Primary DetailsTime Type: Full time

Worker Type: Employee

The role is the primary interface between the GSSC business unit and the regional IT teams, ensuring alignment between business strategy and IT and driving continuous operational efficiencies. Acting as the IT trusted adviser and point person for the GSSC management team and be the advocate for technology within the operation. In the role of Trusted Adviser the Head of Technology will need to champion the requirements of GSSC (including identifying, developing critical IT business solutions), and back to the regional IT teams to ensure that their voice is heard.Assumes end to end accountability for delivery of IT services for the GSSC included in the Portfolio, including Build and Supply, and including projects, development, support and work requests/BAU. Accountability also encompasses facilitation of the project pipeline and program management accountability for all IT projects within the GSSC. Understand and raise awareness of business vision, strategy, goals and tactics in IT.


Primary Responsibilities

• Strategy and Planning
•Act as the single owner for all Technology services that GSSC provides to the various divisions and ensure the services provided meet the relevant business needs in terms of quality, efficiency, and speed
•Expand the Technology Services footprint in GSSC in terms of headcount and “revenues” for GSSC
•Define and implement a strategy and operating model for “insourcing” selected critical Technology skills back into QBE (in close collaboration with Group CIO and divisional CIOs)
•Maintain the strategic view of business objectives and needs and align delivery of IT solutions with business needs through consistent engagement with key stakeholders
•Ensure each project and service within the portfolio delivers against its proposition aligned to the organizational strategy
•Strategic and business alignment input to the delivery of customer solutions, via overseeing the capturing of business requirements
•Leverage key services in IT and Business to ensure effective delivery of service to the business
•Contribute to the development, communication and delivery of a clearly articulated change strategy to support delivery of overall business targets.
•Work closely with the regional IT community team to ensure that business strategies, drivers and issues are supported by the technology estate and the internal processes that support that estate.
•Develop and deliver a roadmap for the GSSC IT priorities and take overall responsibility for ensuring that roadmap is delivered to an appropriate standard of quality and to the timeframes agreed with the business
•Policy, Process and Procedures
•Encourage high standards of relationship management to achieve a high standard of both customer awareness of technology services, and a strong rating in terms of team performance
•Collaborate with business leaders to help design and deliver plans and determine the technological needs and process competencies that are most critical in terms of delivering those plans and strategies.
•Accountable for the delivery of change projects and programmes (both business and technical solutions) to achieve best in class efficiencies and effectiveness within the relevant business area
•Manage and coordinate the annual change planning for the GSSC, to shape the agenda for organisational, process and technological change, ensuring that IT thought leadership is brought to
•bear on such discussions and that all Technology stakeholders are fully included and that the Technology team can show a comprehensive plan supporting the business strategy/plans
•Ensure compliance to relevant legislation
•Ensure Information security policy adherence
•Advocate an effective risk and compliance culture by effectively designing and implementing procedures, with appropriate control evidence where appropriate
•Ensures appropriate and effective modelling and change management frameworks are in place
•Environmental Awareness/Customer Focus
•Manage and enhance the relationships between the cross-region IT teams supporting the GSSC and key business stakeholders to ensure service delivery meets business needs
•Oversee the management of effective relationships with project business owners to ensure full engagement and sponsorship from project inception to completion
•Ensure relevant stakeholders are involved in the specification of new services and/or major upgrades to existing services to ensure expectations are actively managed
•Oversee the development of comprehensive programme / project communication plans ensuring regular and timely contact with key stakeholders is maintained to communicate progress, seek feedback and manage and address issues
•Technical Performance
•Position the company technologically ahead of competitors, particularly focusing on current and anticipated requirements
•Lead the identification and assessment of new technologies to determine their potential value to the company as they relate to the immediate and long term objectives
•Responsible for providing strategic advice for business led technology change to the relevant business area
•Provide subject matter expertise on business demand and assist the business in determining the value-add of Business demand.
•Forecast demand within the portfolio back into the Regional IT Services.
•Establish close relationships with the regional IT teams to ensure that the business receives consistent, coordinated messages from the Technology division and where appropriate matrix manage key service resources to ensure consistency of approach to the business area
•People Management
•Provide leadership and support to local IT team individual accountability through an ongoing performance management approach that aligns personal performance objectives with strategic goals
•Lead, motivate and manage the team to ensure the overall output and quality of the technology service is within specified levels
•Drive and foster a culture of continuous improvement, motivation, collaboration, empowerment and entrepreneurialism within the department which is replicated by 3rd party suppliers
•Where necessary coach members of the team to ensure consistency of approach in all dealings with the business and that the principles of business partnering and embedded within the work and the psyche of the team
•Promote excellence through the attraction, continual development and retention of high quality workforce with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to deliver excellent outcomes and service
•Ability to train/mentor/coach employees
•Ability to build/recruit highly skilled IT teams
•Proactively leads a number of teams and manages workloads across the teams
•Fosters teamwork through recognition & appreciation contributions
•Provides support and contribution to other departments
•Provides support to the Group and Divisional IT Leads

