Portfolio Manager, Data, Analytics and AI

Guardian Life; Holmdel Township (NJ); Hybrid; USD 101,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

Guardian Life seeks a transformational leader to join as a Portfolio Manager for the Data, Analytics and AI Portfolio. This role is critical for orchestrating portfolio planning and delivery, ensuring strategic alignment, and managing stakeholder expectations in a hybrid work environment.

Benefits

Flexible work arrangements

Skill-building and leadership development

Supportive company culture

Qualifications

• 8+ years of program and portfolio management experience.
• Experience leading programs through Agile/SAFe methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience with large transformational programs.

Responsibilities

• Orchestrate portfolio planning & delivery across business, finance, and technology.
• Manage D&AI portfolio delivery roadmap aligned with strategic objectives.
• Train and guide team on portfolio management tools.

Skills

Agile

Collaboration

Project Management

Problem Solving

Communication

Data Management

Education

Master’s Degree or equivalent work experience

Tools

JIRA Align

ServiceNow

SharePoint

Job description

Overview

Guardian Life, a provider of employer benefits and insurance products to 29M people, is seeking a transformational leader to join our team as a Portfolio Manager for our Data, Analytics and AI Portfolio . The Data, Analytics & AI (D&AI) team plays a crucial role enabling informed decision making by bringing better visibility to business leaders and transforming operations by leveraging vast stores of data to make better and more automated decisions. The team oversees data lifecycle management, designs and executes data solutions to improve business visibility, and conducts advanced analytics to enable the business to operate more efficiently and effectively. We are a team of data analysts, data product owners, data engineers, data scientists, and most importantly, data-driven business leaders. Guardian is deeply committed to putting data and AI at the center of our strategy to drive efficiency, revenue growth, improved risk management, and better experiences for customers.

As the Portfolio Manager for D&AI, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Guardian Life by enabling end-to-end management and reporting of enterprise portfolio planning and delivery process. You will be responsible for the business, financial, technical, and processes that enable the D&AI team to operate by supporting the maintain, governance and hygiene of our portfolio and book of work. A successful candidate will have extensive experience in data and AI programs, portfolio management processes, data management, implementing governance frameworks, management of project financials and capacity management planning. You will report to our Head of Enterprise Portfolio who reports to Office of Enterprise Transformation under Strategy & Operations. You will be an indirect (dotted line) report to the Data and AI Operations lead within the Data and AI team.

You will:

• Orchestrate D&AI portfolio planning & delivery across business, finance and technology. You will provide data-driven insights for prioritization, forecasting and reprioritization as necessary (project change management)
• Manage D&AI portfolio delivery roadmap aligned to strategic objectives ensuring outcomes are implemented and stay within schedule, budget and scope.
• Facilitate and maintain business cases in accordance with Enterprise Portfolio Management process including resource capacity assessments.
• Foster operational excellence in portfolio intake through delivery process focusing on continually improving efficiency, driving consistency and achieving D&AI objectives.
• Implement processes related to portfolio data management and solution governance utilizing tools such as: Jira, Jira Align, Service Now, etc. Examples include Portfolio Health, project change controls, epic, feature and story creation, etc.
• Train and guide the data and D&AI team on the use and application of portfolio management tools mentioned above.
• Manage expectations of and influence several stakeholders through effective communication to accomplish business strategic objectives through portfolio delivery.

You are:

• Exceptional collaborator and manager of complex projects with cross-functional teams.
• Adept at developing and implementing operational processes, as well as transforming existing processes into program and governance practices.
• Collaborative with multidisciplinary teams and speak “tech” and “business”
• Flexible, with practices and methodologies utilized – for example able to utilize Agile flexibly and in conjunction with waterfall.
  

You have:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent work experience.
• A minimum of 8 years of program and portfolio management experience.
• A minimum of five years recent experience leading programs through Agile / SAFe / Iterative / Hybrid methodologies.
• Demonstrated understanding of business line initiatives, and highly specialized working knowledge of program or project management methodologies (e.g., SAFe, agile, waterfall, etc.) and be comfortable working in a complex matrixed environment.
• Demonstrated experience successfully managing large transformational programs with multiple business and technology stakeholders.
• Advanced proficiency in using JIRA Align, JIRA, ServiceNow, SharePoint, and other software for portfolio, project and task management.
• Process Improvement methodology experience preferred (e.g., Six Sigma, Lean, Kaizen, SAFe, etc.).
• An ability to articulate and clearly communicate complex problems and solutions in a simple and logical manner.
• Excellent problem-solving analytical capabilities with strong attention to detail.
• Experience in insurance and / or financial industries.

Location:

• Hybrid, Three days per week in the office, preferably Bethlehem, PA, or Holmdel, NJ.

Salary Range:

$101,180.00 - $166,220.00

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise

At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being

As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits . Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities.Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail] .

Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.