IT Policy and Planning Manager (Medical Payments Product Manager)

Posting number: 2026-07942

Department: Dept. of Labor & Industries

Division: Insurance Services - Administration

Job classification: IT POLICY & PLANNING - MANAGER

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: IT and Computers, Project Management, Program Management

Summary

Our Mission: Keep Washington Safe and Working! Our Values: Customer Focus, One L&I, Respect, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Learning and Growth, Reliability

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Insurance Services Division, is seeking a strategic leader to join the Insurance Services Technology Team (ISTT) as an IT Policy and Planning Manager (Medical Payments Product Manager). In this position you will provide strategic direction, governance, investment leadership and lifecycle management to ensure technology investments deliver modern, sustainable business capabilities and provide measurable business value. Through this work, this position makes a positive impact for our customers and supports the mission of Insurance Services, to help injured workers heal and return to work.

You will be responsible for product planning and decision-making activities to ensure successful delivery of product improvements with Insurance Services’ software Product Portfolio. This position requires expert-level Product Management skills and abilities, as well as the ability to develop and maintain L&I’s Product Management standards amongst the Insurance Services Product Owners. Through your leadership, organizational influence and mentoring to Product Owners you will advance a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, accountability, and customer-centered products and systems.

Why Work for us:

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety, health, and security of Washington's workers. We help employers meet safety and health standards and inspect workplaces when alerted to hazards. As administrators of the state's workers' compensation system, we are similar to a large insurance company providing medical and limited wage-replacement coverage to workers who suffer job-related injuries and illness. Our rules and enforcement programs help ensure workers are paid what they are owed, that children and teens' work hours are limited, and that consumers are protected from unsound business practices.

Insurance Services is the largest division within the agency and administers one of the premier workers’ compensation organizations in the nation serving over 3.8 million employees working for 260,000 employers.

The Insurance Services Technology team provides technical support and coordinates ongoing maintenance and enhancements for Insurance Services’ software applications and systems. They work closely with business areas to understand their needs and translate those needs into working systems. This includes existing applications and systems as well as development of new applications and systems. They perform robust testing and consult on project implementations.

Here is what we are looking for:

• Experience leading large-scale business transformation or legacy system modernization initiatives.
• Project management skills to effectively organize and oversee multiple projects and assignments to ensure the work is accurate, thorough and progresses toward the achievement of goals and objectives.
• Familiarity with Agile/Scrum practices.
• Ability to review, independently interpret, analyze, and apply specialized program policies and procedures to make recommendations and decisions.
• Strong customer service skills with the ability to authentically listen and connect with others to build and maintain internal and external relationships and customer satisfaction.
• Working knowledge of payment technologies.
• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in written format, complex information to various audiences in a way that is easy to understand.
• Knowledge of Insurance Services’ Workers’ Compensation claims management processes.

Examples of duties

Some of what you will do:

• Establish and lead Product Discovery practices and activities.
• Evaluate customer needs, business opportunities, organizational risk and expected business value to determine and recommend Product investment priorities.
• Develop and implement the goals and objectives of Insurance Services’ Product Portfolio.
• Provide executive leadership and strategic guidance on Product vision.
• Lead strategic analysis of emerging business capabilities, technologies, legislative requirements and industry trends to identify opportunities to improve customer outcomes, operational effectiveness and long-term product strategy.
• Establish, govern, and continuously refine the strategic Product roadmap that communicates Product direction, investment priorities, business capabilities, and expected outcomes.
• Product Portfolio Governance
  • Establish portfolio priorities and govern the sequencing of Product initiatives.
  • Ensure Products deliver equitable outcomes by design.
  • Ensure data is developed and leveraged to inform strategic and tactical decision-making.
  • Develop and track measures of success and key performance indicators for the Product Portfolio.
• Mentor, coach, and develop Product Owners across Insurance Services to ensure alignment around strategic priorities and outcomes.
• Represent Insurance Services in executive discussions regarding Product strategy, modernization initiatives, investment decisions, and business transformation.
• Build organizational support for Product direction and modernization initiatives through strategic partnerships with executive leadership, technical leaders, stakeholders, external partners, and customers.
• And much more!

Qualifications

Required:

• Nine (9) years of progressively responsible strategic Product Management experience leading the strategy, governance, modernization, and lifecycle management of complex software products or product portfolios supporting critical business capabilities.
  Experience must include:

• • Leading Product discovery, Product strategy, roadmap development, and Product investment decisions.
  • Serving as the business owner or strategic leader for complex software Products or Product portfolios.
  • Leading cross-functional teams through significant business transformation or technology modernization initiatives.

