SVP Business Unit Technology

Established in 2021, Independence Pet Holdings is a corporate holding company that manages a diverse and broad portfolio of modern pet health brands and services, including insurance, pet education, lost recovery services, and more throughout North America.

We believe pet insurance is more than a financial product and build solutions to simplify the pet parenting journey and help improve the well-being of pets. As a leading authority in the pet category, we operate with a full stack of resources, capital, and services to support pet parents. Our multi-brand and omni-channel approach include our own insurance carrier, insurance brands and partner brands. 

Job Summary

The IPH BU Technology leader is a strategic leadership position responsible for driving the technology solutions for all our various Brands revenue supporting applications. This leader will provide oversight, guidance, and leadership in aligning the organization’s technology processes, and systems with its business objectives. The leader will also be a trusted advisor to the BU Presidents and ensure that Technology provides a competitive advantage and delivers on the business priorities for growth and cost savings. The role will have visibility across all our business units and cross-functional leadership and need to present to the C-Suite and the Board.

Reporting to the Chief Technology Officer in IPH, this role requires the ability to collaborate with and influence multiple stakeholders across IPHs’ operating companies to develop and deploy robust applications that are innovative and delight our customers with an exceptional digital experience.

Focus areas

• Architecture Excellence: Working with the architecture team, ensuring applications being built aligned with our standards as well as enhancing brand reputation, positioning the organization as a leader in cost effective, standardized, and innovative technology solutions.
• Transformation Enabler: Foster a culture of experimentation and collaboration within the organization, driving continuous improvement, agility, and competitive advantage with a cost effective and reliable environment leveraging Gen AI and automation.
• Capability Builder: Identify the organization's technological needs and strategically develop the necessary applications and tools to meet the evolving needs of the business.
• Customer Champion: Prioritize customer-centric practices to ensure reliability, responsiveness, and cost effectiveness while meeting industry standards and/or regulations.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and execute technology strategy to support the organization's vision, goals, and business needs
• Collaborate with senior leadership (C-Suite, CEO) and key stakeholders to ensure that BU technology is aligned with business strategies and objectives

Technology Governance:

• Establish and maintain a comprehensive view of each BU’s technology systems, applications, data, infrastructure, and security
• Lead the development of roadmaps that ensure the organization’s technology systems can support future growth and innovation
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:
• Work closely with business leaders, technology teams, and external partners to identify and prioritize initiatives that support business outcomes
• Serve as the primary advisor to the BU Presidents and other senior leaders on technology decisions, technology investments, and process improvements
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to ensure alignment between business and technology stakeholders

Technology Innovation and Research:

• Stay up to date with emerging technologies and industry trends and evaluate how they can be leveraged to improve BU business outcomes
• Champion innovation by identifying opportunities to integrate new technologies, tools, and platforms into the organization’s technology landscape
• Lead proof-of-concept projects and pilot programs for new technologies and solutions
• Risk Management & Security:
• Ensure that the BU technology teams align with security, compliance, and regulatory requirements (e.g., PCI etc.)
• Identify and mitigate risks related to technology design, including security vulnerabilities and compliance gaps
• Oversee disaster recovery and business continuity planning in relation to the BU applications

Leadership and Mentorship:

• Lead and mentor a team of engineers, providing guidance, coaching, and development opportunities
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging the adoption of best practices, innovation, and effective decision-making
• Build strong relationships with key technology partners and vendors to drive value and support the enterprise architecture strategy
• Comfortable with engineers discussing technology to advising senior executives such as C Suite and Board members

Performance and Optimization:

• Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of the BU technology landscape and recommend improvements to optimize performance, scalability, and cost-efficiency.
• Ensure that technology enables agile decision-making and provides the flexibility needed for future growth.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics related to technology initiatives, ensuring successful delivery of strategic goals.

Leadership Responsibility:

• Develop, mentor, and manage a high performing staff of engineering professionals

Required Skills & Abilities:

• Forward-thinking strategist skilled in devising and operationalizing a technology strategy across multiple operating entities and advise the C Suite on key technologies such as Gen AI
• A storyteller who translates technical concepts into business terms and articulates the value of technology investments to stakeholders
• Commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability in managing the organization’s technology direction
• Flexible and adaptable to respond to evolving technology challenges and organizational needs
• A change agent that fosters a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, encouraging experimentation, and adapting to evolving circumstances and environment
• An authentic and tenacious leader who leans in to partnering with peers and is a collaborative team leader who is steadfast in leading by example
• Exemplary organizational skills coupled with proactive initiative-taking meticulous attention to detail, and adept time management, flourishing in a dynamic and rapidly evolving environment
  • Acts as a culture ambassador, living our organizational values

Education and Experience:

• Proven experience (15+ years) in technology delivery and leadership in $1B+ global organizations
• Experience managing stakeholders at the C-Suite and Board level
• Experience in Financial Services, Banking, or Insurance desirable
• Experience in M&A transactions and/or integration activities desirable
• Experience with outsourcing / managed services
• Proven expertise in delivering complex systems, cloud environments, enterprise applications, integrations, and SaaS products
• Experience leading teams that work with DevOps, microservices, and agile methodologies
• Strong knowledge of IT governance, risk management, and compliance best practices
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field
• Familiarity with PCI, GDPR, CCPA, and other relevant privacy and security regulations

Other:

• Limited US travel to major hubs is required, and some international travel (CAN, UK, EU) is

All of our jobs come with great benefits including healthcare, parental leave and opportunities for career advancements. Some offerings are dependent upon the location of where you work and can include the following:

• Comprehensive full medical, dental and vision Insurance
• Basic Life Insurance at no cost to the employee
• Company paid short-term and long-term disability
• 12 weeks of 100% paid Parental Leave
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Retirement savings plan
• Personal Paid Time Off
• Paid holidays and company-wide Wellness Day off
• Paid time off to volunteer at nonprofit organizations
• Pet friendly office environment
• Commuter Benefits
• Group Pet Insurance
• On the job training and skills development
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)