Sr. Operations Strategic Initiative Analyst

Job Description:

Providing for loved ones, planning rewarding retirements, saving enough for whatever lies ahead – our policyholders count on us to be there when it matters most. It’s a big ask, but it’s one that we have the power to deliver when we work together. We collaborate and innovate – pushing one another to transform not just Pacific Life, but the entire industry for the better. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do. Pacific Life is more than a job, it’s a career with purpose. It’s a career where you have the support, balance, and resources to make a positive impact on the future – including your own.

We’re actively seeking a talented Sr Ops Strategic Initiative Analyst to join our Ops Strategic Initiatives team in one of our three locations: Newport Beach, CA; Omaha NE or Lynchburg, VA. This role can be on-site or hybrid.

The CMD Operations Strategic Initiative Team is responsible for effectively leading, managing, and analyzing various Operations projects, as well as divisional/enterprise projects that have an impact on Operations.  Projects vary by complexity, based on duration, scope, number of impacted CMD departments, external vendors, divisional initiatives, cost, stakeholder involvement, risk, and other various project interdependencies. 

The Sr. Operations Strategic Initiative Analyst is responsible for independently leading three or more projects of medium and high-level complexity, taking on additional support functions, as assigned, such as demand prioritization, working group facilitation, or developing and maintaining administrative project tools and resources, and acting as a mentor for less experienced team members. 

How you’ll help move us forward:

Responsible for overseeing the entire project lifecycle, from inception to completion. 

Initiation, Planning, Testing & Execution:

• Initiate project within Smartsheet or similar project management tools; facilitate kick-off meetings with all identified stakeholders and Sponsors to clearly define project roles, scope and objectives, timeline, cost, and project plan.  

• Independently lead and facilitate productive planning sessions/meetings as needed to achieve the above; Create, maintain, and monitor project plan and roadmap as applicable.

• Independently lead and facilitate productive sessions with external stakeholders like Technology, Compliance, etc. to clarify queries or remove impediments impacting the project.

• Develop approaches and solutions, using a collaborative team approach with key stakeholders; develop needs assessments and cost-benefit analysis in support of proposed solutions.

• Coordinate implementation plans to minimize impact to department workflow and to ensure deliverable can be well-sustained by impacted teams after rollout.

• Partner effectively with manager and team to gain and apply feedback, insight and direction on project approaches and challenges. 

• Work closely with Operations teams and SME’s to develop thorough business requirements and/or user stories for IT.

• Work with Operations teams and SME’s to effectively develop user acceptance test plans to provide end user sign off.

• Partner with Ops and IT to determine how change(s) will fit into existing business processes, whether existing processes require modification, or if new processes need to be stood up.

Risk, Issues & Dependency Management:

• Identify, manage, and track project and operational risks, issues, and dependencies impacting the projects’ triple constraints (Scope, Schedule, Cost).  

Communication:

• Independently lead and facilitate productive planning sessions/meetings with all internal and external business teams and SME’s as needed to achieve the above.

• Independently facilitate effective meetings with Sponsor and stakeholders, driving successful decisions and outcomes.   

• Present clear and concise progress/status updates in project reviews and proactively to various leadership levels within the organization as needed.

• Communicate key changes in scope, schedule, and cost, as well as project and operational risks, in a timely manner to the sponsor, project and leadership teams.  

Documentation:

• Ensure agenda and minutes are clear and concise for all meetings and shared promptly with attendees.

• Update project management tool (Smartsheet) with all relevant project artifacts and details; include all relevant details, and ensure documentation is easy to comprehend, and identifies and addresses impact to all Operations teams.

• Partner with Training and Knowledge Management to coordinate updates to documentation, SOPs, and Job Aids, ensuring project