Kim Gutierrez
Senior Leader
Boerne,TX
Summary
Dynamic Director oversees every facet of production with strong strategic planning, project/program management and decision-making skills. Brings comprehensive knowledge of the Financial Industry space with a specialization in Property & Casualty, Startups and Banking. Strong leader and problem-solver dedicated to streamlining operations to decrease costs and promote organizational efficiency. Skilled at coordinating production/release plans and personnel resources to complete work under tight deadlines. Multi-tasking leader well-known for creating positive workplace culture and high performing teams. Demonstrated implementation leader across teams with foundational Project/Program management expertise.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr Director, Customer Engineering
Synapse
01.2022 - 07.2023
- Established Customer Engineering team of 30+ Software Engineers to be Technical Account Managers who assisted about 50+ clients to implement Synapse’s infrastructure that layered customizable financial solutions.
- Grew talent pool by actively recruiting top-tier candidates from diverse backgrounds while implementing robust training programs for skill development across all levels of staff members.
- Lead development of strategic plans and department goals to strengthen operations and drive growth.
- Developed strategies for services-generated revenue, including planning, forecasting, and execution.
- Achieved departmental goals by developing and implementing strategic plans and initiatives.
- Fostered work culture of collaboration and inclusion to increase morale and reduce turnover.
- Cultivated culture of innovation by promoting creative thinking and encouraging employees to take calculated risks in pursuit of solutions.
- Established data-driven decision-making processes and implemented best practices in analytics to optimize performance across organization.
- Increased employee satisfaction, providing regular coaching and feedback sessions.
- Championed continuous improvement initiatives to drive operational excellence within organization.
- Navigated complex regulatory environments to ensure compliance with local laws, standards, and regulations relevant to the business domain.
- Instituted formal operating procedures and enforced adherence to policies and regulations that impacted bottom-line.
- Reduced employee turnover rates by creating a positive work environment with clear expectations and support systems in place.
- Revamped operational plans to refocus staff and align processes with business objectives.
- Enhanced internal communication channels, resulting in improved information flow and decision-making processes.
Director, IT P&C Policy Modernization
USAA
06.2017 - 01.2022
- Directed a $1.2B transformational P&C journey moving from legacy to modernized systems with 100+ staff including 3P
- Established new IT office from scratch for USAA IT in Phoenix in 2018, having 58 FTEs and 75+ 3P
- Strong collaboration with Product Management, C-Suite, IT, Marketing and Vendors
- Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Provided analysis and recommended best approaches for process improvement by collaborating with hands-on team up to senior leadership.
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.
- Established culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering employees to voice their ideas.
- Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
- Strengthened internal controls by reviewing existing policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Established departmental performance goals and provided feedback for underperforming areas.
- Facilitated cross-functional collaboration for improved decision-making processes within organization.
- Improved project efficiency with strategic planning, resource allocation, and time management practices.
- Formed strategic partnerships internally and with our third party advisors and clients to drive business development.
- Proactively identified potential risks and implemented mitigation strategies to minimize negative impacts on projects or business operations.
- Effectively facilitate senior-level discussions, and credibly drive alignment and decisions.
- Ability to set and adjust priorities under conditions of limited resources and competing demands.
- Negotiated favorable contracts with vendors for reduced costs and improved service quality.
- Leveraged data analytics insights for informed decision-making in critical areas such as sales forecasting, budgeting, or personnel management.
- Monitored expenditures to mitigate risk of overages.
- Executed use SAFe Agile methodologies with high organization skills and attentive to detail.
IT Director, IT Financial Advice Solutions Group (FASG)
USAA
02.2016 - 09.2017
- Transformed legacy mutual fund application to a new digital platform
- Enhanced IT infrastructure by implementing strategic technology upgrades and streamlining system processes.
- Led comprehensive team of Project and Program Manager, IT developers and analysts across FASG and USAA groups to ensure roadmap and defined strategies were aligned
- Implemented cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive company data and maintain compliance with industry standards.
- Managed team of IT professionals, providing mentorship and guidance to boost productivity and ensure project success.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to provide optimal technology support for various departments within company.
- Developed comprehensive disaster recovery plans, ensuring business continuity in case of unforeseen events or emergencies.
- Oversaw budget management for IT department, allocating resources effectively while minimizing costs where possible.
- Initiated and managed transformation from USAA Mutual Funds to Victory Capital
- Headed 50+ resources, 15 direct reports, and 3P resources onshore and offshore
- Executed using SAFe Agile methodologies.
IT Director, Fraud, Security & AML
USAA
01.2009 - 02.2016
- Led execution of $5M+ Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Enterprise Case and Alert Management Systems (ECAMS) products
- Implemented cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive company data and maintain compliance with industry standards.
