Director, Computer Systems & Operations

Sammons Financial Group; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 116,000 - 241,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

ESOP

401(k) enrollment

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Volunteer time off

Job summary

Sammons Financial Group seeks a Director of Infrastructure & Operations to lead core production operations and guide technology delivery. The role may be filled at Director or Manager level based on skills and alignment, with oversight of nightly operations, batch and online processing, and mainframe systems programming.

The ideal leader combines operational discipline with technical understanding to improve processes, bolster collaboration, and prepare the organization for future needs in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent; experience in computer operations
• Proven leadership and management abilities with strategic impact
• Experience with IBM mainframe production batch and online environments

Responsibilities

• Ensure batch and online processing meet business requirements.
• Develop and enforce standards for computer operations across locations.
• Direct system programming projects for mainframe environments and cost control.
• Monitor mainframe usage and plan for new systems and equipment.
• Review invoices and monitor vendor SLAs for accuracy.
• Maintain Model Audit Rule compliant procedures.
• Ensure compliance with RIM requirements.
• Provide feedback and development in Performance Management system.
• Train and develop Team Leaders or staff on performance processes.
• Train staff on performance evaluations and use of the PM system.
• Assist staff in developing technical decision-making skills.
• Collaborate with developers to create efficient testing strategies.
• Coordinate with Business Units to schedule processing needs.
• Ensure quality control in production implementations (JCL, etc).
• Foster a workplace reflecting company values and ownership culture.
• Travel periodically to manage staff at remote locations.
• Embrace Sammons Financial Group shared values (Accountability, Connection, Openness, Respect, Integrity).
• Maintain regular attendance as per company policy.
• Participate in other initiatives or projects as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Mainframe ops

Budgeting

Vendor management

Cross-functional

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree required

Associate's degree or technical degree

Tools

Mainframe scheduling software

Open-system scheduling

Job description

What You Can Expect In This Role

This position may be filled at the Director or Manager level based on skills, experience, and alignment to the role’s scope as evaluated through our structured selection process.

SFG is seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking Director of Infrastructure & Operations to lead our core production operations and help shape the future of our technology delivery environment. This is an opportunity for an experienced leader to build upon a strong operational foundation while reimagining how our teams, processes, and technology work together to support the business.

Today, this organization is responsible for critical nightly operations, production scheduling, mainframe systems programming, and centralized processing. The Director will provide leadership and oversight of these essential functions while developing a vision for evolving traditional operational teams into modern, proactive production delivery and active support teams

Working closely with SFG's Life Insurance Development Team, hardcopy communications, and mailing departments, this leader will play an important role in connecting technology operations with the business processes and customer commitments they support.

The ideal candidate will combine strong operational discipline and technical understanding with a progressive leadership mindset. They will ensure the reliability, accuracy, and timeliness of current production commitments while identifying opportunities to improve processes, strengthen collaboration, modernize operational practices, and prepare the organization for SFG's future needs.

