Director, Program and Portfolio Management - Hybrid

For over a century, the Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) has been California's trusted, objective provider of actuarially based information and research, advisory pure premium rates and educational services integral to a healthy workers' compensation system. The WCIRB is a California unincorporated, private, nonprofit association comprised of all companies licensed to transact workers' compensation insurance in California. The operations of the WCIRB are funded primarily by membership fees and assessments; no state money is used to fund its operations. The WCIRB is a stable company and a proven leader in the workers' compensation insurance industry nationwide.

The WCIRB performs a number of functions to accurately measure the cost of providing workers' compensation benefits and ensure a healthy workers' compensation system. To learn more about our company, please visit About Us | WCIRB California. The WCIRB employs approximately 175 people with the average tenure of over 10 years. We are committed to fostering a healthy, safe and diverse work environment leading to a dedicated, collaborative and innovative workforce This is a hybrid position where approximately 40% of the work time is spent at the home office in Oakland, California.

Summary

The Director of Program and Portfolio Management (Director) leads the WCIRB's Program Management Office (PMO) responsible for managing the enterprise portfolio and ensuring programs are aligned with strategic business goals and priorities, resources are allocated efficiently, program risks are identified, assessed and mitigated, and delivery outcomes meet organizational expectations. The Director leads a team of Project Managers, Project Coordinators, and Business System Analysts, and works across the enterprise to define, prioritize, develop and allocate resources to projects and programs.

Responsibilities

Strategy and Planning

• Work closely with product leaders to build backlog based on well-articulated value proposition, portfolio prioritization and alignment with strategic initiatives and enterprise objectives.
• Collaborate with product leaders, cross-functional teams, and assigned project managers to allocate program resources as necessary to plan and develop scope, deliverables, required resources, work plan, budget, and timing for new initiatives.
• Organize and coordinate programs and provide strategic guidance to teams and project managers.
• Build and align product backlog with business strategy

Operational Management

• Manage the enterprise portfolio and lead the continuous development and integration of the enterprise product roadmap
• Lead Business Systems Analysts, in coordination with product owners and subject matter experts to elicit, document and analyze business requirements, manage backlogs, and support UAT
• Lead Project Managers to create and manage project plans, identify and allocate resources, support product releases, track project obstacles, track budget and budget projections and lead scrum masters
• Facilitate and coordinate program and project teams for optimal value to effort; coordinate and delegate cross-product initiatives. Allocate resources as necessary to meet priorities while optimizing efficiency and quality
• Solve projects' higher scope issues. Escalate issues appropriately and timely. Communicate with stakeholders and product owners in a timely manner.
• Lead cross functional Enterprise Program Management Office to keep all program stakeholders abreast of the state of the enterprise portfolio and to facilitate quarterly planning to gain alignment on priorities
• Create and manage stakeholder expectations and provide regular updates on progress, risks and milestones.
• Maintain and continuously improve the Enterprise Dashboard which provides executive and Board level review of the organization's key performance indicators.

Leadership, Management and People Skills

• Ability to make sound decisions and support them.
• Ability to formulate and communicate the vision for the function to senior management and staff, carry out WCIRB's mission, and identify ways to increase the division's value to the WCIRB.
• Ability to appropriately adapt management style to a variety of situations.
• Ability to project positive self-image and credibility to staff, peers, management and external contacts.
• Ability to set a good example for staff, delegate responsibilities, as well as coach, motivate, develop, reward and discipline employees.
• Ability to objectively and independently review, analyze and evaluate the work of each employee and the overall department.
• Ability to foster and engage in cross-functional collaboration to resolve business challenges

Qualifications

• BS in Computer Science, Information Systems or related field is preferred.
• 10+ years project leadership with mid-size and large cross functional teams
• Proven experience with setting and managing a departmental budget
• Experience in vendor management in support of department or program needs
• Experience working in the Insurance or Health Care industries is a plus
• Strong technical background and experience working with engineers and development teams
• Strong team player with ability to coach and mentor
• Agile\Scrum certification and or PMP

Our employees enjoy a state of the art, energy-efficient, open work environment that nurtures collaboration and creativity. Our benefits package is thoughtfully designed to ensure our team enjoys the support and perks that enhance their personal and professional lives.

Our benefits include:

• Hybrid work environment (40% onsite, 60% remote)
• Medical, dental and vision benefits
• Competitive PTO program
• 401K and pension plan
• Annual incentive plan
• Social activities
• Community volunteer involvement
• Referral bonus program