Sr. Portfolio/Program Manager – Agile (Peoria, IL or Remote)

Job Description

About Us We’re not like other insurance companies. From our specialty products to our business model, our culture to our results — we’re different. Different is who we are, and how we work, interact, deliver and succeed together. Creating a different and better insurance experience doesn’t just happen. It takes focus and a shared passion for going beyond the expected to forge relationships and deliver care that makes a difference. This approach rises from and is supported by our talented, ethical and smart team of employee owners united around a single purpose: to work alongside our customers and partners when they need us, in unexpected ways, with exceptional results. Apply today to make a difference with us. 

RLI is a Glassdoor Best Places to Work company with a strong, successful background. For decades, our financial track record has been stellar — a testament to our culture and validation of our reputation as an excellent underwriting company. Our insurance subsidiaries are rated A+ “Superior” by AM Best company and A “Strong” by Standard & Poor’s. Check out our strong financial track record here.

Position Purpose

Under general management, the role involves supervising the coordination and strategic alignment of numerous projects to meet organizational objectives. It encompasses the responsibility of developing and continuously improving program management capabilities. This position entails offering strategic leadership and supervision for a collection of programs, overseeing and coordinating their execution to ensure alignment with the organization’s overarching goals and objectives.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• Establish program management methodologies and take responsibility for advancing and educating stakeholders on these practices.

• Promote the adoption of agile principles and practices to nurture a culture of continuous improvement. Possess a deep understanding of the transition from waterfall to agile methodologies and actively support this evolution while advocating for effective program management methodologies.

• Formulating and executing program plans in collaboration with stakeholders to establish objectives, scope, budget, and timelines.

• Provide leadership to cross-functional teams, ensuring the successful delivery of programs. Identify priorities and track progress to attain program goals.

• Take proactive measures to handle challenges, pinpoint potential risks, and formulate effective mitigation plans.

• Establishing communication plans and serving as the primary contact for program-related communication. Providing insights and recommendations to facilitate decision-making.

• Ensure optimal utilization of human and financial resources to efficiently meet program objectives.

• Establish and execute quality assurance processes to verify that deliverables adhere to predefined standards. Conducting reviews and audits as needed.

• Create and oversee program budgets, ensuring efficiency and compliance with financial constraints.

• Encourage teamwork and communication among team members and stakeholders. Collaborate closely with other departments to ensure alignment with goals.

• Recognize chances for enhancing processes and incorporate best practices. Assess program outcomes and provide suggestions for future improvements.

• Leads in special projects or other duties as needed.

Education & Experience

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field

• 8+ years of related experience

• Program management and / or agile certification preferred

• Familiar with insurance operations or prior consulting experience is preferred

• [OR] equivalent level of education and experience

Knowledge, Skills, & Competencies

• Prior experience supervising a variety of programs preferred.

• Expert knowledge Waterfall and Agile project methodologies.

• Ability to prioritize duties and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Understanding of insurance company operations and how to accomplish project objectives within this environment.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with a diverse group, executives, managers, and subject matter experts.

• Successfully collaborating with executives and playing a proactive role in shaping executive decisions.

• Ability to manage and delegate tasks to ensure internal customers’ needs are being met within deadlines.

• Ability to manage highly complex projects and/or programs (group of related projects).

• Ability to communicate roles and expectations with all project team members.

• Understanding of technology and/or cloud environments.

• Ability to apply a strategic perspective to improve project delivery.

• Ability to guide conflict and drive resolution.

• Understanding of stakeholder and change management practices.

• Proactive and focused on results and customer service.

• Exceptionally organized with strong time-management skills.

Personal & Professional GrowthRLI encourages its employees to pursue professional development work in insurance and job-related areas. We make a commitment to employees to provide educational opportunities that help them enhance their skills and further their career advancement. RLI fosters a true learning culture and encourages professional growth through insurance courses, in-house training and other educational programs. RLI covers the cost for most programs and employees typically earn a bonus upon successful completion of approved courses and certifications. Our personal and professional growth benefits include:

• Nationwide employment opportunities
• Training & certification opportunities
• Tuition reimbursement
• Education bonuses

Diversity & InclusionOur goal is to attract, develop and retain the best employee talent from diverse backgrounds while promoting an environment where all viewpoints are valued and individuals feel respected, are treated fairly, and have an opportunity to excel in their chosen careers. We actively support, and participate in, initiatives led by the American Property Casualty Insurance Association that aim to increase diversity in the insurance industry. Cultivating an exceptional and diverse workforce to deliver excellent customer service reinforces our culture and is a key to achieving superior business results.RLI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.Total RewardsAt RLI, we’re all owners. We hire the best and the brightest employees and allow them to share in the company’s success through our Total Rewards. With the Employee Stock Ownership plan at its core, the Total Rewards program includes all compensation, benefits and perks that come with being an RLI employee. Financial Incentives

• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)
• 401(k) — automatic 3% company contribution
• Annual discretionary 401k and ESOP profit-sharing contribution (up to 15% of base salary)
• Annual bonus plans

Work & Life

• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
• Paid volunteer time off (VTO) to support our communities
• Parental and family care leave
• Flexible & hybrid work arrangements
• Fitness center discounts and free virtual fitness platform
• Employee assistance program

Health & Wellness

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts
• 2x Base Salary for Group Life and AD&D insurance
• Voluntary life insurance for purchase
• Critical Illness & Accident insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability benefits