Director Data Management- Hybrid- Des Moines, Iowa

Wellabe is looking for a Director of Data Management to join our team.  As a Director of Data Management, you will report to Chief Data & Analytics Officer and lead the design, delivery, and modernization of our enterprise data platform. This role will oversee the migration from legacy Azure SQL Server systems to an Azure Databricks Lakehouse using the medallion architecture, establishing a scalable, high-performance single source of truth that powers analytics, reporting, and AI/ML across the insurance value chain.

As a senior leader, you will guide the onsite and remote data engineering team, set data platform strategy, and ensure delivery of cloud-native, reliable, and business-ready data assets. You will partner with architecture, analytics, governance, and business leaders to align the enterprise data platform with business objectives.

Core Responsibilities

• Define and own the enterprise data platform strategy, ensuring scalability, performance, and cloud optimization.


• Oversee data modernization efforts, including migration from legacy Azure SQL Server to Azure Databricks Lakehouse.


• Lead and mentor data engineers, fostering technical excellence and delivery accountability.


• Partner with enterprise data and solution architects to ensure data models, pipelines, and platform design meet business needs.


• Transform a fragmented data ecosytem to deliver a single source of truth for insurance domains.


• Drive cloud-native engineering best practices (ETL/ELT optimization, CI/CD, DevOps, cost efficiency, observability).


• Ensure data availability, scalability, and reliability for analytics, reporting, and digital initiatives.


• Collaborate with analytics and data science teams to enable advanced analytics, AI/ML, and self-service data access.


• Prioritize and manage the enterprise data portfolio, aligning data investments with business value, strategic initiatives, and operational outcomes.


• Manage budget, resourcing, and vendor relationships to scale platform capabilities.


• Stay current on emerging technologies (Databricks, streaming, AI/ML enablement) to evolve the platform roadmap.


• Own the Databricks platform and help guide business users on adoption of the Lakehouse.

Qualifications

• Expertise with Azure Data Services (Data Lake, Data Factory, Synapse, Event Hub, Key Vault).


• Ability to lead teams while defining enterprise platform strategy and technical roadmap.


• Excellent communication and leadership skills influence technical and business stakeholders.


• Familiarity with the DAMA/DMBOK practice and standards.


• Familiarity with streaming/real-time ingestion (Kafka, Event Hub) is required.


• 10+ years of experience in data engineering, architecture, or platform leadership, with at least 5 years in team management. Insurance or financial services experience is required.


• Proven success leading large-scale data modernization programs in Azure or similar cloud ecosystems in Databricks or Snowflake.


• Hands-on experience with Databricks Lakehouse (PySpark, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog).


• Strong background in data modeling, ETL/ELT frameworks, and data warehousing.


• Experience working with compliance regulations and handling of PHI/PII data.


• Exposure to AI/ML and data science workloads in Databricks or Snowflake.


• Experience with DevOps and automation frameworks (Azure DevOps, Terraform, GitHub Actions).

Education

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, business/data analytics, management information systems, information technology or related field. Combination of education and/or relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of degree

Benefits

• Hybrid availability


• 401(k) with company match


• Health insurance


• Paid time off, holidays


• Volunteer time off


• Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA)


• Paternity leave

Growth opportunities

We believe each of us has potential to grow and adapt with our business. We take your career as seriously as you do. Helping you develop your skills and talents leads to opportunities — not only for you, but also for our company. That’s why we provide:

• LinkedIn Learning Premium access


• CliftonStrengths® assessment and coaching


• On-site and virtual workshops and cohorts featuring world-class content from FranklinCovey, Crucial Learning, Gallup, and more 


• Free world-class insurance acumen courses through AHIP and LOMA


• Reimbursement and bonus opportunities for professional designations and certifications, including a tuition reimbursement program 


• Opportunities to take part in Wellabe's mentorship programs 

About Wellabe

Since 1929, Wellabe has been finding solutions to help our customers protect their health and financial well-being. And we’re committed to fostering an internal culture of inclusivity, well-being, and development so each of our team members can succeed. Learn more about Wellabe’s culture of betterment by visiting wellabe.com/culture.

Wellabe is full of smart, caring, hard-working people with a broad range of talents who understand collaboration is key. We bring our best selves every day, to connect with others to solve problems, spark innovation, and bring ideas to life. Meet the team and learn what makes Wellabe a great place to work by visiting wellabe.com/news/employee-spotlights.

Our core values:

• Be dedicated: Show unwavering commitment by proactively taking initiative, setting clear goals, and managing time effectively.


• Be trustworthy: Take accountability for actions, navigate difficult conversations with integrity, and build strong relationships through consistent, honest behavior.


• Be determined: Demonstrate enthusiasm and a relentless drive to overcome obstacles and achieve goals.


• Be collaborative: Foster teamwork by being self-aware, actively listening, and effectively communicating across all levels.


• Be open: Embrace diversity and new ideas to create an inclusive environment.


• Be generous: Embody generosity and compassion by serving a greater purpose and helping others.


• Be better: Commit to continuous improvement and adapt effectively to change.


• Be well: Prioritize physical and mental health, manage stress, and demonstrate emotional intelligence.