IT Manager/Engagement Lead for Enterprise Data
Horace Mann Company, Springfield, IL, United States
Overview
Remote; Springfield IL, Plano TX, Madison WI Horace Mann is seeking an experienced and strategic
IT Manager/Engagement Lead for Enterprise Data
to coordinate across multiple teams: Data Governance, Data Enablement Real-Time Services, Data Warehousing, and Data Reporting. This leader will play a pivotal role in
ensuring stability, efficiency, visibility, and continuous improvement of enterprise data capabilities , balancing evolving business priorities with a commitment to technical excellence and innovation. The candidate will possess
practical analytical expertise, deep understanding of business needs, and exceptional decision-making skills
to evaluate and prioritize requests that maximize business value. The candidate will encourage partners to use generative AI to enhance productivity and creativity. This role requires someone who is
highly organized, an equally effective communicator for both business and technical partners, and driven to make a meaningful and measurable impact across the enterprise . This Engagement Lead must be able to navigate competing demands, align technology work with strategic goals, and create a structured approach to data support, incremental enhancements and strategic advancements. Key Responsibilities
Strategic Prioritization & Business Alignment Evaluate and
prioritize incoming requests based on business impact, urgency, and technical feasibility . Set
clear expectations with stakeholders , ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Communicate trade-offs transparently , advocating for business value over reactive task execution. Facilitate
progression of effort
from roadmap to project intake and project initiation, including prioritization, cost-benefit analysis, and other pre-project tasks. Develop a structured framework for prioritization that ensures
mission-critical support needs are met while also advancing right-sized enhancements
that drive continuous improvement. Leadership & Team Management Ensure operational metrics, roadmaps, goals/outcomes, project status, and other critical reports for the data department are updated appropriately. Identify and help remove operational roadblocks
that limit team effectiveness, including process inefficiencies, unclear responsibilities, or misaligned priorities. Facilitate necessary
resource capacity/demand
activities including planning, onboarding, tracking, and support for both employee and contractual staff across all enterprise data teams. Ensure cross-team collaboration , fostering a shared understanding of priorities, dependencies, and technical solutions. Create and uphold
accountability structures
to ensure work is completed efficiently and of high quality. Drive a
culture of ownership, problem-solving, and continuous learning . Coach team leads
on best practices for planning, reporting, and cross-functional collaboration. Act as a
central point
of escalation and resolution for cross-team resource conflicts or competing priorities. Promote the use of generative AI tools to boost team creativity, efficiency, and skill development. Technical & Business Understanding
Serve as the bridge between
technology teams and business stakeholders , ensuring both sides understand priorities, constraints, and impacts. Maintain a strong
grasp of enterprise data systems , workflows, and potential challenges, ensuring informed decision-making. Stakeholder Communication & Expectation Management
Set
firm but fair expectations
with business stakeholders, ensuring they understand how and why prioritization decisions are made. Provide regular updates on
progress, challenges, and key outcomes
related to support and enhancements. Communicate
realistic timelines, risks, and trade-offs
when managing requests. Qualifications
Education Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field. Experience 6+ years of experience in IT leadership, with a focus on
managing IT projects, technical support, and/or system enhancements . Proven track record of
making strategic prioritization decisions that drive business value . Technical & Business Expertise Familiarity with at least one area of
Data Management , including but not limited to,
data intensive applications, data development lifecycles, data analytics, business intelligence, data governance, and/or data-driven decision making . Ability to translate
business needs into technical priorities and vice versa . Ability to view the enterprise data ecosystem holistically and identify systemic issues that affect multiple teams or business areas. Familiarity with
modern planning and ticketing systems (e.g., ServiceNow, Enterprise One, Monday, Jira, Azure DevOps) and IT project/portfolio management best practices . Familiarity with
change management frameworks
to support adoption of new processes, tools, or prioritization frameworks across data teams. Proficiency in leveraging generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, or similar to enhance IT workflows. Leadership & Communication
Strong leadership skills, with the ability to
motivate, support, and guide teams
in a fast-paced environment. Experience with
IT portfolio
planning, tracking, and senior level report outs. Ability to
set clear expectations and communicate priorities firmly yet diplomatically
to stakeholders. Experience in
negotiating and influencing senior leaders on data priorities and trade-offs . Strong facilitation and
conflict resolution
skills, with the ability to mediate between diverse stakeholders and align differing viewpoints. Preferred Qualifications
Experience leading/shaping
