one of Canada's largest mutual insurers, with over $3.5 billion in annual revenue and assets of $10 billion (CAD). Wawanesa Mutual, with its National Headquarters in Winnipeg, is the parent company of Wawanesa Life, which provides life insurance products and services throughout Canada, and Western Financial Group, which distributes personal and business insurance across Canada. Wawanesa proudly serves more than 1.7 million members in Canada, and we are home to more than 3,600 employees distributed across the Canadian regions and communities where we operate. We give back to organizations that strengthen communities, donating more than $3.5 million annually to charitable organizations, including over $2 million annually in support of people on the front lines of climate change. To learn more visit wawanesa.com. We are currently looking for dedicated, driven, and enthusiastic individuals who thrive in an environment that welcomes change and are looking for an opportunity for diverse experience and advancement on a growing team. Job Overview Operating with minimal supervision, the Director of Data Management, is central to embedding a culture of data-driven decision-making across the organization. This role is instrumental in ensuring that decisions, are underpinned by deep, actionable insights drawn from reliable and trusted data. By collaborating closely with executives and organizational leaders, the Director ensures the successful delivery, maintenance, support, and evolution of Wawanesa's data architecture, technologies, and processes. Job Responsibilities Contribute and influence the creation and implementation of the enterprise data strategy aligned with the organization's overall business objectives. Establish a cutting-edge data architecture and ecosystem that sets the industry standard, elevating user experience while empowering advanced analysis, business intelligence, and data engineering capabilities. Partner with leadership across the enterprise to understand and manage data needs, advise on new trends and best practices in data management, and develop the vision and roadmap to provide innovative solutions. Institute and implement effective delivery and communication mechanisms to foster heightened levels of interaction and responsiveness. Ensure alignment with architectural, data governance, and enterprise methodologies. Ensure the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of data management standards and processes. Maintain consistent delivery processes, focusing on stakeholder satisfaction and tangible benefits. Oversee resource needs and diligently monitor both internal and external resources, actively managing the performance of the leadership team within the department. Proficiently manage the department budget by accurately forecasting, closely monitoring, and governing expenses. Establishing metrics and KPIs to measure the impact of data initiatives on business outcomes, and regularly reporting on the value generated to key stakeholders. Attract and recruit top industry talent. Oversee and coach a team to ensure work environment is respectful, challenging and rewarding and employees are maximized to their full potential. Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications Minimum of 7 years of data management experience with a minimum of 3 years in a leadership role. Post-Secondary degree in the field of computer / actuarial science or equivalent combination of education and experience. Strong business acumen with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills capable of recognizing critical issues and making sound decisions in complex, high-pressure situations. Adept at addressing business challenges through precise identification and the development of compelling business cases. Highly effective influencing, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills with the ability to facilitate commitment when dealing with stakeholders. Highly skilled in creating data-driven solutions for complex and large-scale technology projects. Robust understanding of development lifecycles, and working knowledge spanning enterprise, business, application, data, and technology architectures. Proficiency in project management methodologies, particularly Agile, with the ability to manage and prioritize a busy workload and multiple projects. Excellent interpersonal skills, proficient with verbal and written communication, coupled with the skill to articulate complex information clearly and concisely to audiences of varying technical expertise. Outstanding customer service orientation, leadership, motivation, and decision-making abilities. Boost team morale through encouragement, coaching, and clear guidance to help them achieve goals. Ability to inspire and guide teams through change, adapting quickly to new directions. Familiarity with modern Data Warehousing, Business Intelligence, Data Governance and Stewardship, and Advanced Analytics is considered an asset. Experience in the insurance/finance industry, knowledge of ITIL/SAFe, is considered an asset. #LI-AT1 Wawanesa is proud to be one of Manitoba's Top Employers, a Kincentric Best Employer in Canada and a Forbes Best Employer in Canada recognizing an exceptional place to work! Diversity, Equity & Inclusion