What You'll Do In This Role

• Ensure SFG’s business requirements for batch and on-line processing are met.
• Drive the development of standards and procedures for all SFG computer operations for all locations. Review and enforce adherence to these standards.
• Plan, coordinate and direct system programming projects to support for SFG’s mainframe environment while containing costs.
• Monitor mainframe system utilization, and participate in the planning, budgeting, and acquisition of new mainframe systems and equipment.
• Review and approve hardware and software invoices to ensure accuracy. Monitor vendor adherence to SLAs.
• Develop and maintain Model Audit Rule compliant procedures for all departmental processing.
• Establish, maintain, and ensure departmental compliance with Record Information Management (RIM) requirements.
• Work within the Performance Management system to provide feedback, guidance and reviews to team members.
• Responsible for training and developing individuals in the Team Leader role (if applicable) on employee development and handling of Corrective Action situations; responsible for employee development and handling of Corrective Action situations if no Team Leader on staff.
• Responsible for training and developing individuals in the Team Leader role (if applicable) on conducting appropriate and quality performance evaluations; responsible for training Team Leader on the Performance Management system; responsible conducting appropriate and quality performance evaluations if no Team Leader on staff.
• Assist staff to develop their technical and decision making skills, while ensuring adherence to our core values.
• Work with developers and testers as required to develop efficient and cost-effective testing strategies.
• Work with Business Units and developers to schedule processing to meet business needs.
• Ensure quality control in implementing programs, JCL and other components to production environments.
• Create and maintain a work environment, which embraces the corporate shared values and emphasizes our employee-owner culture.
• Willingness to travel several times per year to effectively manage staff at remote locations.
• Commitment to embrace Sammons Financial Group Companies shared values (Accountability, Connection, Openness, Respect and Integrity).
• As stated within the Company Attendance and Punctuality policy, regular attendance is required and expected in order to meet the business service levels and workflow demands.
• Participate in other initiatives and/or projects as necessary.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's Degree Required Or
• Associate's Degree technical degree with supplementary work experience Required
• Minimum 5 years' experience in computer operations environment with increasing responsibilities Required
• Effective leadership, management, decision-making and motivational skills
• Ability to manage geographically dispersed staff
• Proficiency in IBM mainframe production batch and online environment
• Demonstrated proficiency with open-system and mainframe job scheduling software
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated corporate accountability, openness, integrity and respect when dealing with internal and external customers
• Ability to respond to emergencies outside of regularly scheduled work hours

Other Requirements

• Criminal background check required.
• Due to the financial nature and level of accountability of this position, a credit and criminal background check is required - The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires Sammons Financial Group Companies to notify you that, as a routine part of processing this application for employment, Sammons Financial Group may request a consumer report on you to verify all information contained in this application. Such report may include information about work‑related behaviors, performance, character, general reputation, and personal characteristics, in addition to information about your previous employment, education, credit history and criminal records

Salary Range Information

USD $115,531.00 - USD $240,690.00 /Yr.

We are open to hiring this role at the Director or Manager level based on your skills, experience, and demonstrated competencies. Leveling considers your qualifications, the scope and complexity you’ve owned, and alignment to the role’s scope.

The base salary range for a Manager is $94,134-$176,500. The base salary range for a Director is $115,531-$216,621.

Range includes data points from multiple labor markets. Specific range is dependent on the labor market where the incumbent will be hired to perform the position. Starting salary is dependent on candidate qualifications and experience. For a narrower salary range specific to your labor market, please inquire.

What you can expect when you join Sammons Financial Group

• Comprehensive health coverage for you and your family, including Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA & FSA options, and term life insurance.
• Competitive compensation with a performance-based incentive program tied to clear goals and individual and/or company success.
• Invest in your future with our 100% company-funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), plus automatic enrollment in our 401(k).
• Work–life balance that means something. Friday afternoons off year-round, generous paid time off, and paid holidays.
• Commit to your growth with paid development time, tuition reimbursement, and professional development opportunities across industry, individual, and leadership programs.
• Make an impact beyond the workplace through volunteer time off, and our company nonprofit matching gift program, supporting the causes that matter most to you.
• An ownership culture that inspires; join a connected, values‑driven workplace where employees take accountability, support one another, and are empowered to do their best work—together shaping our future shared success.

Work Authorization/Sponsorship

At this time, we’re not considering candidates that need any type of immigration sponsorship now or in the future or those needing work authorization for this role (This includes, but is not limited to students on F1-OPT, F1-CPT, J-1, etc.).

Additional Information

Sammons Financial Group Is An Equal Opportunity Employer All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

ADA Sammons Financial Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the application or hiring process, including navigating our website or applying for a position, please contact [e-mail] or call 800-728-2987.

E-Verify Sammons Financial Group participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

Policy for External Search Firms and Agencies Sammons Financial Group maintains an internal Talent Acquisition function and does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from search firms, staffing agencies, or other third‑party recruiting vendors. Please review our Recruitment Agency Policy for additional information here.