- Evaluated emerging technologies for their potential impact on organizational goals, recommending viable solutions as needed.
- Established budget, roadmap, strategy and project execution for Fraud & Security products
- Responsible for on time and on budget execution of program
- Negotiated contracts with vendors, securing cost-effective services for the organization''s IT needs.
- Implemented $3M Internal Threat Monitoring product in order to optimize efficient threat control
- Spearheaded $25M in overall project management activities from conception to completion
- Uncovered and resolved critical stop-gaps in Fraud/AML world for USAA
- Oversaw 40 direct reports and 100, third-party, on and offshore, for end-to-end delivery of $140M projects
- Steered highly skilled team to help fight nefarious fraud activities potentially harm company bottom line
- Created and managed budget and forecast; updated senior management across IT and business segments
- Introduced various and new agile methodologies for process improvement.
IT Manager, USAA- IT P&C Property & Auto
USAA
06.2007 - 01.2009
- Led successful delivery of over $80M in initiatives focused on P&C Property lines of business within 3-year period
- Defined roadmap, strategy, budget and project execution for P&C products
- Converted P&C legacy systems to digital, self-serve view by executing Renters Policies online for first time in close collaboration with various layers of Executives, resulting in improving member and service representatives’ experience
- Directed 10 FTEs and 40 3P resources on and offshore.
Program and Project Manager- USAA
USAA
05.1992 - 06.2007
- 15 years as Project & Program Manager.
- Successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously by prioritizing tasks according to urgency, resource availability, and alignment with organizational goals.
- Led and facilitated project meetings and had regular presentations to executive leadership.
- Planned, designed, and scheduled phases for large projects.
- Met project deadlines without sacrificing build quality or workplace safety.
- Established effective communication among team members for enhanced collaboration and successful project completion.
- Developed comprehensive project plans with clear timelines, milestones, and budget requirements, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality results.
- Delivered exceptional customer satisfaction by proactively addressing client concerns and meeting or exceeding expectations throughout engagement process.
- Developed strong relationships with stakeholders through regular communication updates, fostering trust and confidence in team''s ability to deliver results.
- Assessed project needs and resources continually to complete projects on time, within budget while managing risks, issues and mitigation strategies.
- Partnered with resource managers, business partners, and vendors to provide encouragement, motivation, and leadership to execute project successfully.
- Led and executed project communication plan to ensure alignment across teams
- Established cross functional alliances within and outside technology department
- Focused on $50M annual budget on average for Property & Casualty Projects
- Provided CEO and C-Suite “Projects and Programs-at-a-glance” indicating color coded status (Red, Green, Yellow, Blue)
- Provided insights into Schedule Performance Index (SPI) and Cost Performance Index (CPI), Variances, Forecasted budget and adjusted budgets
- Provided and managed risk analysis, issues and actions and communication to executive management
- Prepared detailed reports on project status for stakeholders, ensuring transparency and alignment with objectives.
- Negotiated and managed third-party contracts related to project deliverables.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations & Political Science
St. Mary’s University
San Antonio, TX12.1989
Skills
- Collaborative Leadership
- Stakeholder Relations
- Strategic Planning
- Project Management
- Program Management
- Decision-Making
- Customer Relationship Management
Qualifications Summary
- Strategic Leadership
- Strategic Mind- Execution Focused DNA
- Innovation and Problem Solving
- Strong Visionary with Product Owner mindset
- Adept at structuring & analyzing complex strategic problems
- Empathetic- Relationship Driven
- Business Development
- Drive Decisions with all levels of stakeholders
- Business Transformation
- Innovative Process &Technology Solutions
- IT Application Development
- Cross-team Collaboration
- Project Management
- Variety of Agile Frameworks
- Evangelize SAFe Methodologies
- Effectively facilitates senior level discussions
- Budgeting & Cost Control
- Contractors & Vendors Relations
- Communication: Ability to influence set and adjust priorities
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeWork Location
RemoteHybridImportant To Me
Company CultureWork-life balanceHealthcare benefitsWork from home optionPaid time offCareer advancement401k matchPaid sick leaveTimeline
Sr Director, Customer Engineering
Synapse
01.2022 - 07.2023
Director, IT P&C Policy Modernization
USAA
06.2017 - 01.2022
IT Director, IT Financial Advice Solutions Group (FASG)
USAA
02.2016 - 09.2017
IT Director, Fraud, Security & AML
USAA
01.2009 - 02.2016
IT Manager, USAA- IT P&C Property & Auto
USAA
06.2007 - 01.2009
Program and Project Manager- USAA
USAA
05.1992 - 06.2007
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations & Political Science
St. Mary’s University
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