Dir Information Technology at Horace Mann

Own and deliver multiple technical projects, aligning with Data Enablement and corporate growth objectives.
Architect solutions that leverage modern technologies, ensuring scalability, reliability, and performance.
Drive technical projects from concept to completion, providing architectural guidance and hands-on contributions to ensure high-quality outcomes.
Define project milestones and KPIs, ensuring alignment with business goals.
Drive continuous innovation by incorporating emerging trends and tools, including generative AI, into project workflows.

Actively contribute to software development, architecture design, and code reviews.
Use generative AI to optimize development processes, enhance team productivity, and solve complex challenges.
Provide technical mentorship, guiding teams in adopting modern programming languages, frameworks, and AI-powered tools.
Champion best practices in software engineering, including CI/CD, automated testing, and cloud-native development.

Inspire, mentor, and manage a high-performing development team.
Promote the use of generative AI tools to boost team creativity, efficiency, and skill development.
Cultivate a culture of ownership, accountability, and innovation.
Evaluate team performance and identify growth opportunities through personalized development plans.

Proactively identify and resolve technical and business blockers.
Foster collaborative problem-solving sessions, encouraging teams to experiment and innovate.
Lead by example, demonstrating a solutions-oriented mindset and a commitment to delivering high-quality results.

Collaborate with business units, external partners, and leadership to align on goals, strategies, and deliverables.
Communicate technical concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Provide regular updates on progress, risks, and opportunities.

Continuously assess and improve development processes to enhance team efficiency and quality.
Collaborate with IT leadership to implement agile and DevOps practices.

Work closely with the VP of Data Enablement to align technical strategies with long-term corporate goals, including household growth and worksite expansion.
Advocate for investments in modern tools, technologies, and methodologies to maintain competitive advantage.

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.

10+ years of experience leading technical teams and delivering impactful software solutions.
Proven track record in hands-on software development and technical leadership.
Experience implementing generative AI technologies in development workflows.
Strong background in cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and DevOps practices.

Expertise in software architecture, APIs, microservices, and cloud-native solutions.
Proficiency in leveraging generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, or similar to enhance development workflows.
At least eight (8) years of direct experience with ALL the following:
.NET Framework development
C#
Microsoft SQL Server
At least four (4) years of direct experience with MOST of the following:
.NET Core
Net Standard
ASP.NET Core MVC
Web API
At least two (2) years of direct experience with ANY of the following:
AWS – API Gateway, Elasticsearch, Firehose, Kinesis, Lambda, and/or CloudWatch
Azure – APIM, Search, Event Hubs, Functions, and/or Monitor

Ability to analyze complex challenges, design innovative solutions, and execute them efficiently.
Strong decision-making skills, particularly under pressure.

Exceptional team-building and mentoring skills.
Ability to lead by example, motivating teams to adopt modern practices and tools.
Demonstrated ability to foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.