Director, Data and AI Platform Strategy

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 189,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association seeks a Director to lead the data and AI/ML platform strategy, owning end-to-end delivery and program management for mission-critical data platforms and AI initiatives.

You will drive the roadmap, adoption, and business case for platform products across BCBSA. This role requires deep architectural knowledge and the ability to influence at executive levels.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive experience in data/platform product management or related roles.
• Experience with AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics concepts to enhance data product capabilities.
• Experience with agile product development environments.
• Mentoring and coaching individual contributors and people managers on product delivery and agile execution.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the roadmap for foundational platform products enabling internal customers.
• Own end-to-end platform product delivery and program management across data/AI initiatives.
• Drive adoption strategy with KPI and value demonstration for platform products.
• Build and lead high-performing platform product strategy teams.
• Balance tech-debt remediation with new platform capabilities development.

Skills

Platform strategy

Agile delivery

Stakeholder mgmt

Program management

Cloud architectures

Education

BS or equivalent

MS preferred

Tools

AWS

Snowflake

Databricks

Redshift

Kafka

Job description

Job Description Summary

The Director, Data and AI/ML platform strategy is a strategic leadership who will lead the development and execution of data and AI/ML platform strategy and will share the vision for platform as a product. This position will own end-to-end platform product delivery and program management for mission-critical data platforms and AI platform initiatives.

Job Description

Drive the overall data and AI/ML platform strategy vision across BCBSA products and position BCBSA data and analytic portfolio for the scale and growth to be able to innovate data/analytical products and insights in rapid cycles.

Manage the portfolio of strategic foundational data and AI/ML platform initiatives including cloud migration Products, Analytics and Engineering teams.

Define and drive the roadmap for the foundational platform products that enable internal customers starting from definition to consumption.

Own and drive the adoption strategy to drive adoption of platform products using KPI and metrics to demonstrate the value.

Develop a business case for foundational platform products and technical capabilities in support of BCBSA data and analytic products, and seek executive input to influence the overall data and AI/ML platform roadmap.

Build and lead high-performing platform product strategy members, mentor and coach team members to foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration.

Drive business outcomes, not just project completion- ensuring delivered capabilities create measurable value

Manage the tech-debit remediation and modernization efforts by balancing with new platform product capabilities development.

The Posting Range For This Position Is

130,300.00 - 188,950.00

Qualifications

Education

• Required BS ; or equivalent experience
• Preferred MS

Experience

• Required 12+ years of progressive experience in data and platform product management, technical program management, platform delivery, or related roles within complex data, analytics, or software environments
• Experience with AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics concepts to enhance data product capabilities.
• Experience working in agile product development environments.
• Experience mentoring and coaching individual contributors and people managers on product delivery, stakeholder management, and agile execution
• Experience with AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics concepts to enhance data product capabilities.
• Experience working in agile product development environments.
• Experience mentoring and coaching individual contributors and people managers on product delivery, stakeholder management, and agile execution.

Knowledge Skills And Abilities

• Proven track record of defining and delivering overall data and AI/ML platform strategy in support of data and analytic products and roadmap.
• Proven track record of defining and delivering platform products and capabilities at scale.
• Strong strategic thinking and communication skills with ability to influence at all levels of the organization across engineering, product, and executive leadership with the ability to translate technical data concepts into business value and strategy.
• Experience in managing large data and AI/ML platform portfolio and roadmap starting from business case development, delivery management, to value tracking.
• Deep understanding of modern data and AI/ML architectures including expertise in cloud-based data technologies, AWS, Snowflake, Databricks, Redshift, Kafka and others.
• Strong understanding of data and AI/ML engineering principles, including ETL, data warehousing, and real-time data processing.
• Knowledge of data security, governance, and compliance frameworks, including SOC 2, HIPAA, and HITRUST.
• Ability to drive cross-functional collaboration, influencing stakeholders across engineering, product, and executive leadership.
• Proven ability to own product roadmaps and delivery plans for data platforms, cloud migrations, or AI/ML initiatives, translating business needs into executable programs
• Strong background in program and delivery management, including scope, schedule, dependency, risk, and quality management across multiple workstreams
• Ability to represent data platform initiatives in enterprise governance, leadership forums, and transformation efforts
• Deep understanding of modern data and AI/ML architectures including expertise in cloud-based data technologies, AWS, Snowflake, Databricks, Redshift, Kafka and others.
• Strong understanding of data and AI/ML engineering principles, including ETL, data warehousing, and real-time data processing.
• Knowledge of data security, governance, and compliance frameworks, including SOC 2, HIPAA, and HITRUST.
• Ability to drive cross-functional collaboration, influencing stakeholders across engineering, product, and executive leadership.
• Proven ability to own product roadmaps and delivery plans for data platforms, cloud migrations, or AI/ML initiatives, translating business needs into executable programs
• Strong background in program and delivery management, including scope, schedule, dependency, risk, and quality management across multiple workstreams.
• Ability to represent data platform initiatives in enterprise governance, leadership forums, and transformation efforts.

The posted salary range is the lowest to highest salary we, in good faith, believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the hiring range and this hiring range may also be modified in the future. A candidate’s position within the hiring range may be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, relevant experience, skills, seniority, performance, shift, travel requirements, and business or organizational needs. This job is also eligible for annual bonus incentive pay.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, 11 holidays, medical/dental/vision insurance, generous 401(k) matching, lifestyle spending account and many other benefits to eligible employees.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, or any other form of compensation that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.