Technology Transformation Director

Pacific Life; Newport Beach (CA); On-site; USD 185,000 - 226,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits Start Day 1

Wellbeing reimbursement account

Paid time off and holidays

401k with company match

Job summary

Pacific Life is seeking a Director, Technology Transformation Leader for the Institutional Division to drive the technology strategy and execution for a multi-year transformation. You will co-own the technology roadmap, partner with Product, Operations, and Enterprise Architecture, and lead a high-performing team through Agile and DevOps practices to deliver scalable, API-enabled platforms.

You will champion AI-enabled service delivery, platform modernization, and governance in a regulated

Qualifications

• 8+ years in technology leadership roles, ideally within financial services, insurance, or asset management.
• Proven ability to translate business strategy into technology roadmaps and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Strong command of agile delivery practices and DevOps/DevSecOps principles.
• Demonstrated ability to reimagine complex, end‑to‑end processes rather than incrementally improve them.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the technology roadmap for Institutional Division platforms (policy, administration, and servicing systems) supporting DB and DC retirement products.
• Translate the division's transformation roadmap into actionable delivery plans — epics, user stories, and acceptance criteria in partnership with Product and Operations.
• Own execution cadence: sprint planning, release management, and delivery metrics using agile and DevOps practices.
• Architectural decisions for scalability, resiliency, and reuse, with enterprise architecture alignment.

Skills

Technology leadership

Agile delivery

DevOps/DevSecOps

API-enabled architecture

Hybrid teams management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

APIs

Cloud platforms

Job description

Director, Technology Transformation Leader – Institutional Division

Pacific Life is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Director, Technology Transformation Leader, to join our Institutional Division. This role serves as the technology counterpart in a “two-in-a-box” partnership with the division’s business transformation leader, helping drive the technology strategy, architecture, and execution needed to scale the division's target-state operating model. Reporting into the CIO of Institutional Retirement, this leader will own the technical roadmap supporting the division's multi-year transformation agenda — evolving administration platforms, advancing automation and AI-enabled service delivery, and ensuring technology investments align with the division's growth, scalability, and customer experience objectives. This role partners closely with Operations, Product, and Enterprise Architecture to translate strategy into delivery.

What you’ll own:

• Strategic Leadership & Transformation Partner in a “two-in-a-box” model with the Institutional Division's AVP, Transformation Leader to co‑own shared priorities, KPIs, and transformation outcomes. Help define and execute the technology roadmap for Institutional Division platforms (policy, administration, and servicing systems) supporting DB and DC retirement products, aligned to enterprise architecture and the division's growth strategy. Identify opportunities where automation, AI, and workflow orchestration can improve straight-through processing, data quality, and the annuitant/customer experience. Champion the continued evolution of the platform landscape, promoting composable, API-enabled, and cloud‑ready architecture.
• Platform Delivery & Execution Translate the division's transformation roadmap into actionable delivery plans — epics, user stories, and acceptance criteria in partnership with Product and Operations. Own execution cadence: sprint planning, release management, and delivery metrics using agile and DevOps practices. Manage dependencies and remove roadblocks across Technology, Operations, Product, and vendor partners to keep delivery on track. Coordinate with vendor/BPO technology teams to ensure platform integrations and delivery commitments support transformation goals.
• Architecture & Solution Design Contribute to architectural decisions for Institutional Division platforms to ensure scalability, resiliency, and reuse. Support the design of integration patterns, APIs, and digital self‑service capabilities across the servicing value chain. Partner with Enterprise Architecture to ensure technology investments support long‑term platform sustainability and regulatory requirements.
• Talent & Team Development Build, mentor, and retain a high‑performing team of employees, contractors, and vendor partners. Promote adoption of modern engineering practices (agile, DevOps, GenAI enablement) across the team. Partner with PX and L&D on workforce planning and capability development.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in technology leadership roles, ideally within financial services, insurance, or asset management.
• A track record of leading technology delivery for policy/contract administration, or similar servicing platforms.
• Proven ability to translate business strategy into technology roadmaps and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Strong command of agile delivery practices and DevOps/DevSecOps principles.
• Demonstrated ability to reimagine complex, end‑to‑end processes rather than incrementally improve them.
• Skilled at partnering with business leaders in a shared‑ownership (“two-in-a-box”) model.
• Practiced at managing hybrid teams (employees, contractors, vendor/BPO partners).
• Ability to operate effectively in a highly regulated environment with strong controls and governance expectations.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving clarity in complex environments.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Preferred qualifications

• Solid understanding of the defined benefit and defined contribution retirement ecosystem, including new business, inforce, and servicing operations.
• Experience leveraging AI‑augmented engineering practices to accelerate delivery and improve quality.
• Familiarity with advanced analytics platforms, driving actionable insights from annuitant/ policy holder data.
• Strategic thinker with a bias for action and continuous improvement.
• Passionate about talent development and building inclusive, high‑performing teams.

Base Pay Range

The base pay range noted represents the company’s good faith minimum and maximum range for this role at the time of posting. The actual compensation offered to a candidate will be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to experience, qualifications and geographic location. Also, most employees are eligible for additional incentive pay. $184,680.00 - $225,720.00

Benefits

• Your Benefits Start Day 1
• Your wellbeing is important to Pacific Life, and we’re committed to providing you with flexible benefits that you can tailor to meet your needs. Whether you are focusing on your physical, financial, emotional, or social wellbeing, we’ve got you covered.
• Prioritization of your health and well‑being including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Wellbeing Reimbursement Account that can be used on yourself or your eligible dependents
• Generous paid time off options including: Paid Time Off, Holiday Schedules, and Financial Planning Time Off Paid Parental Leave as well as an Adoption Assistance Program
• Competitive 401k savings plan with company match and an additional contribution regardless of participation

You Can Be Who You Are We are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion that embraces the authenticity of all employees, partners and communities. We support all employees to thrive and achieve their fullest potential.

What’s life like at Pacific Life? Visit Instagram.com/lifeatpacificlife

EEO Statement: Pacific Life Insurance Company is an Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer, M/F/D/V. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact a Human Resources Representative at Pacific Life Insurance Company.

Pacific Life is more than a job — it’s a career with purpose. For nearly 160 years, we’ve helped people protect their financial futures through strength, stability, and innovation. Join us to make a meaningful impact and build a career where you can thrive. Learn more. Pacific Life's success is driven by our people. We create, embrace and sustain an inclusive workplace where all employees are respected and supported throughout their career. Our values inspire and direct our actions shaping the vibrant culture we proudly uphold. Learn more.