Resp & Qualifications
PURPOSE:
The Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer (CIO) has enterprise-wide accountability for technology strategy, information systems, and technical and operational support that enable the Companys business, subsidiary, client, and provider needs. The CIO leads the Technical & Operational Support (ITOPS) division, encompassing both traditional IT functionsincluding data management, analytics, and the application of AIas well as shared business services such as Mandates Strategy, Delivery & Oversight, the FACETS Competency Center, HealthCare Analytics, and BCBSA Performance Metrics.
This is a highly complex, multi-dimensional role requiring significant work experience in both IT and business operations complemented by strong consultative leadership and change management capabilities. The CIO brings extensive knowledge of the health insurance industry, its systems, and operations. This executive works closely with Executive Leadership and Business Line Leaders, to provide governance, strategic advisory support, and project delivery services that align technology initiatives with enterprise priorities.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
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Modernizing how systems work together across the enterprise is the CIOs most urgent priority. Partnering closely with executive leadership, the CIO leads the transformation of CareFirsts technology environment to facilitate a fully integrated, digitally enabled operating model that supports growth, compliance, innovation, and operational excellence.
Strategic Direction and Enterprise Leadership
- The CIO is a key contributor to enterprise strategy and corporate decision-making, ensuring technology investments are aligned with CareFirsts long-term vision.
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Serves as a strategic partner to executive leadership, advancing product innovation, regulatory compliance, growth, and business performance.
- Develops and implements enterprise technology strategies, operational plans, and multi-year roadmaps that will focus efforts on successful project implementation and strategic vision of CareFirst.
- Chairs and facilitates multiple strategic and operational governance forums to drive alignment, prioritization, and accountability.
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Leads and manages a high-performing technology team, attracting, developing, and retaining top talent to optimize the achievement of short- and long-term objectives.
Organizational Impact
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As the key executive leader shaping IT organizational culture, the CIO will evolve the technology organization into a modern, secure, and resilient digital enterprise.
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Leads with a culture-driven, people-first approach, demonstrating excellent communication, sound judgement, and steady leadership through complexity and change.
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Drives and aligns technology leadership across enterprise strategy, transformation initiatives, cybersecurity, and operational excellence in support of corporate goals and objectives.
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With exposure across all aspects of the business, the CIO is core to defining the capabilities, skills, and operating models required to execute the company vision and strategy.
Applications Development
- The CIO has end-to-end accountability for application strategy, development, modernization, and delivery enterprise wide.
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Oversees application portfolios serving provider-facing, market-facing, and enterprise operational domains, including legacy modernization and sunsetting.
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Defines and executes a forward-looking application strategy that positions CareFirst to compete successfully in an evolving health insurance industry landscape.
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Ensures modern, scalable software development practices aligned with industry standards.
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Owns investment decisions related to systems development, including cost-benefit analysis, prioritization, and vendor selection.
Data Center and Network Operations
- Oversees all infrastructure operations, including data center, disaster recovery and planning, data and voice networks, platform services, and client services technology.
- Ensures consistent, high service levels across databases, servers, networks, storage, e-mail, collaboration tools, and telecommunications.
- Maintains accountability for operational performance, system availability, and service level commitments.
Architecture and Security
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The CIO is accountable for enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, and technology risk management.
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Establishes the architectural strategy, standards, and governance to ensure scalable, flexible, and interoperable systems.
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Ensures technology platforms are highly reliable to facilitate agility, stability, and adaptability in response to market, legislative, and competitive changes in the health-care industry.
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Leads enterprise security strategy and implementation, ensuring systems are protected and compliant with regulatory and industry standards.
Shared Services, Compliance and Delivery
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Responsible for mandates strategy, delivery, and compliance oversight.
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Owns portfolio management, resource planning, financial management and external labor strategy for IT.
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Ensures CareFirst is compliant with BCBSA standards and metrics.
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Ultimate accountability for enterprise platforms such as FACETS, digital channels, and customer portals supporting providers, brokers, members, and employers.
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Oversees end-to-end testing, quality assurance, and key strategic vendor relationships.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
This position manages people.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education Level: Bachelor's Degree in computer science, Information Technology, or related field OR in lieu of a Bachelor's degree, an additional 4 years of relevant work experience is required in addition to the required work experience.
