Supervisor - Application Development

Awarded the Best Place to Work 2021, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona helps to fulfill its mission of improving the quality of life of Arizonans by delivering a variety of health insurance products and services to meet the diverse needs of individuals, families, and small and large businesses as well as providing information and tools to help individuals make better health decisions.

This position is remote within the state of AZ only.  This remote work opportunity requires residency, and work to be performed, within the State of Arizona.

Team Supervision

• Manage efforts necessary to identify and define (Business Requirements/Functional Specifications) system enhancements in the application development system portfolio and surrounding / interfacing systems.  This requires working with management and staff in multiple departments.
• Manage the Requirements Development - including business requirements, review of product integration, verification and validation using defined business tools.  This includes decision analysis and resolution to identify the solution that not only meets the business need but also minimizes risk and impacts to budget.
• Attend and back up when needed at Leadership and Governance Board meetings. 
• Obtain agreement from appropriate department management regarding the usability of enhancements.  This requires the supervisor to become familiar with all functionality delivered within a release, and to be able to explain it to our business customers.
• Responsible for coordination and oversight in the release hand offs to Operations, Service Desk, Integrated Customer Solutions or Business Customer for user acceptance testing and support.
• Mentor and coach direct reports to identify needed skill sets and growth opportunities in order to build a better team to support our business customers.
• Responsible for participation with the Manager, in the development goals, personnel evaluations and merit increase determinations for direct reports.
• Represent BCBSAZ at User Group and Product Workgroup meetings.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for our customers and vendors.  Engage in conversation as requested with external contacts regarding the application development systems.
• Work on and coordinate special projects as requested by management.
• Establish goals and complete performance evaluations for all subordinates. 
• Develop and mentor staff by providing career-path opportunities for assigned personnel.  This is accomplished through delegation, training (internal and external), and assignment to various project teams in addition to timely feedback.
• Counsel and/or discipline staff as necessary determined by corporate and department policy and procedures.
• Develops, organizes and/or conducts necessary training programs for staff.

Planning

• Oversee all on-call schedules and plans with direct reports.
• Stay current on new developments in technology related industries.
• Participate with management in formulating goals for the area and IT for BCBSAZ.
• Participate in developing a strategic technical strategy.
• Participate in budgeting process.
• Participate in forecasting process.
• Create and deliver presentations

Technical

• Learn area’s direct flow and how it affects surrounding systems and operational areas.
• Maintain existing programs including routine changes and major enhancements.
• Conduct research.
• Study and resolve performance problems with assigned systems.
• Track and resolve processing problems, coordinating with all areas as needed.
• Document programs, systems, manuals, etc.
• Document processes and procedures.
• Review technical specifications for proper design, standards, content and functionality
• Responsible for support of internal application development applications.

Other

• Communicate to our business customers and the team of high level goals as well as current issues, accomplishments, and plans.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, business, subject matter experts and development teams.
• Contribute to the improvement of core software development practices and processes.
• The position requires a full-time work schedule.  Full-time is defined as working at least 40 hours per week, plus any overtime as requested or needed to perform job responsibilities.

• Perform all other duties as assigned.
   

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Required Job Skills

• Intermediate skill in use of office equipment, including copiers, fax machines, scanner and telephones
• Intermediate PC proficiency
• Intermediate proficiency in spreadsheet, database and word processing software
• Strong knowldege of operating systems, i.e. Windows, AIX, Linux and systems networking and communication techniques.
• Ability to read files, file formats, workflows, and data flows

Required Professional Competencies

• Work with all levels of management and functional areas in BCBSAZ and understand the potential implications of system changes to those areas
• Able to plan and implement projects using sound project management methodology.
• Ability to understand and interpret variety of contracts
• Customer service skills to deal with sensitive and difficult customer situations
• Independent thinker with strong oral, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong understanding of information systems, business processes and the key drivers and measures for success
• Strong  analytical and decision making skills
• Ability to prepare written proposals and deliver presentations.
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy

Required Leadership Experience and Competencies

• Provide leadership, promote teamwork, meet objectives and exercise independent judgment
• Experience leading and implementing projects and working collaboratively with other departments and levels of administration
• Strong organizational and management skills

PREFERRED COMPETENCIES

Preferred Job Skills

• Advanced skill in use of office equipment, including copiers, fax machines, scanner and telephones
• Advanced PC proficiency
• Advanced proficiency in spreadsheet, database and word processing software
• Expert knowledge of operating systems, i.e. Windows and systems networking and communication techniques

Preferred Professional Competencies

• Demostrate flexibility, anticipate customer needs and communicate in a manner consistent with business strategy
• Advanced tactical planning and decision making skills
• Able to cope with multiple priorities and high customer expectations and bridge the demands between internal and external customers
• Advanced understanding of information systems, business processes and key drivers and measures for success
• Advanced analytical and diagnostic skills dealing with issues that are not readily defined, lack known precedent or appear contradictory
• Develop solutions by applying accepted processes or new approaches to leverage technology
• Advanced understanding of HIPAA transactions and privacy requirements
• Presentation and public speaking abilities
• Development and application of budgeting concepts, processes and procedures
• Advanced project management skills
• Create business requirements, functional specification, technical specifications, test plans and test scripts
• Interpret medical, legal and technical data, including state and federal regulations and their effect on operations
• Conceptualize new business architecture and infrastructure

Preferred Leadership Experience and Competencies

• Identify resources and training needs while fostering opportunities for staff growth
• Promote and support the overall quality principles and company quality program
• Empower associates at all levels and encourage innovation and risk taking
• Develop an enthusiastic and positive work envirnoment
• Negotiation and influencing skills with the ability to create win/win situations
• Resource management skills
• Skills, experience and leadership abilities to serve as designated back-up for various IT leaders
• Educate and mentor staff on leadership techniques, staff consulting, work management, etc.
   

Our Commitment

BCBSAZ does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected group.

Thank you for your interest in Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.  For more information on our company, see azblue.com.  If interested in this position, please apply.