Resp & Qualifications

This is a highly specialized, senior-level director of data engineering with the expectation that directors of data engineering/development, data operations, and data architecture/governance report to it. This is not a Chief Data Officer.

PURPOSE: 

At CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, we are building the future of healthcare as the largest not-for-profit health plan in the Mid-Atlantic region. Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia residents and their families count on us for healthcare they understand and can afford, and we do not take that lightly.

Through our diversified portfolio, we serve employers, members, providers, and our communities daily. Our people work tirelessly to deliver accessible and affordable experiences and solutions for our customers. What we are building for the people who count on us is what we expect for ourselves and those we love.

CareFirst. It is not just our name; it is our promise. 

We seek a transformative leader to oversee data architecture, engineering, and operations. This role will guide our enterprise data strategy, tools, and governance and drive our data estate modernization, including enhancing and improving our data management, security processes, tools, and infrastructure. Working here is your opportunity to shape an industry that helps millions of people access care and where using data and insights is vital. You will fit right in if you are passionate about building world-class products and working with great people.

Your role is to lead our data strategy, development, and deployment and ensure robust data management practices and scalable architecture. You will lead the enterprise data teams consisting of data architecture, governance, engineering, and operations. The Director of Data Engineering & Management drives the development and implementation of data engineering solutions, establishes governance frameworks, and creates a resilient architecture to support our data-driven initiatives. You will coach directors and their teams into a high-functioning, efficient, data-as-a-product organization. As a Director of Directors, you will drive the vision and strategy for collecting, storing, analyzing, securing, and delivering data. 

You are a capable executive with strong data infrastructure and data architecture skills, a proven track record of leading and scaling large data teams, strong operational skills to drive efficiency and speed, and a strong vision for how data engineering improves healthcare access. This responsibility includes but is not limited to: 

1. Formulating and implementing the vision for the foundation for data and analytics, driving technical and process innovation to increase the maturity and capability of data engineering teams and practices, 

2. Establishing the processes needed to achieve operational excellence in data fidelity, data privacy, system reliability 

3. Enabling rapid experimentation and data-informed decisions and developing and growing a high-performing data engineering team. You will collaborate closely with customers, business stakeholders, data scientists, software engineers, and product managers to envision, design, and build the data foundation that powers our data product catalog. Your team will drive the design, build, and launch of new data models and data pipelines in production, define and manage SLAs for all data sets and processes running in production, and ensure data quality.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Leadership & Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive data strategy aligned with company objectives and industry best practices. Lead, mentor and build a high-performing team of data engineers, architects and governance experts. Collaborate with senior executives to integrate data strategy with business goals, providing insights and recommendations to drive decision-making.
• Data Subject Matter Expertise: Be the resident expert on our data strategy and industry standards for data engineering, governance, and architecture.
• Data Engineering: Oversee the design, development, and implementation of scalable and reliable data engineering solutions. Ensure the data infrastructure supports current and future business needs, optimizing performance and scalability.
• Data Governance: Develop and implement frameworks for data stewardship, data privacy, and compliance with regulatory requirements. Collaborate across the enterprise to define data ownership, stewardship roles, and data lifecycle management.
• Data Architecture: Oversee the design and implementation of a robust data architecture that supports data integration, storage, and analytics. Ensure the architecture aligns with industry trends and technological advancements and that our selected technologies and processes meet business requirements and future growth.
•  Oversee the strategic and day-to-day activities of the team, including directing, coaching, and guiding employees to implement departmental, divisional, and enterprise goals. Recruit, retain, and develop a high-performing team. Evaluate the performance of each team member, generate development plans, and set goals within the context of the corporate policies and procedures, aligning enterprise needs with individual professional development or career path needs. Develop annual goals and prepare, monitor, and analyze variances of departmental financial forecasts, accruals, and budgets to control and appropriately allocate resources. Promote a culture of continuous improvement and agility in data engineering and governance practices. 
• Evangelize data capabilities with internal audience, customers, and industry forums. Assess competitors data offerings and identify gaps and market opportunities. Assist with customer/user-facing communications such as marketing messages, RFP responses, release notes and support communications. Scan the horizon for emerging data management strategies, tools, skills, techniques, and technologies to ensure their timely introduction for competitive advantage.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education Level: Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Information Science, related fields, or equivalent work experience.

Experience: Eight or more years of business experience, ideally in a healthcare setting recently at or near the Executive level. Broad business experience within the healthcare industry is highly desired. Minimum of three years of progressive leadership experience in leading cross-functional teams and enterprise-wide programs, operating and influencing across a complex organization.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five or More Years Preferred.
• Experience in data architecture frameworks, data governance principles, and data management best practices.
• Experience with modern data technologies, including cloud-based platforms, big data tools, and data warehousing solutions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) 

• Demonstrated and proven leadership track record of leading large, multidisciplinary teams in new endeavors and delivering high-quality solutions.
• Excellent business acumen and interpersonal skills; able to work across business lines at a senior level to influence and effect change at all levels of the organization and achieve common goals. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including explaining digital concepts and technologies to business leaders and business concepts to technologists.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with and/or leading technology teams, business stakeholders, and customers as a product leader/manager or solution leader, preferably with data. 
• Experience with Snowflake, Databricks, and other modern data technologies and the know-how to set up mature data engineering organizations, including MLOps.
• Proven ability to apply SAFe, Lean, and Agile development methods pragmatically.
• Proven data literacy the ability to describe business outcomes, data uses, data sources, and their management concepts, as well as analytical approaches or options to all levels of the organization in both business and technical roles.
• Experience in strategic technology planning and execution, including user guides, use policies, user acceptance, and support/maintenance.
• Experience in data visualization and interactive data is preferred.
• Experience desired in multiple competency areas of data and analytics delivery. Examples may include data warehousing, business intelligence (BI), data governance, data architecture, data integration, data classification, data strategy, data quality management, data security and privacy, master data management, industry data standards, regulatory compliance, and test data management, data science, MLOPs, AI.
• Knowledge of healthcare payers, providers, pharmacies, and community health businesses is preferred.

Salary Range: $156,400 - $290,318

Travel Requirements 

Estimate Amount: 10% Meeting with clients at forums or making client visits.

Salary Range Disclaimer

The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the work is being performed. This compensation range is specific and considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilites of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, internal peer equity, and market and business consideration. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range, as compensation decisions depend on each case's facts and circumstances, including but not limited to experience, internal equity, and location. In addition to your compensation, CareFirst offers a comprehensive benefits package, various incentive programs/plans, and 401k contribution programs/plans (all benefits/incentives are subject to eligibility requirements).

Department

Chief Digital Information Off

Equal Employment Opportunity

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) employer.  It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Where To Apply

Please visit our website to apply: www.carefirst.com/careers

Federal Disc/Physical Demand

Note:  The incumbent is required to immediately disclose any debarment, exclusion, or other event that makes him/her ineligible to perform work directly or indirectly on Federal health care programs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The associate is primarily seated while performing the duties of the position.  Occasional walking or standing is required.  The hands are regularly used to write, type, key and handle or feel small controls and objects.  The associate must frequently talk and hear.  Weights up to 25 pounds are occasionally lifted.

Sponsorship in US

Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without Sponsorship

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