VP, Data Integration & Third Party Activation

VP Data Integration & Third Party Activation

Location(s): Commutable to any MetLife office. 

Setting: Hybrid (3-days in the office)

Travel: Average of 3-4 trips per quarter, to travel to NYC, Bridgewater, Cary and various locations to meet with our HR Tech Partners. 

MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. We’re united by our purpose to help our customers and each other create a confident future; we’re guided by empathy; and we’re inspired by each other to make a difference in the lives of our coworkers, customers, communities, and the world at large. At MetLife, it’s #AllTogetherPossible.  Join us!

The Opportunity:

The Vice President Data Integration & Third Party Activation will be the business owner and have direct management responsibility and accountability for leading the Application Program Interface (API) Strategy across Group Benefits. This leader will also be responsible for working closely with Third Parties to articulate our data integration story and market value proposition while strengthening our partnerships and competitive market position. There will be a critical external element to this role, as well as helping to educate and train our internal partners and market facing associates as well.

Group Benefits’ API Strategy is a multi-year program that will drive end-to-end improvements in data exchange between Human Capital Management Firms, Benefit Administrative Platforms, internal processes and the end-to-end employer and claimant experience. The role is accountable for guiding the overall vision, roadmap, ongoing work delivery and outcomes that encompass multiple Agile Release Trains (ARTs) dedicated to our Data Integration Strategy, with specific focus on APIs, across Group Benefits. The incumbent will be accountable for realizing the value of ongoing solutions to deliver the end-to-end platforms, processes, and interactions across HCM and Benefit Administrators, brokers, employers and claimants from implementation to servicing.

This leader will also lead our Third-Party Activation Team which is responsible for servicing and maintaining relationships with Third Party Entities as well as integration strategies with these entities, including product and APIs. This leader will work closely with the HR Technology Team to grow and foster relationships with key Third Party Entities and will be critical in building upon the partnerships directly with the firms. In partnership with the HR Technology Team, there will be market facing activities to help to foster these relationships along with positioning MetLife in terms of product integrations, along with API execution by entity. The ability to help to educate our teams on our capabilities and competitive position will be an important aspect to the role, as well as the skillset to take market intel (both received internally and externally) to help to influence our priorities and subsequent roadmaps.

This is an agile product management leadership role that is responsible for Data Integration Strategy, specific to API in Group US Benefits as well as Third Party Activation. As single point of contact, this role will have leadership responsibility and accountability for the execution and implementation of the API Strategy, along with being a point of contact to effectively address market needs for the program. To execute on this program, this role will define strategy, business goals and measures as well as ensure execution and maintain customer base by being the face of the Data Integration/API Execution across Group Benefits. This role will also have responsibility for ensuring we are integrated with existing Third-Party Entity partnerships – from a product standpoint as well as helping to prioritize APIs based on entity. There will be an important element of establishing relationships with each of the Entities and working closely with the HR Technology Team to grow those relationships through our integration strategy. This leader will also represent MetLife and help to drive industry standards through LIMRA.

MetLife's Group Benefits Data Integration Strategy is a multi-year, high impact, cross-functional, strategic effort to drive improvements and differentiate our offerings for a better customer and associate experience. By working together and investing in our technology and processes, we'll deliver a premier end-to-end solution that strengthens our capabilities and customer-centric culture.

How You’ll Help Us Build a Confident Future (Key Responsibilities):

This role will adopt Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) approach and practices for agile delivery and focus on:

• Understanding external TPE priorities through market facing relationships and internal feedback, and incorporating into the Programs
• Partnering with Business Owners to identify pain points throughout the customer journey, creating epics and features as a result
• Ensuring each Program Increment focuses on features with a maximum value, aligned with product strategy, roadmap, and key milestones
• Helping refine, prioritize, and accept the work delivered across the ARTs within the solution train to ensure the outcomes meet the defined customer and business needs
• Working with Product Managers to ensure alignment of solution intent and backlog
• Consulting with system architect and solution architects to understand what is possible and maintain the solution roadmap

The incumbent will be responsible for creating medium and longer-term roadmaps that prioritize achieving customer and business value with data and product integration as well as API development. This role is accountable for leading and managing solution epics and backlog with the detail needed to establish the current vision while allowing teams the flexibility to explore unknowns in building the solution. Ensures integration excellence through the identification, prioritization, and implementation of projects/programs that meet strategic, tactical, market, and Third-Party Entity demands. The role will work directly with Product Management and the GTO API Factory to define the various aspects of the solution. It will also collaborate with Solution Architect/Engineering to collaboratively design the solution and assure technical feasibility. The incumbent will create shared understanding and clarity to reduce operational friction and provide the team with a clear view of their environment.

