Manager, Applications Development - Digital Platforms

American Equity; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company in Des Moines is seeking a Manager, Applications Development – Digital Platforms to lead cross-functional teams responsible for web and mobile platforms.

You will collaborate with business leadership, PMO, and IT to design automated solutions, manage vendor engagements, and ensure projects stay on schedule and within budget.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in MIS or information technology.
• Minimum 5 years of related technical experience with supervisory responsibility.
• Experience leading Agile software development teams.
• Familiarity with modern digital portals and web/mobile platforms.

Responsibilities

• Owns roadmap for digital platforms, web properties and mobile apps.
• Leads software development and business analysis teams through design, testing, and delivery.
• Manages vendor engagements, contracts, and performance.
• Mentors and develops staff; drives onboarding and talent growth.
• Partners with IS Operations to maintain production environments.

Skills

Software team leadership

Agile methodologies

Vendor management

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Team mentorship

Education

Bachelor’s degree in MIS / IT

Tools

React

Angular

Job description

American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company is a leading provider of annuity solutions designed to help clients protect and grow retirement income. Part of Brookfield Wealth Solutions, we partner with more than 40,000 financial professionals and help fund over half a million retirements nationwide. Recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies and named a Top Workplace in Iowa, American Equity fosters a collaborative and purpose‑driven culture where employees are empowered to ignite their passion and help shape the future of financial services.

Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, with satellite offices in Charlotte, NC and New York, NY, American Equity provides opportunities for employees to support work across the enterprise, including our sister company, American National, headquartered in Houston, Texas.

General Purpose Of The Job

The Manager, Applications Development – Digital Platforms leads high performing teams engaged in business analysis, software development, integration, and vendor management of American Equity’s digital platforms, including its websites, mobile apps, and other digital self‑service channels. The role includes collaborating with Business leadership, Project Management Office, Function Subject Matter Expertise, and all IT organizations to design and implement automated and analytical solutions supporting the Digital Platforms roadmap for distribution processes while staying within schedule, budget and scope constraints.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Accountable for the implementation of a roadmap for Digital Platforms, including multiple web properties and mobile apps, supporting Marketing, Distribution, and Customer Excellence business functions. Forms effective partnerships with function teams and a variety of IT staff, including but not limited to direct reports, other IS managers, IT leadership, business units and business partners.
• Leads software development and business analyst professionals in the refinement, design, implementation, testing and transition of software in accordance with established software development and design control processes, including the delivery of application software specifications, design and unit test documentation and associated design reviews. Leads the skills assessment needs, including the reskilling plans and incorporation of flex capabilities.
• Leads a diverse team of employees with responsibility for managing the employee life cycle and experience, including selection and retention of talent, continuous feedback and performance management, reward and recognition, corrective action and employee development; leads new hire orientation and onboarding experiences for new employees.
• Manages multiple vendors and vendor engagements, including software and platform providers, niche skillset providers, and providers of flex capacity for their teams. In partnership with the Procurement department, negotiates and manages multiple types of agreements including licensing, subscriptions, fixed‑bid contracts, and T&M contracts.
• Collaborates with IS Operations to maintain the production technical environments to ensure system quality and availability and performance expectations for customers.
• Continually analyses utilization of the digital platforms via multiple tools and methodologies to identify potential issues, and help inform future roadmaps and strategy.
• Ensures the proper utilization of all team members to promote the team approach for employee allocation and problem resolution.
• Communicates and coordinates process, procedure and expectation additions/changes to employees that align with corporate strategy.
• Establishes and monitors metrics for performance oversight and process improvement.
• Remains current on technological advances, emerging trends and applicable laws, rules and regulations impacting the business.
• Accountable for prudent management of departmental expenses by establishing and monitoring a department budget in accordance with corporate guidelines.
• Performs other related work as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports: Team Leader(s) Information Systems, Application Developers, Systems Analysts, and/or UX designers.

Indirect Reports: Varies; may provide oversight of other information technology team members through matrix management.

Education And/Or Experience

Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in MIS, information technology, or related field of study; plus five (5) years of progressively responsible related technical information systems experience; or equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Minimum of one (1) year of prior supervisory experience required.

Prior Experience In An Agile Environment Preferred

Experience in an Agile environment is preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Professional Designations

None required for this position.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Strong experience and proven track record in managing one or more software development teams, utilizing Agile or other iterative methodologies.
• Expertise in software development platforms, languages (such as React and Angular), architecture, and methodologies related to the modern design of digital portals, including knowledge of emerging technical innovations and best practices.
• Broad knowledge of information technology functions and disciplines, including but not limited to architecture, data management, operations, security and business analysis.
• Ability to lead software development efforts in a dynamically changing environment.
• Knowledge of vendor management.
• Ability to mentor and build strong teams.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Strong stakeholder management skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work cooperatively and successfully with employees, customers, and other outside third parties.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Strong problem solving, risk assessment, and risk management skills.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to successfully handle pressure and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced work environment.