An associate degree or bachelor’s degree in information technology, user experience design, computer science, business information systems or other relevant field from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience.

• • An associate’s degree may substitute for two (2) years of experience.
  • A bachelor’s degree may substitute for four (4) years of experience.

AND

• Experience evaluating, prioritizing, and governing significant technology investments that balance customer value, business outcomes, organizational strategy, technical feasibility, and available resources.

• Demonstrated ability to develop deep business and product expertise, including an understanding of the technologies that enable complex business capabilities and support strategic decision-making.

• Demonstrated experience applying Agile Product Management principles and modern Product Management practices to deliver customer value through iterative software development.

• Demonstrated success leading diverse cross-functional teams through influence, building consensus among business, technology, executive leadership, vendors and customers to achieve strategic business outcomes.

• Exceptional communication, facilitation, negotiation, and executive presentation skills with demonstrated ability to influence decision-making among diverse stakeholder groups.

• Demonstrated strategic decision-making skills with experience balancing customer needs, organizational priorities, technology constraints, risk, regulatory requirements, and financial considerations.

• Demonstrated experience applying equity, accessibility, and human-centered design principles to product strategy, customer research, and delivery of digital business capabilities.

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.

• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Desired:

• Experience serving as the Product Manager or business owner for enterprise software Products supporting complex business operations.
• Experience leading large-scale business transformation or legacy system modernization initiatives.
• Experience influencing executive leadership regarding technology investments and organizational priorities.
• Experience developing business cases, investment strategies, and executive decision packages.
• Experience implementing Product Management governance practices across multiple Product Teams.
• Experience managing Product portfolios within the public sector or highly regulated industries.
• Experience with Product Discovery, Design Thinking, Lean Product Management, or Human-Centered Design methodologies.
• Experience with cloud modernization initiatives and Software as a Service (SaaS) evaluation or implementation.
• Knowledge of Washington State workers’ compensation insurance programs or comparable insurance, healthcare, financial, or regulatory systems.
• Certified Scrum Product Owner (SCPO), Pragmatic Institute, PMI-ACP, SAFe Product Manager/Product Owner (POPM), or equivalent Product Management certification.

Supplemental information

Things You Need To Know

At L&I, your voice matters. L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety, health and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. Watch this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.

L&I provides a modern work environment and excellent benefits including paid leave, tuition reimbursement, Infants at Work Program and a generous retirement package for qualified employees at the end of their career. Click on the “Benefits” tab to learn more.

We value our employees and their work-life balance. We support a hybrid work model and offer flexible custom work schedules. This position is eligible for a flexible schedule (4/10’s, 9/80’s, 5/8’s, etc.) upon approval by management.

For this position, you can telework will be allowed up to full time with the expectation of working from the office to attend in-person meetings and training, or upon business need. The assigned duty station for this position is Tumwater, Washington.

Application process

Please note: We anticipate having first round interviews the week of October 5 – 9, 2026.

To be considered for this opportunity, you must submit a complete online application including detailed work history and professional references with current phone numbers.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. A cover letter describing your specific qualifications.
2. A current resume detailing your applicable experience and education.

We will contact the top candidates directly to advance in the selection process. Because we base the selection on the information you provide, please ensure your application includes details that clearly demonstrate how your experience relates to the qualifications and responsibilities described in this announcement.

Applications with incomplete work history, references to a resume in place of detailed work experience, or missing attachments may be considered incomplete and not considered for further review.

Please do not attach or place any medical information within the application, resume, or cover letter. If you do, we will have to reject your application to safeguard others from receiving your confidential information. You will have to remove the confidential information before you can apply again.

To learn more about our hiring process timeline at L&I please visit our L&I recruiting page at Hiring Process at L&I. If you would like to read our website in a language other than English, scroll up to the top of the page to select your language of choice from the banner.

Background Check Notice

Prior to placement in this position, a background check, including criminal history records will be conducted. Information from your background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining your eligibility to perform the requirements of the position.

Other information

• For positions requiring travel, you must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• This position is represented bytheWashington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
• Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
• The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.
• Please note: L&I may use this announcement to fill multiple permanent and/or non-permanent positions.

Did You Know?

Washington is America's Top State to live, play, and work, according to U.S. News (2021). Join the L&I team and enjoy all the Evergreen State has to offer.

Veterans Preference

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach to their application a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as Social Security numbers. For further information, contact L&I’s Jobs@lni.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

L&I employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contributes to the success of the agency mission. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest source of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures to provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need an accommodation in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 360-902-5700. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials, and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

For more Information

If you have any questions regarding this job posting, program, or the agency, please contact Angela Laramie at hrbtu@lni.wa.gov.