Chief Data Engineering and Artificial Intelligence Officer

POSITION SUMMARY

IFG Companies is seeking a Chief Data Engineering and AI Officer ("CDEA") to join its Information Technology team as the senior executive responsible for executing the strategic vision, development and delivery of enterprise-wide data engineering and artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. This is a high-impact role focused on IFG Companies' data warehousing, machine learning and AI initiatives.

The CDEA will be responsible for the adoption of Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance and support IFG Companies' business effectiveness and competitiveness, particularly for underwriting, actuarial, risk management and claim processes. In addition, the CDEA will lead the design and development of IFG's data ingestion platform which will include data extraction, enrichment capabilities leveraging generative AI technologies. The ideal candidate combines an insurance background with deep expertise in AI, data architecture, cloud technologies and machine learning.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING

• Defining and driving IFG's data and AI technology strategy aligned with profitable growth and operational efficiency goals.
• Partnering closely with the underwriting, actuarial, claims and IT teams to ensure solutions meet both technical and business requirements.
• Staying abreast of innovations in AI, data infrastructure and cloud platforms to maintain IFG's competitive edge.
• Building and maintaining cloud-based data ingestion frameworks, real-time and batch data pipelines and scalable data warehousing solutions.
• Overseeing data modeling, ETL processes, orchestration tools and data lake architecture in a secure, governed environment.
• Leading hands-on development and deployment of Generative AI and LLM-based applications to:

o Extract, summarize and classify underwriting documents.

o Automate claims processing workflows using AI copilots and intelligent document understanding.

o Enable contextual search, decision support and conversational agents for internal teams.

• Applying advanced Natural Language Processing, prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation, fine-tuning and LLM Ops to deliver secure, compliant and scalable AI services.
• Implementing robust data governance frameworks, ensuring data privacy, lineage, and compliance with standards like SOC 2.
• Collaborating with information security to define secure data access policies, encryption and risk management practices.
• Ensuring AI systems comply with regulatory and data privacy requirements.
• Mentoring team members and fostering a collaborative and inclusive team culture.
• Managing risks related to model drift, bias and unintended consequences.
• Other duties, as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Proven ability to build and maintain a robust and reliable enterprise data warehouse using cloud technology and diverse source systems.
• Deep technical knowledge and extensive experience with complex data engineering environments and tools.
• Deep technical knowledge of Microsoft Azure and the ability to build and maintain a secure cloud application, data lakes and data warehouses.
• Deep understanding of AI, data management principles and machine learning technologies, proficient in ethical AI practices.
• Proven ability to build and scale data and AI systems using tools such as Python, SQL, Spark, Kafka, Airflow, Snowflake, Databricks and cloud platforms (e.g., Microsoft Azure).
• Expertise in building and deploying LLMs (e.g., GPT, Claude, LLaMA) and Generative AI solutions in real-world applications.
• Strong organizational skills, with an ability to manage multiple timelines and complete tasks quickly within the constraints of project timelines and budgets.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, CERTIFICATIONS

• Required: Master's degree from an accredited college/university in Computer Science, Data Science or equivalent.
• Required: 8 years in AI/ML, data engineering, data science with at least 5 years in leadership roles.
• A Plus: Familiarity with Microsoft Power Platform (e.g., Dataverse, Power AI, Power automate, Power Apps).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Physical demands are considered to be that of a climate-controlled office environment, with minimal physical exertion.
• The position is hybrid and requires the ability and the willingness to work in an IFG Companies' office at least three (3) days per week.
• The position requires prolonged sitting, extensive utilization of computers and interactions with others in person and via phone.
• The position requires the ability and the willingness to travel to meet business needs.

WHY IFG COMPANIES

• Founded in 1985, IFG Companies is one of the oldest privately held insurance groups in the United States. It combines specialty carrier focus with long-term stability and thinking, promoting a culture of underwriting rigor, collaboration, strategic thinking, superior technology and strong producer partnerships.

BENEFITS

• IFG Companies offers competitive compensation and benefits, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), flexible spending, short-term and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, long-term care, paid parental leave, vacation and other paid time off.