Experience: 15 years of experience in a technological role with demonstrable, scaled solution delivery or product development and 10+ years of managerial or leadership experience with demonstrated P & L responsibilities.
Preferred Qualifications:
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Masters degree in a computer science-related field or MBA.
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Previous experience as CIO or a senior enterprise technology leader with a health insurance/payer domain expertise. Blues experience considered a bonus.
- Proven experience leading technology at scale in a complex, regulated environment.
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Proven track record of success delivering core system modernization, large scale transformations, data and cloud capability building and disaster recovery and operational resilience programs.
- Strong regulatory fluency across HIPAA, CMS, state insurance regulations, SOC, privacy, security, and governance frameworks.
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Direct P&L ownership and accountability, including budget planning, cost optimization, capital allocation, and value realization.
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Extensive experience leading large, diverse organizations with multiple functions, geographies, and high operational complexity.
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Proficient understanding of modern digital business enablers, enterprise platforms, and operating models, including cloud, data and analytics intelligent automation, and product delivery, with strong knowledge of the healthcare industry nationally and regionally.
- Proficient management consultancy skillset, including large scale team development, enterprise-wide program leadership, fiscal discipline, and portfolio investment stewardship.
- Ability to drive people, process, and technology change in a dynamic and complex operating environment.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain digital concepts and technologies to business leaders, and articulate business concepts to technologists.
- Demonstrated capability to solve highly complex business challenges, make difficult decisions, drive outcomes through influence, and mobilize teams toward shared goals.
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Consistently builds strong, trust-based relationships; fosters collaboration across teams and with stakeholders; develops future leaders through coaching, mentoring, recognition, and purposeful talent development.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
Visionary Perspective
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Possess a broad and long-term view of the social, governmental, demographic, and economic trends affecting health care systems in the United States which can support a compelling, practical, and reality-based vision for the role CareFirst can play in that ever-evolving system.
Execution Excellence (Scalability)/Passion for Operational Excellence
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Lead the business in a manner that ensures key results, business goals, and strategic objectives are achieved in a consistent and predictable manner.
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Demonstrates the ability to balance disciplined execution and delivery with long term, big picture strategic planning.
Resilient and Inspirational Leadership
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Ability to inspire confidence, foster performance excellence, and generate energy and personal commitment to the organizations vision, values, and strategies among all associates of the company. Inspires confidence, drives performance excellence, and builds energy and personal commitment to the organizations vision, values, and strategies across the enterprise.
Wise Judgment and Mental Agility
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Possess adaptive and quick learning capabilities. Has experience at making sense of ambiguity and managing/leading transformational change. Apply broad knowledge and seasoned experience when addressing complex matters, defining strategic issues, making human capital decisions, dealing with ambiguity, and making decisions involving a broad array of trade-offs. Demonstrates adaptability and rapid learning, with the ability to make sense of ambiguity and lead through transformational change. Applies broad knowledge and seasoned judgment to address complex issues, define strategic priorities, make human capital decisions, and navigate trade offs in uncertain environments.
Team Builder
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Selects and develops superior talent, organizes, and aligns the leadership team in a unified pursuit of the companys vision and strategies. Promotes the development of human capital throughout the organization.
High Impact Communications & Relationship Building
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Possess the ability to communicate CareFirsts vision and strategies in a manner that promotes a broad base of understanding and support among internal and external stakeholders. Possess the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with all internal & external stakeholders
Salary Range: $335,920 - $503,880
Salary Range Disclaimer
The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the work is being performed. This compensation range is specific and considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, internal peer equity, and market and business consideration. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range, as compensation decisions depend on each case's facts and circumstances, including but not limited to experience, internal equity, and location. In addition to your compensation, CareFirst offers a comprehensive benefits package, various incentive programs/plans, and 401k contribution programs/plans (all benefits/incentives are subject to eligibility requirements).
Equal Employment Opportunity
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
Federal Disc/Physical Demand
Note: The incumbent is required to immediately disclose any debarment, exclusion, or other event that makes him/her ineligible to perform work directly or indirectly on Federal health care programs.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The associate is primarily seated while performing the duties of the position. Occasional walking or standing is required. The hands are regularly used to write, type, key and handle or feel small controls and objects. The associate must frequently talk and hear. Weights up to 25 pounds are occasionally lifted.
Sponsorship in US
Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without Sponsorship.
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