IT data and continuous improvement teams
in a large enterprise environment. Experience within
Insurance , Financial Services, or related business domain. Familiarity with
cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), ITIL frameworks, and Agile methodologies . Pay Range
$105,200.00 - $147,950.00 Salary is commensurate to experience, location, etc. EOE/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status Horace Mann was founded in 1945 by two Springfield, Illinois, teachers who saw a need for quality, affordable auto insurance for teachers. Since then, we’ve broadened our mission to helping all educators protect what they have today and prepare for a successful tomorrow. And with our broadened mission has come corporate growth: We serve more than 4,100 school districts nationwide, we’re publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: HMN) and we have more than $12 billion in assets. We’re motivated by the fact that educators take care of our children’s future, and we believe they deserve someone to look after theirs. We help educators identify their financial goals and develop plans to achieve them. This includes insurance to protect what they have today and financial products to help them prepare for their future. Our tailored offerings include special rates and benefits for educators. Voluntary Self-Identification: EOE policy and disability information collection. This information is voluntary and confidential. See details in the Voluntary Self-Identification sections below. Disability Status and Voluntary Self-Identification sections follow to comply with OFCCP requirements. Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026 Why are you being asked to complete this form? We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years. Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp. How do you know if you have a disability? A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability.
Disabilities include, but are not limited to: Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally) Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS Blind or low vision Cancer (past or present) Cardiovascular or heart disease Celiac disease Cerebral palsy Deaf or serious difficulty hearing Diabetes Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders Epilepsy or other seizure disorder Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome Intellectual or developmental disability Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD Missing limbs or partially missing limbs Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities Partial or complete paralysis (any cause) Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema Short stature (dwarfism) Traumatic brain injury Disability Status Select... PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.
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Remote; Springfield IL, Plano TX, Madison WI Horace Mann is seeking an experienced and strategic
IT Manager/Engagement Lead for Enterprise Data
to coordinate across multiple teams: Data Governance, Data Enablement Real-Time Services, Data Warehousing, and Data Reporting. This leader will play a pivotal role in
ensuring stability, efficiency, visibility, and continuous improvement of enterprise data capabilities , balancing evolving business priorities with a commitment to technical excellence and innovation. The candidate will possess
practical analytical expertise, deep understanding of business needs, and exceptional decision-making skills
to evaluate and prioritize requests that maximize business value. The candidate will encourage partners to use generative AI to enhance productivity and creativity. This role requires someone who is
highly organized, an equally effective communicator for both business and technical partners, and driven to make a meaningful and measurable impact across the enterprise . This Engagement Lead must be able to navigate competing demands, align technology work with strategic goals, and create a structured approach to data support, incremental enhancements and strategic advancements. Key Responsibilities
Strategic Prioritization & Business Alignment Evaluate and
prioritize incoming requests based on business impact, urgency, and technical feasibility . Set
clear expectations with stakeholders , ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Communicate trade-offs transparently , advocating for business value over reactive task execution. Facilitate
progression of effort
from roadmap to project intake and project initiation, including prioritization, cost-benefit analysis, and other pre-project tasks. Develop a structured framework for prioritization that ensures
mission-critical support needs are met while also advancing right-sized enhancements
that drive continuous improvement. Leadership & Team Management Ensure operational metrics, roadmaps, goals/outcomes, project status, and other critical reports for the data department are updated appropriately. Identify and help remove operational roadblocks
that limit team effectiveness, including process inefficiencies, unclear responsibilities, or misaligned priorities. Facilitate necessary
resource capacity/demand
activities including planning, onboarding, tracking, and support for both employee and contractual staff across all enterprise data teams. Ensure cross-team collaboration , fostering a shared understanding of priorities, dependencies, and technical solutions. Create and uphold
accountability structures
to ensure work is completed efficiently and of high quality. Drive a
culture of ownership, problem-solving, and continuous learning . Coach team leads
