Director, Information Systems - Downers Grove, IL

Basic Functions:

This position is responsible for providing a mixture of operational oversight and management staff supervision and consulting. Additionally, this individual will provide consulting expertise and input to technology decisions. Operational responsibilities include monitoring (through management team) all critical company software applications and processes, including the development and monitoring of a Disaster Recovery Plan.

Essential Functions:

• Provide decisive leadership and direction to Information Systems management staff. Responsible for support of all key technology areas, including, but not limited to infrastructure, application development and support, internet technologies, technology QA, and security and audit.
• Provide senior level management staff supervision ensuring that a comprehensive IT skill and competency program is maintained within the department. This should include providing direct supervision to management staff and oversight of indirect reports through effective leadership direction provided to management reports.
• Responsibility for the creation and maintenance of a comprehensive disaster recovery program that ensures that Dearborn National's systems are properly maintained with sufficient fault tolerance to allow for proper recovery of the business in the case of system failures.
• Providing leadership in the defining and managing of team budgets and resources, including staff and corresponding salaries, external vendor resources, project expenses and resources and any other business related budget and or resource needs that may arise.
• Working closely with lines of business and customers, develop and implement portal strategic positioning that takes into consideration the continuously evolving competitive landscape and business partner needs.
• Assist in determining organizational technology standards including system and application architectures, security standards and infrastructure platforms.
• Provide leadership and partnering with ITG Senior leadership. This will include joint planning sessions as well as negotiating to the benefit of Dearborn National’s goals where required.
• Managing external business partners (consultants and vendors), including engagement definition, contract negotiation, daily project management, analysis of engagement recommendations and, if deemed desirable, implementation of any engagement recommendations.
• Comply with MAR, HIPAA, Diversity Principles, Corporate Integrity, Compliance Program policies and other applicable corporate and departmental policies.
• Organize and lead departmental presentations focused on technology areas. Present to larger business community as required.
• Maintain communication with management regarding development within areas of assigned responsibilities and perform special projects as required or requested.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelors degree
• 8 years experience in technology sector
• 5 years of technology related management experience
• Experience with the following technology based competencies will also be required:
  • Distributed system technologies
  • Internet based technologies
  • Data technologies
  • System Development Life Cycle
• General application architectures – service oriented architectures
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Presentation and writing skills

Preferred Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in computer related field
• Broad based experience with focus on delivery of system solutions for business customers
• Competency in a broad spectrum of distributed system technologies

Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.