Vice President, Applications, Integration and Data

Vice President, Applications, Integration and Data

DUCA is looking for a Vice President, Applications, Integration and Data to join our IT team! 

The ideal candidate for this role is an exceptional senior leader who also has technical experience in architecture, systems analysis, programming and/or application development, design and integration. 

Job Purpose & Summary 

Reporting to the Chief Technology Officer, the VP, Applications, Integration, and Data will oversee DUCA’s software applications, application integration, and data warehouse capabilities while providing leadership and management that reflects DUCA core values. This role will lead DUCA’s software application strategy, supporting the business vision with the appropriate vendors and applications, finding efficiencies through integration, with a relentless focus on providing amazing experiences for Members and employees. Furthermore, this role will oversee DUCA’s data and data warehousing strategy to support reporting and business intelligence needs across the organization.

This role has oversight and overall responsibility for the operation, support, maintenance, and integration of both Member- and employee-facing applications including but not limited to online-banking web and mobile applications, account and loan origination systems, the core banking system, CRM, and corporate intranet. This individual will continually seek out opportunities for enhancements and innovation to increase efficiency, foster and support growth, and improve Member and employee experience.

The VP, Applications, Integration, and Data is an experienced leader who creates a positive, collaborative environment, and who builds a culture of passion and trust to maximize employee engagement and drive toward positive outcomes.

Key Accountabilities & Duties

• Leads by example: consistently demonstrates DUCA’s values of “Bringing out the best in others”, “Doing what’s right even when it’s difficult”, and “Making what’s possible happen”
• Provide leadership to the IT Applications, Integration and Data team creating a culture that fosters engagement, passion, and enthusiasm for the organization’s vision, mission, and values
• Contribute to the development of DUCA’s IT strategy related to overall application architecture and integration with internal and external systems; implement and operationalize this strategy
• Participate in DUCA’s data and data warehousing strategy to support reporting and business intelligence needs across the organization
• Collaborate with the Executive Leadership Team on the development and implementation of strategic and tactical plans to develop high-touch high-tech experiences for DUCA Members
• Ensure that DUCA technology supports current needs while providing flexibility for future growth and expansion
• Build strong relationships with DUCA leaders and departments across the organization to foster a collaborative, supportive environment in which we can achieve DUCA’s goals and vision
• Structure and grow the IT Applications, Integration and Data team to support DUCA growth, objectives, and the changing technology landscape
• Ensure DUCA’s application suite is secure and adheres to information and cyber security best practices
• Proactively identify, recommend, and implement new technologies, and systems to improve Member and employee experience
• Evaluate and streamline DUCA’s overall vendor and application landscape to maximize efficiency
• Manage DUCA’s third party application vendors, building strong partnerships, reviewing, and negotiating contracts as necessary to ensure they cost-effectively meet the needs of the organization
• Oversee the daily operations and maintenance of all business applications (e.g., core banking system, account opening & loan origination system, CRM, etc.)
• Apply experience and expertise in evaluating IT projects and initiatives from a total systems perspective, identifying and addressing any cross-system or downstream impacts
• Collaborate with the Project Management Office to ensure that business projects requiring IT support are appropriately resourced and that project milestones are delivered on time, in scope, and on budget
• Oversee Business System Analyst and Quality Assurance teams in efficiently planning, designing, testing, and deploying systems in support of core organizational functions and processes
• Contribute to the development of the IT Annual Operating Plan
• Manage the IT Applications, Integration, and Data budget
• Ensure service level agreements (SLAs) are established and service and operational metrics are collected, reviewed, and reported on, on a regular basis

Occupational Experience & Education Requirements 

• B.S. in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, or related field
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a senior leadership role and sitting at a cross-functional leadership table
• Minimum 15 years IT experience with 10 years of technical experience in architecture, systems analysis, programming and/or application development, design, and integration
• Minimum 10 years of experience in the financial services industry with a focus on application and data management and integration
• Minimum 10 years of experience leading and mentoring highly skilled technical professionals 

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes 

• Experience in leading multiple mid-to-large sized teams and managing stakeholder relationships with potentially conflicting priorities
• Experience leading the development of applications for large scale transaction systems with an expert understanding of SDLC methodologies including Waterfall and Agile
• Expertise in data transmission and messaging technologies for application and data integration such as ESB, SOA, REST, SOAP, and ISO messaging
• Experience with application design and deployment patterns such as Microservice Architecture and CI/CD pipelines
• Experience with programming languages such as C, C++, C#, Objective C, Java, JavaScript/jQuery, HTML 5, Angular, CSS3
• Experience with web application development, mobile technology, cloud, and application security
• Strong people management experience and a proven ability to maximize employee engagement, build, retain, and manage highly skilled and motivated teams
• Strong project management skills and a track record of successfully managing large scale transformational change
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including experience in executive level communication and presentations
• String ability to collaborate, build relationships, and influence individuals at all levels across the organization
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect and organize data to produce actionable insights
• Strong problem-solving and trouble-shooting skills
• Strong vendor management and contract negotiation skills
• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen to see the big picture and identify emerging risks and opportunities
• Strong budget management skills and ability to develop and obtain approval for significant business cases
• Ability to work under pressure of time deadlines, be flexible, and able to shift resources and priorities as required
• A continuous learner who has a thirst for keeping abreast of new and emerging technologies

 Working Conditions

• Normal office environment with occasional requirement to work weekends and nights to ensure the availability of critical business applications

Department: Information Systems

Primary Location: 5255 Yonge Street, North York ON

Employment Status: Full-time

Hours per Week: 38

Job Grade Level: 12

About DUCA

DUCA exists to help people do more, be more and achieve more with their money and their lives. We’re driven by a co-operative philosophy that puts our Members (and Owners) at the centre of every decision we make, gives them a voice in how we’re run, and rewards them for their loyalty by sharing our profits.

At DUCA, we’re dedicated to creating a positive environment where our employees have growth and development opportunities, a healthy work/life balance, opportunities to give back to the community, and a focus on doing what is right for our Members. DUCA offers a competitive total compensation package including base salary, a short-term incentive (bonus) program, a comprehensive benefits program, pension plan, and employee banking benefits.

DUCA is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates. Recruitment related accommodations will be provided upon request.

Qualified applicants are encouraged to submit their application. Applications must include both a resume and cover letter.

We thank all applicants but only those considered for an interview will be contacted.