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Wellmark

Health insurance for individuals and employers

Business Initiatives Consultant - Technology and Data

Full-TimePosted on 10/23/2026
No salary listed
Senior
Bachelor's
Des Moines, IA, USA
HybridIn office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday; travel up to 5%.
Project & Program ManagementProgram Management
No H1B Sponsorship

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in a related field or direct and equivalent work experience is required.
  • At least 5 years of progressive project experience demonstrating management of multiple projects, including a high focus on medium- to high-complexity, enterprise-wide initiatives.
  • Proven business, strategic planning, and project management experience.
  • Ability to develop initiative plans and roadmaps and manage interdependencies.
  • Ability to take ownership of assigned projects and achieve objectives for multiple complex projects.
  • Skills in building relationships and influencing people across the organization to break down barriers, resolve conflict, and foster collaboration.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, including executive communication and PowerPoint proficiency.
  • Ability to work under pressure while remaining adaptable, open to feedback, and focused during unexpected challenges.
  • Ability to travel up to 5 percent.
  • For the senior level, a bachelor's degree or direct and applicable work experience is required, along with at least 7 years of health insurance or related industry experience that includes business, strategic planning, project management, and process consulting, and a strong understanding of business initiatives and interdependencies.
  • A non-compete agreement is required.
Responsibilities
  • Translate strategic AI priorities into coordinated execution, responsible adoption, and measurable business outcomes across the organization.
  • Provide oversight, governance, and strategic enablement for enterprise AI initiatives, aligning organizational objectives, technology capabilities, risk management, and investment decisions.
  • Drive accountability and decision-making through the AI governance structure in partnership with executive leaders, business stakeholders, technology teams, and external partners.
  • Convert strategic direction into actionable roadmaps and establish measurement frameworks to track adoption and business value.
  • Coordinate AI-related vendor evaluations and strategic initiatives, and ensure the technology, data, workforce, and operational capabilities needed for success are in place.
  • Cultivate alignment across stakeholder groups, accelerate responsible AI adoption, remove execution barriers, and provide enterprise-wide visibility into progress, outcomes, and value realization.
  • Lead technical designs for highly integrated, complex application platforms to optimize security, information leverage and reuse, integration, performance, and availability, and ensure solutions align with architecture standards.
  • Consult with architects and project teams to create and document design deliverables for application platforms and collaborate on effective technology solutions.
  • Oversee and lead the planning, development, and estimation of technical solutions, collaborating with other technical teams as needed.
  • Collaborate with architects, business systems analysts, and stakeholders on process improvements.
  • Consult with business stakeholders on technical planning to ensure architectures align with business expectations.
  • Oversee, review, and provide technical guidance on supported solutions, including vendor evaluations and integrations.
  • Support architecture governance standards and provide guidance on IT policies, security, and infrastructure.
  • Provide training and mentorship on technical design and solution implementation.
  • Build business relationships to ensure technical designs align with business needs.
  • Develop and apply industry best practices and recommend emerging technologies.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience leading enterprise AI, digital transformation, or strategic technology initiatives.
  • Knowledge of AI governance, responsible AI practices, and adoption frameworks.
  • Ability to influence executive and cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Experience developing roadmaps, governance models, and value measurement frameworks.
  • Experience with vendor evaluations and technology-related request for proposal (RFP) processes.

About the company

Wellmark provides health insurance in Iowa and South Dakota, offering plans for individuals, families, employers, healthcare providers, and insurance producers, including Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement options. Premiums from members pay medical claims and administrative costs, while the company also offers services such as health trend analysis and productivity resources for employers. It differentiates itself with a broad network, strong focus on customer satisfaction and service quality, and proactive solutions like new Medicare Advantage plans and COVID-19 cost waivers. Its goal is to deliver affordable, comprehensive coverage and support to people and businesses while upholding corporate responsibility and inclusivity.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Des Moines, Iowa

Founded

1939

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • March 2025: Wellmark joined Evio as its sixth health-plan investor.
  • 2025 Wellmark Foundation invested $5.3 million in Iowa rural simulation training.
  • South Dakota's 2027 exchange keeps Wellmark statewide in 42 of 66 counties.

What critics are saying

  • Wellmark sued Iowa regulators in October 2025 over PBM reform enforcement.
  • Iowa's 2027 exchange shrinks to five carriers after Medica exits, tightening competition.
  • A PBM defeat destroys Wellmark's pricing advantage and fuels employer defections.

What makes Wellmark unique

  • BlueCard PPO reaches more than 2 million in-network providers nationwide.
  • JD Power's 2026 study ranked Wellmark first in Heartland member satisfaction.
  • Wellmark uses data and AI to improve agility, winning Foundry CIO 100 in 2026.

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Benefits

  • Medical and prescription drug coverage
  • Dental coverage
  • Vision plan
  • Compensation: comprised of two components: base pay or annual salary, and potential pay from the Performance Incentive Program (PIP), awarded annually when financial and customer measures are successfully achieved.
  • Financial Benefits: competitive financial benefits through a generous 401(k) savings and investment plan.
  • Educational assistance
  • Pathways to Wellness incentives
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Time off

Company News

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Sep 22nd, 2026
LoanCare names Amy Jones chief information officer.

