Lead Data Solutions Strategist

About the role

The Lead Data Solutions Strategist connects business priorities with data and analytics capabilities, ensuring every initiative entering the data roadmap is clearly framed, strategically justified, and tied to measurable outcomes. This role owns the front door — from initiative intake and discovery through solution framing and prioritization — before handing off to the Data Product Manager for backlog ownership and delivery execution.

Direct Reports

• Data Solutions Strategists

Comparable Titles

• Data Strategy Manager
• Analytics Solutions Manager
• Manager of Data Strategy & Planning

Job Summary

The Lead Data Solutions Strategist connects business priorities with data and analytics capabilities, ensuring every initiative entering the data roadmap is clearly framed, strategically justified, and tied to measurable outcomes. This role owns the front door — from initiative intake and discovery through solution framing and prioritization — before handing off to the Data Product Manager for backlog ownership and delivery execution.

Main Responsibilities

Initiative Intake & Strategic Framing

• Own the initiative intake process — define how requests enter the data roadmap, how they are assessed for strategic fit, and how they are prioritized relative to enterprise objectives.
• Partner with business stakeholders to identify and frame high-value data and analytics opportunities across Claims, Finance, Marketing, Operations, and other functions.
• Translate complex business challenges into clear data requirements, opportunity briefs, and solution recommendations.
• Collaborate with the Head of Data Strategy & Planning to support annual planning, roadmap updates, and executive prioritization decisions.

Solution Design & Handoff

• Develop solution blueprints and functional specifications that define the “what” and “why” for new data initiatives, enabling clean handoff to the Data Product Manager for backlog ownership and delivery.
• Partner with the Data Product Manager to ensure strategic intent is accurately translated into product requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
• Work with the Senior Data Architect to ensure proposed designs align with enterprise data standards, architecture patterns, and governance requirements.
• Support build vs. buy evaluations by providing business-grounded input on value, risk, and strategic fit — in collaboration with Architecture and Engineering.

People Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of two Data Solutions Strategists — setting clear expectations, reviewing deliverables, managing workload prioritization, and supporting career growth.
• Ensure consistency and quality across solution briefs, stakeholder deliverables, and initiative framing produced by the team.
• Facilitate cross-functional workshops and alignment sessions with business, engineering, and analytics teams.
• Build a culture of intellectual curiosity, business accountability, and outcome-oriented delivery within the strategy function.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in data strategy, analytics, solution delivery, or business analysis roles.
• Demonstrated ability to bridge business and technical perspectives — translating ambiguous business needs into structured, actionable data requirements.
• Strong understanding of data management concepts including data modeling, integration, governance, and quality.
• Experience working with modern data platforms such as Azure, Azure DevOps, Databricks, and Power BI; familiarity with policy administration systems a plus.
• 2+ years of people management or team leadership experience, including mentoring and managing delivery quality.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills — comfortable presenting to executive audiences and cross-functional teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Analytics, Information Systems, or related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in insurance, financial services, or another regulated industry with complex data environments.
• Familiarity with data governance frameworks and tools (e.g., Collibra, Purview) given close partnership with the Governance function.
• Exposure to Agile/scrum delivery models and product management practices.
• Experience evaluating data products or vendor solutions as part of build vs. buy assessments.
• Pet health, insurtech, or multi-brand portfolio experience is a plus.

Success Indicators

• Business value and ROI: Data initiatives delivered through this function are clearly tied to measurable outcomes — claims efficiency, customer retention, pricing accuracy — and that value is visible to executive stakeholders.
• Pipeline quality: The initiative pipeline is well-prioritized, clearly framed, and free of ambiguous or low-value requests.
• Stakeholder trust: Business leaders across Claims, Finance, Marketing, and Operations view the strategy team as a trusted partner, not a gatekeeper.
• Team performance: Both Data Solutions Strategists are producing high-quality solution briefs with increasing independence and growing in their stakeholder engagement capabilities.
• Handoff quality: The Data Product Manager consistently receives well-framed initiatives with clear business context, reducing downstream rework and scope ambiguity.

Benefits

• 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)
• Retail 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
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)