Director, Innovation - P&C Process & Automation

Why USAA?

Let’s do something that really matters.

At USAA, we have an important mission: facilitating the financial security of millions of U.S. military members and their families. Not all of our employees served in our nation’s military, but we all share in the mission to give back to those who did. We’re working as one to build a great experience and make a real impact for our members.

We believe in our core values of honesty, integrity, loyalty, and service. They’re what guides everything we do – from how we treat our members to how we treat each other. Come be a part of what makes us so special!

The Opportunity

As a Director of Innovation for Property & Casualty Process & Automation, you will support USAA's strategic objectives by researching, testing, and deploying innovations related to strategically defined focus areas. Accountable for managing the end-to-end innovation process and determining the feasibility and viability of innovation concepts to include early-stage research, ideation, design, incubation, prototyping, piloting, and developing a business case and the in-market operationalization plan. Responsible for determining the business need for innovation concepts and overseeing the project progress of those concepts from idea to implementation and post-implementation evaluation.

We offer a flexible work environment that requires an individual to be in the office 4 days per week. This position can be based in one of the following locations: San Antonio, TX, Plano, TX, Phoenix, AZ, Colorado Springs, CO, Charlotte, NC, Chesapeake, VA or Tampa, FL. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

What you'll do:

• Strategically leads team to provide innovative solutions for problems and needs assessment of USAA business partners and members to review opportunities for innovation concepts, evaluate viability and feasibility, initiate business and/or market assessments, and introduce/execute new capabilities for USAA members and employees.
• Governs and manages the full project lifecycle within a prioritized portfolio and ensures alignment to LOB and enterprise strategy and supports allocation of appropriate resources across matrixed teams.
• Prioritizes innovation ideas, which meet the criteria for consideration and assigns projects to team members based on scope, complexity.
• Manages a project portfolio budget and allocates financial resources to innovation initiatives appropriately based on cost analysis findings.
• Oversees contract negotiations and supplier selection decisions.
• Builds alliances and relationships with key stakeholders across the enterprise and pursues government contracts for additional funding when necessary.
• Provides the team with guidance, technical training, and identification of professional development opportunities to increase employee knowledge of process improvement and change management techniques and strengthen their ability to effectively manage projects of various scales.
• Manages innovation platforms to include platform KPI development and management, roadmap management, and market development. Improves business partner outcomes through platform utilization.
• Builds and manages a high performing team of analytical and business professionals through ongoing execution of recruiting, training, retention, coaching and support, performance management, and related managerial activities.
• Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.

What you have:

• Bachelor's degree; OR 4 years of related experience (in addition to the minimum years of experience required) may be substituted in lieu of degree.
• 8 years of experience managing releases, and/or executing the launch of effective innovation solutions or strategic initiatives; to include 2 years of experience in Innovation, R&D, new product development, or startup.
• 3 years of direct team lead or management experience.
• Extensive experience in business case development, project coordination and working with enterprise teams to deliver project results.
• Extensive experience with business research method, process engineering methods and change management initiatives.
• Experience gathering and assessing data for KPI management and completing Cost/Benefit Analyses.
• Broad company-specific and industry-specific knowledge.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective cross-functional relationships with employees of various levels throughout the organization.
• Experience effectively working with both internal and external partners on business development opportunities and teaming agreements.
• Extensive knowled