Director of Strategy & Innovation

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Director, Strategy & Innovation

The Director, Strategy & Innovation plays a central role in enabling the effectiveness of senior leaders within the Data, AI, and Operations organization.

This senior-level individual contributor drives enterprise initiatives spanning strategy execution, program management, communications, executive presentations, change management, and culture. This role requires strong judgment, the ability to operate independently, and expertise in working closely with C-level executives and their teams. Success in this role depends on balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution, while enabling leaders to focus on the highest-value priorities.

This role will have a Hybrid work schedule, with the expectation of working in an office (Columbus, OH, Chicago, IL, Hartford, CT or Charlotte, NC) 3 days a week (Tuesday through Thursday).

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior executives and their teams to drive follow-through on strategic programs of work with a focus on collaboration, program transparency, and execution.
• Establish and maintain effective team operating rhythms, including leadership meetings, operating reviews, forums, town halls that promote transparency and informed decision-making.
• Provide program management support for complex, cross-functional initiatives, balancing near-term execution with longer-term strategic outcomes.
• Translate strategic direction into actionable plans with clear objectives, milestones, dependencies, and success metrics.
• Serve as a central point of coordination across teams, helping to surface risks, resolve conflicts, and drive alignment on priorities and trade-offs.
• Create compelling executive presentations and storytelling narratives that communicate clearly and concisely to C-level stakeholders.
• Champion change management efforts to support the adoption of new processes, technologies, and initiatives.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, excellence and belonging.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional work experience
• 10+ years of IT program management, with at least two in a senior-level role
• Experience working in IT organizations and Agile methodologies, with a solid understanding of the software development lifecycle.
• Hands-on experience and understanding of the data and AI areas preferred
• Highly effective communicator with the ability to clearly and concisely articulate ideas, concepts and proposals, and to effectively interface with C-level executives and stakeholders.
• Strong written communications skills with thorough attention to detail; experience in layout design, graphics and visualization; and an emphasis on distilling complex information into clear and concise messages and narratives
• Strong understanding of change management principles and methodologies with demonstrated experience driving organizational transformation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport, influence stakeholders, and drive collaboration and consensus across cross-functional teams.
• Results-oriented and resourceful, capable of quickly taking control of responsibilities and establishing credibility as a strategic business partner.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite

Candidate must be authorized to work in the US without company sponsorship. The company will not support the STEM OPT I-983 Training Plan endorsement for this position.

Compensation

The listed annualized base pay range is primarily based on analysis of similar positions in the external market. Actual base pay could vary and may be above or below the listed range based on factors including but not limited to performance, proficiency and demonstration of competencies required for the role. The base pay is just one component of The Hartford’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include short-term or annual bonuses, long-term incentives, and on-the-spot recognition. The annualized base pay range for this role is:

Equal Opportunity Employer/Sex/Race/Color/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity or Expression/Religion/Age

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