Capability Development Manager Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary

The AVP, Enterprise Architect is responsible for defining and advancing enterprise-wide technology, application, integration, and data architecture strategies that support the organization's business objectives and long-term transformation initiatives. This role translates business strategy into scalable, secure, and modern architecture frameworks, roadmaps, and governance practices that enable efficient, compliant, and customer-focused operations.

The AVP, Enterprise Architect partners closely with business, data, product, and technology leaders to align enterprise architecture with organizational priorities, modernization efforts, and operational needs across core insurance and corporate functions. This role also provides strategic architectural leadership, promotes enterprise standards and governance, and supports advancement of enterprise architecture maturity across the organization, and establishes and maintains architectural runway to enable effective sequencing of capabilities ahead of delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Enterprise Architecture Strategy & Transformation (25%): Define and maintain enterprise target-state architecture across application, technology, data, and integration domains. Translate business capabilities and strategic objectives into architecture blueprints, modernization strategies, and multi-year transformation roadmaps. Establish and sequence enterprise architectural initiatives to support business priorities and technology execution. Drive alignment of enterprise architecture strategies with cloud-based, SaaS-first, and modern technology ecosystems. Support strategic planning and investment prioritization through architecture recommendations and business case development.
• Domain, Data & Integration Architecture Leadership (20%): Lead and govern domain-oriented architecture practices, including domain boundaries, ownership models, and interaction patterns. Partner with data and business architecture teams to support scalable, governed, and high-quality enterprise data architecture. Define and support enterprise integration strategies, including API-first, event-driven, and messaging-based integration patterns. Ensure alignment across core insurance, financial, actuarial, investment, reinsurance, and operational technology domains.
• Governance, Standards & Risk Management (15%): Establish and support enterprise architecture governance processes, standards, and design review practices. Ensure consistent application of architectural principles, policies, standards, and guardrails across initiatives and portfolios. Maintain enterprise architecture artifacts, documentation, and technology standards. Identify and manage enterprise-level architectural risks, including legacy system exposure, technical debt, and vendor dependencies. Ensure architecture strategies align with security, regulatory, compliance, and risk management requirements.
• Portfolio Modernization & Operational Excellence (15%): Lead application portfolio assessment and rationalization efforts, including lifecycle management and redundancy reduction. Drive modernization and technical debt reduction initiatives across applications, data, and integration platforms. Identify opportunities to improve scalability, operational efficiency, maintainability, and reuse across enterprise technology solutions. Support evaluation of vendor solutions, platform strategies, and buy-versus-build decisions.
• Data, Analytics & Emerging Technology Enablement (10%): Support enterprise data, analytics, and reporting capabilities across insurance and corporate functions. Provide architectural leadership for AI/ML and GenAI initiatives supporting business operations, analytics, automation, and customer experiences. Promote responsible adoption of emerging technologies in alignment with enterprise governance, security, and compliance expectations. Partner with technology and business teams to support innovation and future-state capability development.
• Executive Partnership & Strategic Communication (5%): Present architecture strategies, roadmaps, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership and governance forums. Translate complex technical concepts into actionable business insights and decision frameworks. Provide visibility into modernization progress, architecture health, and enterprise technology priorities.
• Leadership & Enterprise Architecture Practice Development (10%): Lead, mentor, and influence enterprise, domain, solution, and data architects across the organization. Promote alignment, collaboration, and architectural consistency across business and technology teams. Advance enterprise architecture tools, methodologies, governance practices, and operating models. Foster a product- and platform-oriented architecture culture focused on scalability, reuse, agility, and business value delivery.

Experience and Education Requirements

Minimum

• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field
• 12+ years of progressive experience in enterprise, solution, domain, or data architecture
• Significant experience supporting insurance or financial services technology ecosystems
• Experience defining and implementing enterprise architecture strategies, modernization roadmaps, and governance frameworks
• Experience operating within cloud-first, SaaS-oriented, and integration-intensive technology environments
• Deep knowledge of integration patterns, cloud platforms, and enterprise data architecture practices

Preferred

• Master's degree in Computer Science, or related advanced degree
• Experience supporting life insurance or annuity business functions and platforms
• Experience with enterprise architecture frameworks, methodologies, and tools
• Familiarity with cloud-native data platforms and services, including Databricks, Snowflake, or similar technologies
• Familiarity with AI/ML and GenAI applications within insurance or financial services environments

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong business acumen with ability to connect technology strategies to enterprise priorities and operational outcomes
• Deep understanding of enterprise architecture, integration, data, cloud, and modernization practices
• Strong systems thinking and ability to understand end-to-end business and technology value streams
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to translate technical concepts into business-focused recommendations
• Strong leadership, collaboration, and influencing capabilities across business and technology organizations
• Ability to balance long-term strategic architecture vision with practical delivery and operational considerations
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Ability to lead cross-functional alignment and resolve complex architectural challenges
• Knowledge of regulatory, security, and compliance considerations within financial services environments

Other Requirements

• Perform other functions, duties, and projects, as assigned
• Regular and punctual attendance
• Some travel required (10%)

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