Director, Technology Project Management (Annuity Modernization Program)

If you’re passionate about being part of a dynamic organization that enables a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales to drive innovation and adopt new technologies that deliver business results, then Nationwide’s Technology team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

About the Role

The Director, Technology Project Management role for the Annuity Modernization Program is responsible for leading the execution and delivery of one of Nationwide Financials’ most strategic technology transformation initiatives. This leader will oversee a complex portfolio of work focused on modernizing annuity platforms, business capabilities, and supporting technology ecosystems to enable future growth, operational efficiency, and enhanced customer and associate experiences. The role requires strong leadership across technology, business, and vendor organizations to drive delivery excellence, manage transformational change, and ensure successful realization of program objectives. The Delivery Leader will serve as a key partner to senior executives, business stakeholders, and technology leaders while maintaining accountability for program outcomes, financial performance, risk management, and organizational alignment.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of the Annuity Modernization Program, ensuring alignment to enterprise strategy and business objectives.
• Drive execution of complex, multi-year transformational initiatives spanning policy administration, digital capabilities, data, integration, and operational platforms.
• Establish and maintain integrated delivery plans, key milestones, dependencies, and critical path management across multiple workstreams.
• Ensure successful delivery of business capabilities while balancing scope, schedule, quality, risk, and financial commitments.
• Provide leadership and governance across a portfolio of modernization initiatives and associated technology investments.
• Drive effective program management disciplines, including risk management, issue resolution, dependency management, and executive reporting.
• Lead governance forums and decision-making processes to accelerate delivery and improve organizational alignment.
• Monitor and communicate program health, delivery performance, and value realization to executive stakeholders.
• Partner closely with business executives and product leaders to translate strategic priorities into executable delivery roadmaps.
• Facilitate alignment across technology, operations, product, and business teams to ensure successful program outcomes.
• Influence prioritization decisions and investment strategies to maximize business value and customer impact.
• Ensure modernization efforts support long-term operational scalability, flexibility, and innovation objectives.
• Manage large-scale program budgets, resource plans, and investment portfolios.
• Drive financial accountability and transparency across modernization initiatives.
• Lead strategic vendor relationships and oversee delivery performance across partner organizations.
• Identify opportunities to optimize costs, improve delivery efficiency, and maximize return on investment.
• Build, develop, and lead high-performing delivery organizations focused on accountability, collaboration, and execution excellence.
• Coach and mentor leaders across the program to strengthen delivery capabilities and organizational effectiveness.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, transparency, and servant leadership.
• Champion adoption of new delivery practices, AI-enabled ways of working, and modernization strategies.
• Provide clear, concise, executive-level communications regarding program status, risks, financial performance, and strategic decisions.
• Prepare and present updates to senior executives, governance committees, and business leadership teams.
• Develop KPIs and performance metrics that measure delivery effectiveness, operational outcomes, and value realization.
• Responsible for the end-to-end management of associates including performance management, salary planning, training, development, workforce planning, hiring, and disciplinary actions.
• Accountable for the delivery of expected business outcomes, realization of benefits as outlined in the business case, and driving incremental value.
• Apply secure software and systems engineering practices throughout the delivery lifecycle to ensure data and technology solutions are protected from threats and vulnerabilities.
• Provide communication, critical issue visibility, and change management guidance to deliver business outcomes.
• Manage facilitation of contract negotiations, statement of work development, and ensure vendors are making expected progress.
• Drive prioritization of work, handle complex issues/risks, and govern dependencies.
• Lead all aspects of the delivery of status/health reports to drive value delivery tracking (e.g., KPIs), optimize flow of value, and ensure demand/capacity is managed.
• Manage and consult on complex and/or project/product financials.
• Serve as the top professional/coach to others around delivering business outcomes, benefit realization, agile delivery, and Lean.
• Actively participate in communities of practice, industry involvement, and/or standards organizations.

Requirements

• Proven success leading enterprise-scale modernization initiatives involving technology platform transformation and business process change.
• Experience overseeing multi-million-dollar programs with significant organizational impact.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams across technology, business, operations, and vendor organizations.
• Strong background in Agile, SAFe, and hybrid delivery methodologies.
• Strategic thinking and enterprise mindset.
• Executive presence with exceptional communication and influence skills.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive alignment across competing priorities.
• Strong decision-making, negotiation, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Proven success leading organizational change and transformation initiatives.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate studies (bachelor’s degree preferred) in management information systems, engineering, math, computer science, data analytics, or comparable experience and education.
• Ten or more years of experience in technology or related field.
• Five years demonstrated proficiency in delivering outcomes/projects.
• Three to five years of management experience is preferred.
• Awareness of new technologies and/or industry trends.
• Technology certifications or PMI, SAFe, Agile, or Lean designations are encouraged.

Skills

• Portfolio and program management
• Transformation leadership
• Financial and budget management
• Vendor and partner management
• Risk and dependency management
• Executive communications and reporting
• Organizational change management
• Cross-functional leadership and team development

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading policy administration platform modernization programs.
• Experience delivering large-scale cloud, data, digital, or customer experience transformation initiatives.
• Certifications such as SAFe Program Consultant (SPC), PMP, or related leadership and delivery certifications.

Reporting Relationships

Reports to Executive Delivery Leader or Business Solution Area Executive; responsible for 4-8 directs and in-directs.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• Paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year (pro-rated quarterly based on hire date)
• Nine paid holidays
• 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off
• 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off
• 401(k) with company match
• Company-paid pension plan
• Business casual attire

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected, and engaged.