LoanCare names Amy Jones chief information officer. by housingwire automation september 22, 2026 10:15 AM. Jones previously led customer technology and experience at Wellmark, and held servicing tech leadership roles at Wells Fargo

Wellmark
Jul 27th, 2026
Wellmark ranked No. 1 in member satisfaction among commercial health plans in the Heartland region by JD Power.

Wellmark ranked No. 1 in member satisfaction among commercial health plans in the Heartland region by JD Power. Published:07/27/2026 Last Updated:08/10/2026 DES MOINES, Iowa - Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield ranked No. 1, in a tie, in member satisfaction among commercial health plans in the Heartland region, according to the JD Power 2026 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Satisfaction Study(SM). This recognition reflects Wellmark's commitment to making health care coverage simpler, more personal and more affordable. Every decision starts with its members because what Wellmark do matters to their health and their budget. "What makes this recognition so meaningful is that it comes directly from our members," said Sean McTaggart, executive vice president, business development and client solutions. "It's a strong signal that we're focused on the right things - making health care easier and delivering a more supportive experience for the people we serve." The JD Power study is based on feedback from nearly 40,000 members across 135 health plans in 22 regions. It measures eight areas of member experience, including trust, ease of doing business, digital tools and how well plans help members save time or money. Customers rated Wellmark No. 1 for Product/Coverage Offerings Meet My Needs, Digital Channels and Ease of Doing Business. For more than 85 years, Wellmark has combined national connections with local expertise to offer personalized, high-quality health care coverage. This recognition reinforces its mission to make health care better for the people and communities Wellmark serve. The Heartland region includes Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. For JD Power 2026 award information, visit jdpower.com/awards.

Innovationia
May 14th, 2026
Wellmark receives award named a 2026 Foundry CIO 100 Award winner for using data and AI to improve business agility.

Wellmark receives award named a 2026 Foundry CIO 100 Award winner for using data and AI to improve business agility. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield has been named a 2026 Foundry CIO 100 award winner. For more than 40 years, the CIO 100 Awards have recognized innovative organizations that exemplify the highest level of strategic and operational excellence in IT, according to a press release. Wellmark was recognized for its use of data and artificial intelligence to better connect business priorities with day-to-day work to improve overall agility. "Foundry's CIO 100 Award recognizes organizations that turn technology into real business impact," said Kirstin Slepicka, Wellmark's chief technology officer, in a prepared statement. "This recognition affirms how our team uses data to guide complex decisions, work smarter and stay focused on improvements that will create lasting value for our members and clients." Modernizing how teams work has been a key priority for Wellmark.

KNIA - KRLS
Jan 15th, 2026
Knoxville Community School District Receives Grant from The Wellmark Foundation to Bring New Mental and Behavioral Health Services to Students

Knoxville Community School District receives Grant from The Wellmark Foundation to bring new mental and Behavioral Health services to students. * Posted By: Clayton Sampson * January 15, 2026 @ 4:46 am * Today's Local News The Knoxville Community School District has received a grant from The Wellmark Foundation to bring new mental and behavioral health services to students. The Knoxville Community School District announced that beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, students will have access to in-person therapy and Classroom Clinic, a telehealth service that connects families, schools and mental health professionals to provide personalized mental and behavioral health support for students. "Thanks to the generous support of the Wellmark Foundation, our students will have expanded access to high-quality behavioral health services that meet them where they are - both in person at school and through telehealth," said Superintendent Cassi Pearson. " This grant allows us to strengthen proactive supports, build healthy habits, and equip students with the skills they need to manage challenges, succeed academically, and thrive both in and beyond the classroom." Classroom Clinic, a school-based telehealth company, collaborates with school districts to provide timely and convenient access to youth mental health care. Its services include telepsychiatry, provided by Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, and teletherapy, from licensed mental health counselors. By introducing in-person therapy and Classroom Clinic, students at West and Northstar can access services for their mental and behavioral health similar to how they can visit the school nurse for physical health care. The new mental and behavioral health services are possible, in part, by a three-year School-Centered Behavioral Health Grant from The Wellmark Foundation. The Wellmark Foundation's School-Centered Behavioral Health Grant is available for eligible rural Iowa schools that want to establish lasting mental and behavioral health services for Iowa youth. For more information, visit Wellmark.com/SchoolBehavioralHealthGrant.

PR Newswire
Mar 6th, 2025
Evio Pharmacy Solutions Announces Wellmark As Its Newest Health Plan Investor In Effort To Address High-Cost Medications

DENVER, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Evio Pharmacy Solutions proudly announces the addition of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield as its sixth investor and owner health plan. This new partnership is an exciting development for Evio as the company welcomes its first new investor since its establishment four years ago.Wellmark, a member-owned independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, serves more than two million people in Iowa and South Dakota. Wellmark, known for its innovative approaches and commitment to making health care better, will further Evio's mission to deliver differentiated pharmacy care.Evio works with health plans to transform the medication experience for everyone: patients, providers, employers, and the pharmacy system at large. Utilizing real-world evidence analytics, innovative medication contracting models, and a suite of digital tools, Evio aims to ensure every patient can access the right medication for their unique situation, from the beginning, in a simple and affordable way."Our board and I are thrilled to welcome Wellmark to help drive our transformative agenda," said Hank Schlissberg, chief executive officer of Evio. "Having established a compelling vision, a phenomenal team, and a track record of measurable impact, Evio was open to new partners for the first time. When we evaluated potential additions, Wellmark quickly rose to the top