Head of Life and Annuities Technology

Transamerica; Cedar Rapids (IA); Hybrid; USD 300,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Pension Plan

401(k) Match

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off 160 hours

Job summary

Transamerica is seeking a transformative Head of Life and Annuities Technology to modernize the life & annuity tech ecosystem for growth. You will shape strategies, lead a large distributed team, and drive cloud and AI initiatives to improve customer experiences and operational efficiency.

You will partner with business leaders, optimize costs, and guide vendors while insourcing critical capabilities. A strong track record in large-scale modernization and executive stakeholder engagement is

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, business, or relevant field.
• Experience leading large-scale cloud and platform modernization initiatives.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and influence senior executives.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the technology strategy for Protection Solutions and Financial Assets.
• Partner with business leaders to shape future-state capabilities and scalability.
• Lead a large technology organization, modernizing platforms and advancing cloud, data, and AI initiatives.
• Drive modernization, cloud transformation, and data integration with reliable performance.
• Standardize architecture across interdependent systems and strengthen security.
• Oversee vendors and insourcing to enhance internal engineering maturity.
• Direct evaluation of technology platforms to ensure alignment with needs.
• Manage demand, capacity, and financial planning for strategic goals.
• Monitor operational metrics and drive improvements in service delivery and cost efficiency.
• Communicate complex strategies to senior leaders with data-driven insights.

Skills

Leadership

Cloud modernization

Technology strategy

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Change management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Job Description Summary

Enterprise Technology (formerly Global Technology Services) is a global organization within Transamerica. We provide dedicated support to Transamerica, and we bring all Aegon's business units together with technology. We provide the backbone – the infrastructure – for how everything works. We’re creating the company’s AI environment, building a flexible ‘cloud experience’ for internal hosting services, designing frameworks for data governance and management, and ensuring the security and stability of the company’s technology. In short, we enable the business units to move more quickly and deliver to our clients in the best possible way. Whether customers are interested in insurance products or annuities or financial services, we’re here to ensure they don’t have to worry whether their information is safe.

Job Description

The Head of Life and Annuities Technology is a transformation‑focused leadership role—the primary mandate is not just running technology, but modernizing the life & annuity tech ecosystem to position the business for future growth.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the technology strategy for Protection Solutions and Financial Assets, driving measurable reductions in cost per policy/participant while aligning to enterprise business objectives.
• Partner closely with business leaders across the life and annuities domain to shape future-state capabilities, delivering technology solutions that enhance customer experience, operational efficiency, and scalability.
• Lead a large, multi-layered technology organization, setting direction for leaders and teams responsible for modernizing platforms, improving system stability, and advancing cloud, data, and AI initiatives.
• Drive ongoing modernization efforts, including cloud transformation, data integration, and AI‑enabled capabilities, while optimizing performance and reliability of systems already transitioned to the cloud.
• Expand the use of standardized architecture and technology practices across interdependent systems, ensuring scalable, secure, and integrated solutions.
• Lead vendor and managed services oversight, while advancing insourcing strategies to transition critical capabilities back in‑house and strengthen internal engineering maturity.
• Direct evaluation of technology platforms and tools to ensure compatibility, integration, and alignment with evolving business and customer needs.
• Oversee demand, capacity, and financial management processes, ensuring effective prioritization, resource allocation, and delivery against strategic goals.
• Monitor and drive operational and channel performance metrics, executing strategic programs that improve service delivery, cost efficiency, and business outcomes.
• Communicate complex technology strategies and business impacts through clear, data-driven insights to senior leaders, enabling informed decision-making and long-term planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, business, or relevant field
• 15 years of relevant work experience, preferably on a global scale
• Demonstrated success leading large, distributed technology organizations and influencing senior executive stakeholders.
• Experience leading large-scale cloud and platform modernization initiatives.
• Solid understanding of business principles, organizational design, change management, etc.
• Large scale budget experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Deep expertise in life insurance and annuities platforms, including policy administration and servicing systems.
• Experience implementing AI‑enabled capabilities.
• Proven track record operating in complex, regulated environments with strong understanding of risk, compliance, and security considerations.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid or Remote Environment
• Frequent Travel 25 to 50%

Compensation

• The salary for this position generally ranges between $300,000 - $350,000 annually. Please note that the salary range is a good faith estimate for this position and actual starting pay is determined by several factors including qualifications, experience, geography, work location designation (in‑office, hybrid, remote) and operational needs. Salary may vary above and below the stated amounts, as permitted by applicable law.
• Additionally, this position is typically eligible for an annual bonus based on the Company Bonus Plan/Individual Performance and is at the Company’s discretion.

Benefits

For eligible employees, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support both the personal and financial well‑being of our employees.

• Competitive Pay
• Bonus for Eligible Employees
• Competitive Pay Continued: Pension Plan, 401(k) Match, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Insurance, Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Employee Discounts, Career Training & Development Opportunities
• Paid Time Off starting at 160 hours annually for employees in their first year of service, ten paid holidays per year, Be Well Company holistic wellness program (wellness coaching, reward dollars), parental leave, adoption assistance, employee assistance program, Back‑Up Care Program, PTO for volunteer hours, employee matching gifts program, ERGs, inclusion and diversity programs, employee recognition program, referral bonus programs

Inclusion & Diversity

We believe our commitment to diversity and inclusion creates a work environment filled with exceptional individuals. We’ve been recognized for our efforts through various industry indices and offer a wide range of diversity and inclusion programs, including employee‑driven Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that are open to all employees.

Applicants Must

Applicants must possess legal authorization to work for our company in the U.S. without the need for immigration sponsorship or otherwise serving as an employer of record for immigration employment purposes. At this time, this role is not eligible for immigration‑related employment authorization sponsorship.

This job description is not a contract of employment nor for any specific job responsibilities. The Company may change, add to, remove, or revoke the terms of this job description at its discretion. Managers may assign other duties and responsibilities as needed. In the event an employee or applicant requests or requires an accommodation to perform job functions, the applicable HR Business Partner should be contacted to evaluate the accommodation request.