A critical aspect to executing on the data integration strategy will be the ability to develop relationships with the Third Party Entities, understand their priorities and roadmaps and work closely with the HR Technology Team to position MetLife for prioritization and success. This leader will be Group Benefit's external contact for our API Strategy and the primary point of contact to articulate our strategy to the market. This leader will be our Subject Matter Expert for Data Integration and will be critical in helping us to develop our Data Sharing Brand in market.

What You Need to Succeed (Required Qualifications):

• 10+ years of experience in Group Insurance; must have a deep understanding of the Group Insurance business and be able to discuss the business implications of technology decisions, as well as the technology implications of business decisions, particularly in terms of costs and implementation roadmaps
• Must demonstrate specific experience developing the strategic vision for an organization and prioritizing its most critical needs; ability to develop a strong business case and drive interest and agreement to secure funding to deliver against the vision
• Must demonstrate expertise and specific accomplishments managing large transformation programs, planning and managing a platform, and developing and managing IT process improvement initiatives
• Ability to develop strategic trusted partnerships with their internal partners, client groups and vendor partners
• Experience with and understanding of Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) approach and practices required
• Strong leadership skills required to restructure and continually refine organizational vision, goals and direction; and to motivate teams to reach toward World Class delivery
• Ability to direct multiple teams' activities; ability to direct, motivate and develop project staff in an evolving environment.
• Strong interpersonal, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Undergraduate degree required, MBA or other advanced degree preferred

MetLife Success Principles:

• Experiment with Confidence – Courageously learn and test new ideas without fear of failure
• Act with Urgency – Demonstrate speed to action with agility and determination
• Seek Diverse Perspectives – Source ideas and feedback to expand thinking and make informed decisions

• Seize Opportunity – Drive responsible growth and identify areas for continuous improvement
• Champion Inclusion – Foster an environment where everyone is valued, heard, and can speak up
• Create Alignment – Partner with others across the organization with candor and transparency
• Take Responsibility – Be accountable and act in pursuit of the right outcomes
• Enable Solutions – Anticipate and address obstacles while managing risk
• Deliver What Matters – Execute meaningful priorities and follow through on commitments

Benefits We Offer:

Our U.S. benefit programs are geared toward health and wellness, financial protection, and retirement savings. In addition to comprehensive health coverage including medical/prescription drug, dental, vision, and no-cost short- and long-term disability benefits also include:

• Retirement plan (cash balance pension) with a minimum monthly contribution regardless of an employee’s pay and 401(k) with employer matching
• Company-paid life insurance and legal services, and discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs
• Expert support for medical second opinions, cancer care navigation, diabetes and hypertension, weight loss/fitness, joint and spine health, caregiving, and more
• Generous paid time off, including a floating cultural heritage day
• Paid volunteer time off and charitable contribution match
• Tuition assistance
• Family benefits including paid parental leave, adoption and surrogacy assistance, child and eldercare support, college advising program

Equal Employment Opportunity/Disability/Veterans

If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at accommodations@metlife.com. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.

MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.

MetLife:

MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

We are one of the largest institutional investors in the U.S. with $642.4 billion of total assets under management as of March 31, 2021. We are ranked #46 on the Fortune 500 list for 2021. In 2020, we were named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the fifth year in a row. DJSI is a global index to track the leading sustainability-driven companies. We are proud to have been named to Fortune magazine’s 2021 list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies.”      

MetLife is committed to building a purpose-driven and inclusive culture that energizes our people. Our employees work every day to help build a more confident future for people around the world.

The wage range for applicants for this position is $204,900 to $273,200. The role is eligible for incentive compensation under the incentive plan for your position. MetLife offers a comprehensive benefits program, including healthcare benefits, life insurance, retirement benefits, parental leave, legal plan services and paid time off. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.

We want to make it simple for all interested and qualified candidates to apply for employment opportunities with MetLife.  For further information about how to request a reasonable accommodation, please click on the Disability Accommodations link below.

MetLife is a proud Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer dedicated to attracting, retaining, and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at MetLife without regards to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, national origin, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status, uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.