on best practices for planning, reporting, and cross-functional collaboration. Act as a
central point
of escalation and resolution for cross-team resource conflicts or competing priorities. Promote the use of generative AI tools to boost team creativity, efficiency, and skill development. Technical & Business Understanding
Serve as the bridge between
technology teams and business stakeholders , ensuring both sides understand priorities, constraints, and impacts. Maintain a strong
grasp of enterprise data systems , workflows, and potential challenges, ensuring informed decision-making. Stakeholder Communication & Expectation Management
Set
firm but fair expectations
with business stakeholders, ensuring they understand how and why prioritization decisions are made. Provide regular updates on
progress, challenges, and key outcomes
related to support and enhancements. Communicate
realistic timelines, risks, and trade-offs
when managing requests. Qualifications
Education Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field. Experience 6+ years of experience in IT leadership, with a focus on
managing IT projects, technical support, and/or system enhancements . Proven track record of
making strategic prioritization decisions that drive business value . Technical & Business Expertise Familiarity with at least one area of
Data Management , including but not limited to,
data intensive applications, data development lifecycles, data analytics, business intelligence, data governance, and/or data-driven decision making . Ability to translate
business needs into technical priorities and vice versa . Ability to view the enterprise data ecosystem holistically and identify systemic issues that affect multiple teams or business areas. Familiarity with
modern planning and ticketing systems (e.g., ServiceNow, Enterprise One, Monday, Jira, Azure DevOps) and IT project/portfolio management best practices . Familiarity with
change management frameworks
to support adoption of new processes, tools, or prioritization frameworks across data teams. Proficiency in leveraging generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, or similar to enhance IT workflows. Leadership & Communication
Strong leadership skills, with the ability to
motivate, support, and guide teams
in a fast-paced environment. Experience with
IT portfolio
planning, tracking, and senior level report outs. Ability to
set clear expectations and communicate priorities firmly yet diplomatically
to stakeholders. Experience in
negotiating and influencing senior leaders on data priorities and trade-offs . Strong facilitation and
conflict resolution
skills, with the ability to mediate between diverse stakeholders and align differing viewpoints. Preferred Qualifications
Experience leading/shaping
IT data and continuous improvement teams
in a large enterprise environment. Experience within
Insurance , Financial Services, or related business domain. Familiarity with
cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), ITIL frameworks, and Agile methodologies . Pay Range
$105,200.00 - $147,950.00 Salary is commensurate to experience, location, etc. EOE/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status Horace Mann was founded in 1945 by two Springfield, Illinois, teachers who saw a need for quality, affordable auto insurance for teachers. Since then, we’ve broadened our mission to helping all educators protect what they have today and prepare for a successful tomorrow. And with our broadened mission has come corporate growth: We serve more than 4,100 school districts nationwide, we’re publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: HMN) and we have more than $12 billion in assets. We’re motivated by the fact that educators take care of our children’s future, and we believe they deserve someone to look after theirs. We help educators identify their financial goals and develop plans to achieve them. This includes insurance to protect what they have today and financial products to help them prepare for their future. Our tailored offerings include special rates and benefits for educators. Voluntary Self-Identification: EOE policy and disability information collection. This information is voluntary and confidential. See details in the Voluntary Self-Identification sections below. Disability Status and Voluntary Self-Identification sections follow to comply with OFCCP requirements. Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026 Why are you being asked to complete this form? We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years. Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp. How do you know if you have a disability? A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability.
Disabilities include, but are not limited to: Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally) Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS Blind or low vision Cancer (past or present) Cardiovascular or heart disease Celiac disease Cerebral palsy Deaf or serious difficulty hearing Diabetes Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders Epilepsy or other seizure disorder Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome Intellectual or developmental disability Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD Missing limbs or partially missing limbs Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities Partial or complete paralysis (any cause) Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema Short stature (dwarfism) Traumatic brain injury Disability Status Select... PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.
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