AVP, Application Development

Why USAA?

At USAA, our mission is to empower our members to achieve financial security through highly competitive products, exceptional service and trusted advice. We seek to be the #1 choice for the military community and their families.

Embrace a fulfilling career at USAA, where our core values – honesty, integrity, loyalty and service – define how we treat each other and our members. Be part of what truly makes us special and impactful.

We are proud to support active-duty military spouses. USAA roles may offer remote or hybrid flexibility for active-duty military spouses consistent with applicable policy and business needs.

The Opportunity

As a dedicated, AVP, Application Development, HRIS, you will plan, coordinate, and supervise all activities related to the design, development, and implementation of the organization's applications development and systems analysis function. Responsible for technology leadership including evaluation and possible adoption of various emerging technologies as needed to fulfill business needs. Leads matrixed and multi-level teams to set the agenda for key development and technical activities and manages multiple development teams supporting different lines of businesses. Responsible for developing, distributing, supporting, enforcing, and integrating best practices and technology standards across the organization, including ensuring all Information Technology General Controls, Processes and Procedures are followed as applicable and appropriate.

We offer a flexible work environment that requires an individual to be in the office 4 days per week. This position can be based in one of the following locations: San Antonio, TX, Plano, TX, Phoenix, AZ, Colorado Springs, CO, Charlotte, NC, or Tampa, FL. Relocation assistance is available for this position.

What you'll do:

• System Strategy & Roadmap: Plans short- and long-range HR tech roadmaps. Drives the evaluation, implementation, and integration of new technologies (including AI tools) to support the employee lifecycle
• Team Leadership: Manages and develops a team of HRIS analysts, developers, and system administrators.
• Architecture & Integrations: Owns the integration architecture between core HR systems and edge platforms (e.g., ATS, payroll, benefits, and learning management).
• Data Governance & Security: Ensures data integrity, system security, compliance (like SOX controls), and privacy standards.
• Vendor Management: Leads relationships with third-party software vendors, handles contract renewals, and manages the HR tech budget.
• Metrics & Analytics: Establishes KPIs to monitor system performance, ticket resolution, and user adoption.
• Accountable for ensuring the assigned application group develops processes and tools that contribute to the company business objectives.
• Ensures that all application processes developed internally or by external service providers are conducted in line with corporate social responsibility, environmental and technical policies and applicable standards and legislation.
• Implements and manage application life cycle management status reporting, metrics and benchmarks.
• Provides executive thought leadership on developing and enhancing methodologies and practices for the application life cycle management in line with best practice and practical experience of continuous improvement.
• Collaborates with other leaders and/or stakeholders and develops an application development strategy that aligns with business strategy, adds value and is within budget constraints.
• Serves as financial steward for the organization and manages relationships with major vendors and service providers to ensure they cost-effectively meet the needs of the organization.
• Oversees the assessment of the technical and business fitness of the application portfolio and associated costs and risks.
• In partnership with CTO, Infrastructure and IT Security, ensures that the organization's applications are effectively secured and that risks are mitigated and comply with legal and corporate privacy and confidentiality rules.
• Designs a visionary road map for innovative solutions at Enterprise level and ensures integration with overall IT and enterprise strategic plans.
• Develops Annual Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) for department, used to measure team performance.
• Responsible for team's adherence to SDLC SDLC and applicable controls.
• Responsible for understanding the risk posture for the activities that are conducted on their team (development and maintenance of business applications) Implements the department talent strategy (labor mix, location, team size, etc.) Understands, owns and manages the Business and IT risk & controls requirements including adherence to and timely remediation of controls-related issues.
• Manages the sourcing and vendor strategy across your service line and aligns with wider USAA strategic technology providers.
• Partners with our CTO teams to help define enterprise architecture and standards.
• Partners with business stakeholders to understand their business objectives and develop a technology strategy to support those goals by translating customers' needs into USAA Technology services in the broader service architecture.
• Provides visibility and transparency into progress, risks and issues in regular stakeholder updates.
• Mentors junior staff members and provides a platform for continuous learning.
• Provides oversight to the engagement with the business DPO and ensures deliverables adhere to Agile practices/methodologies.
• Ensure risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.

What you have:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, or related field; OR 4 years of relevant education and/or experience.
• 10 years of progressive related experience managing all phases of application development, managing major initiatives and delivering results within a complex matrix environment.
• 6 years of people leadership experience in building, managing and/or developing high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information to a non-technical audience.
• Experience collaborating with key resources and stakeholders, influencing decisions and managing work to achieve strategic goals.
• Executive-level business acumen in the areas of business operations, industry practices and emerging trends.
• Broad technical knowledge of web-based application architecture, system architecture, application integration and object-oriented languages.
• Extensive experience in all stages of the software development life cycle: requirements gathering, design, development, testing, and implementation.
• Demonstrated experience in vendor contract management and management of distributed development teams and resources.
• Demonstrated financial acumen involving budgets, forecasting, and executing on the budgets for applicable technology support function.
• Understanding of relevant industry frameworks, i.e.COBIT, ITIL, SAFe, etc.
• Understanding of Legislative and Regulatory Compliance Requirements.
• Experience overseeing the technology life cycle from requirements analysis, feasibility estimates, design, code, documentation, testing, implementation, and support.
• Technical knowledge and understanding of technical domains that reside within Infrastructure Services, Security, Data or Application Development.
• Experience conducting cost benefit analyses and leveraging results to drive technology support solutions.
• Demonstrated thought leadership in embedding intuitive story telling of technology support functions including concise presentation of complex technical details.
• Experience and ability to drive a culture of quality and personal accountability through technology support teams.

What Sets You Apart

• Deep HR domain expertise within large, complex organizations, with strong, hands-on knowledge of Workday HCM
• 10+ years of software engineering and development experience, including SaaS-based platforms
• Demonstrated engineering-first leadership mindset focused on scalable, high-quality delivery
• Proven ability to lead and develop large, high-performing engineering and support teams
• Strong track record of delivering medium to large-scale transformation initiatives, preferably within insurance or financial services
• Exceptional communication and executive presence, with the ability to build trust, navigate complex stakeholder environments, and influence at the C-suite level
• Working knowledge and practical exposure to AI and emerging technologies
• US military service or experience as a military spouse/domestic partner (preferred) through military service or a military spouse/domestic partner

Compensation range: The salary range for this position is: $224,250.00- $403,650.00.

USAA does not provide visa sponsorship for this role. Please do not apply for this role if at any time (now or in the future) you will need immigration support (i.e., H-1B, TN, STEM OPT Training Plans, etc.).

Compensation: USAA has an effective process for assessing market data and establishing ranges to ensure we remain competitive. You are paid within the salary range based on your experience and market data of the position.

Employees may be eligible for pay incentives based on overall corporate and individual performance and at the discretion of the USAA Board of Directors.

The above description reflects the details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job and should not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be performed in the job.

Long Term Incentive Plan: Cash payment for Executive level roles only, representing a cash payment which is both time and performance based.

Benefits: At USAA our employees enjoy best-in-class benefits to support their physical, financial, and emotional wellness. These benefits include comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans, 401(k), pension, life insurance, parental benefits, adoption assistance, paid time off program with paid holidays plus 16 paid volunteer hours, and various wellness programs. Additionally, our career path planning and continuing education assists employees with their professional goals.

For more details on our outstanding benefits, visit our benefits page on USAAjobs.com.

Applications for this position are accepted on an ongoing basis, this posting will remain open until the position is filled. Thus, interested candidates are encouraged to apply the same day they view this posting.

USAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.