The Team
The Research & Development (R&D) team within the Enterprise Technology Experience (ETX) organization is responsible for developing and deploying automation, AI (traditional, generative, and agentic), and other emerging technologies and trends (e.g., health and wellness offerings) to deliver transformative impact to MassMutual customers, financial professionals, and employees. Given all of MassMutual’s technical delivery capabilities within these emerging technology domains sit within R&D, the team has recently been in “growth mode” with a particular focus on building out our technical talent in generative and agentic AI and our strategy and transformation talent as part of a newly established “Strategy & Partnerships” team.
The recently established Strategy & Partnerships team within R&D is responsible for partnering with the most senior leaders across MassMutual to develop a holistic strategy for deploying our R&D capabilities toward the most impactful business outcomes and strategic priorities across the enterprise.
To that end, the Strategy & Partnerships team is responsible for:
- Partnering with our Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and other senior business stakeholders to identify opportunities to deliver transformative, step-change impact on MassMutual’s strategic business priorities through the deployment of emerging technologies such as AI
- Bringing together and leading cross-functional teams composed of business, technology, and control function partners to execute against these opportunities
- Working with the R&D Leadership Team and a cross-functional group of senior leaders across MassMutual to:
- Define the transformation approach and best practices that cross-functional teams will leverage to deliver impact at-scale across MassMutual through the deployment of AI and other emerging technologies
- Partner with stakeholders and senior leaders within Human Resources, Communications, and Corporate Finance to ensure a rigorous approach to change management, communications, and impact tracking is taken
- Providing regular updates to our Board of Directors, CEO and Executive Leadership Team, and other senior stakeholders on the progress of our program and efforts
The Strategy & Partnerships team is comprised of a team of Product Owners that are aligned to MassMutual business areas and a central Program Leadership office which is responsible for defining the overall transformation approach and strategy in collaboration with the broader R&D leadership team.
The Product Management Lead would be part of the Product Owners organization, report into the Head of R&D Strategy & Partnerships, and be primarily responsible for (1) partnering with senior business stakeholders to identify opportunities to deliver transformative, step-change impact on MassMutual’s strategic business priorities through the deployment of emerging technologies such as AI and (2) bringing together and leading cross-functional teams composed of business, technology, and control function partners to execute against these opportunities.
Culturally, we look for individuals with a strong inclination for learning and from a variety of backgrounds who challenge each other openly, regardless of level or role on the team. We operate using a top-down, hypothesis-driven problem-solving approach grounded in strong conceptual thinking / problem structuring skills and deep data analysis. We embrace diversity in all of its forms, require respect, expect consistent delivery of high quality products, and look to have fun.
The Impact
MassMutual, and our industry at-large, are at a pivotal time as emerging technology such as generative and agentic AI are fundamentally transforming how we operate and deliver value to our customers, financial professionals, and employees. This role offers the opportunity to play a central role in that transformation and to shape how MassMutual leverages AI and other emerging technologies to deliver on its key business outcomes and strategy at the highest levels. As a Product Management Lead, you will be at the center of defining and driving MassMutual’s enterprise AI (and broader emerging technology) strategy and be partnering day-to-day with senior stakeholders across the business and technology to deliver impact at-scale through the deployment of AI (and broader emerging technologies). If we are successful, we will not only be transforming MassMutual, we will also be transforming and setting an example for the rest of our industry.
Responsibilities
- Provide regular consultation to senior executives and serve as a top thought leader on emerging technology product management and technology-driven transformation to influence and shape key business outcomes and emerging technology (e.g., AI) strategy
- Champion innovative opportunities that have enterprise-wide impact by using relevant experience, data-driven insights, and considerable judgment to define and deliver a product roadmap of breakthrough emerging technology-powered business solutions with an initial focus on AI-focused business solutions
- Lead cross-functional product delivery teams with a long-term focus on creating and measuring enterprise-wide value, setting strategy, vision, prioritizing work, and aligning resources
- Dive deep into business processes with the goal of improvement and driving change with data
- Engage with all levels across the enterprise from our Executive Leadership Team (CEO minus 1) to the frontline
- Lead the development of the agenda, storyline, and supporting content for executive updates to senior leaders, problem solving sessions with cross-functional delivery teams, and ideation workshops with business leaders
- Serve as a conduit of knowledge between functional and technical teams
- Take a client-first mindset when communicating regularly with individuals both within and outside of our team to increase cross-functional collaboration
- Navigate ambiguity to resolve problems and deliver results which likely have significant enterprise-wide impact, beyond the R&D and/or ETX organizations
- Define metrics to quantify value and ideate to find new ways of delivering value with the product
- Productize models, platforms, dashboards, automated workflows, agentic AI solutions etc., and influence their utilization throughout the enterprise
- Develop plans for continuous service to support implementation of products
- Act as a champion for R&D team’s capabilities by communicating their benefits and how they can be implemented
- Take ownership of resolving any outages, including communication with stakeholders, management of resources, ensuring resolution, and continuous improvement.
- Bring Program Management & Project Management expertise and execute on complex projects
- Motivate and drive large scale technical teams of employees & contract resources (on-shore & off-shore)
- Provide Senior Leadership with a clear view of project status, risks and issues to meeting timelines and goals
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree from leading college or university
- 10+ years of product management experience or complex, cross functional, strategic based project experience; preferably within the financial services industry
- 1+ year of experience with strong understanding of AI/ML concepts, including model lifecycle, data pipelines, AI explainability and ethical AI considerations
- 1+ year of experience working in partnership with other technical professionals such as engineers, developers, data scientists
- 2+ years of experience leading cross functional product/project teams to execute and achieve success in complex and high value deliverables
- Ability to quickly break down problems in a structured manner, and prioritize analysis
- Ability to analyze complex data and draw out insights and implications
- Ability to create simple, powerful, and data-driven communications (e.g., primarily PPT decks, but could include memos, dashboards, etc.) for senior leaders
- Outstanding communication skills with a demonstrated ability to build enduring, trust based and high-impact relationships with clients and other colleagues
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree with a bachelor’s degree preferably in Investment/Business or an analytical field such as Economics, Mathematics, Engineering, or Computer Science
- Experience within the life insurance or broader financial services industry
- Experience working in an agile work environment, with Jira and Confluence preferred
- Resilient and adaptable approach to getting the work done and skilled in applying judgment to balance process compliance with achievement of business objectives
- Strong organizational skills and detail oriented
- Ability to assess a project's scope and the team's ability to execute
- Outcome oriented with the ability to dynamically switch between drilling down into process details and pulling up to understand the big picture as needed
- Ability to communicate objectives, plans, status and results clearly
- Strong leadership skills and ability to influence without authority
MassMutual is an equal employment opportunity employer. We welcome all persons to apply.
If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us and share the specifics of the assistance you need.
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