Required Education

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience

Required Experience

• At least 10 years relevant experience as senior leader for an organization

Preferred Competencies/Skills

• Knowledge
•Expert knowledge of relationship management and the skills and techniques used to establish and maintain key relationships
•Expert knowledge of change management and programme management methodologies, techniques and tools
•Extensive insurance industry knowledge and experience in UK, European and Lloyds markets including best practice infrastructures, processes and business practices
•Skills
•Excellent customer relationship management skills, capable of establishing and maintaining relationships across the business and influencing design and policy where required
•Confident and credible and capable of offering insightful commentary and advice both to the business and peers and team members.
•Excellent communications skills – both verbal and written
•Strong negotiation and influencing skills
•Strong networking skills
•Commercial acumen
•Leadership skills – ability to motivate, empower and engage employees
•Finance management - including budget management, forecasting and cost analysis
•Problem solving and decision making skills
•Strong strategic planning capabilities (approaches and processes, tools, deliverables)

Preferred Experience

• Extensive change and technology management experience in senior level role within the insurance industry
•Strong experience of managing relationships with internal business customers at a senior level
•Significant experience of working with global & regional IT teams
•Professional work ethic with a passion for relationship management.
•A confident and supportive manager, with experience in coaching and mentoring
•Considerable experience and understanding of the project lifecycle, process methodologies, with a good understanding of the principles of IT Service Management.
•Broad financial services experience with strong understanding of insurance processes and technology preferably in the London Market and Regional operations
•Good commercial awareness and negotiation skills, preferably combined with experience of working with 3rd party strategic partners.
•Proven experience of consistent and constructive people management capabilities


QBE Cultural DNA

• Everything we do at QBE is underpinned by our DNA (which interlinks seven cultural elements) – because we know it's not just what we do that matters, it's how we do it that makes the difference. We expect all employees to role model and inspire the right behaviours that link to our cultural elements:
•We are customer-focused
•We are technical experts
•We are inclusive
•We are fast-paced
•We are courageous
•We are accountable
•We are a team
•All employees are expected to adhere to QBE’s Code of Ethics and Conduct and apply sound risk management practices

US Only - Disclaimer

• To successfully perform this job, the individual must be able to perform each essential job responsibility satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential job responsibilities.

Job Type

• Manager

Global Disclaimer

• The duties listed in this job description do not limit the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the duties normally to be performed in the position or those occasionally assigned outside an employee’s normal duties. Our Group Code of Ethics and Conduct addresses the responsibilities we all have at QBE to our company, to each other and to our customers, suppliers, communities and governments. It provides clear guidance to help us to make good judgement calls.

How to Apply:

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Equal Employment Opportunity:

QBE is an equal opportunity employer and is required to comply with equal employment opportunity legislation in each jurisdiction it operates.