Director, Data Services

BITCO Corporation, headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, is seeking a Director, Data Services to join our team. With 11 branch offices in 10 states, BITCO provides quality insurance services to special industries including Construction, Forest Products, and Oil & Gas.

Position Summary:

The Director, Data Services will lead the organization in the Company's data strategy, service management, and delivery functions. This is a key role responsible for establishing and executing a comprehensive data vision, ensuring the availability/scalability, quality, security, and accessibility of data across the organization. The position will lead a team of data professionals and collaborate closely with business units, IT teams, and partner teams to unlock the full potential of the organization's data assets. This role will drive the critical importance of using data in driving the organization's business success and delivering exceptional value to our customers.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Design, recruit, and provide leadership to the Data Services team, which includes Data Scientists, Engineers, Architects, Analysts, and other Data Professionals
• Lead the design and maturity of the organization's Data Services journey though assessments, strategy, and year-over-year roadmaps
• Develop and maintain the enterprise data delivery architecture vision, strategy, and roadmap, ensuring alignment with business and analytics teams and while providing a clear direction for storage, curation, consumption, and tools
• Develop and implement comprehensive standards and metrics surrounding data governance, data integrity/quality, , data integration, and data delivery
• Establish and maintain data governance policies, standards, and best practices/procedures to ensure data accuracy, consistency, integrity, security, and compliance with relevant regulations. Implement data quality frameworks and processes
• Oversee the design and implementation of robust and scalable data architectures, data models, and database systems that meet the current and evolving needs of the business
• Envision, socialize, and architect scalable solutions driving data excellence and the future incorporation of AI, ML disciplines in a business practical approach that drives value
• Partner with Cybersecurity to ensure the security and privacy of all data assets, implementing and enforcing data security policies and procedures in collaboration with the security team
• Develop and implement strategies to improve data accessibility for business users and analytics teams, enabling self-service capabilities where appropriate. Oversee the continuous delivery of timely and accurate data sets and reports
• Evaluate and manage relationships with external data vendors and service providers
• Collaborate with architects to define data models, data flows, and data integration strategies that align with the overall enterprise architecture
• Effectively communicate the data strategy, progress, and challenges to executive leadership and other stakeholders. Collaborate with business units to understand their data needs and provide solutions
• Stay up to date on the latest trends and technologies in data management and analytics, identifying opportunities to modernize our data infrastructure, service offering, and support processes
• Conceptualize and model legacy application data migration to SaaS platforms utilizing cloud partners to minimize on-premise data while improving service offering
• Maintain standards, execution, and inventory of interfaces with external products (on premise or in the cloud) while maintaining overall performance and appropriate response to business intelligence/analytics users
• A deep and through understanding of how BITCO creates value for its stakeholders in order to properly prioritize and sequentially staff data services initiatives through FTE/FTC/Partnership alliances
• Drive a culture of data-driven decision making and data literacy in alignment with BITCO's strategic objectives
• Maintains current company and department procedures. Assigns work, provides training and feedback to team members, and conducts timely and appropriate evaluations of job performance in the department
• As a management representative, consistently acts in the best interest of BITCO and provides leadership and communication to actively promote BITCO's mission, values, and culture
• All other functions and duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems Management, Business Administration, related field, or equivalent experience required
• At least 10+ years' of experience within complex data environments including design, integration, curation, consumption, database management, security and monitoring controls, and management information systems
• At least 5+ years' of experience in a leadership role incubating, scaling, and overseeing data services and related functions
• Up-to-date practical knowledge of AI/ML technologies and their trends including vendors, libraries, tools used to drive real business value
• Deep understanding of data governance principles, data quality management, and data security best practices.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing data architectures, data models, and database systems (both relational and non-relational)
• Strong knowledge of data integration tools and techniques (e.g., ETL, ELT, data warehousing).
• Experience with cloud-based data platforms and services (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and motivate high-performing teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a strategic mindset. Prior experience in the insurance industry is preferred, with an understanding of insurance data and regulatory requirements