job description:

Hiscox is looking for a dynamic and progressive Technology Director to continue the transformation of our European business to a digital first operation ready to meet the evolving demands of an increasingly dynamic and fluid insurance market.

Within Hiscox the role of Technology Director consists of six key pillars. These are Strategy, Business application ownership, Change delivery, Operational service, People leadership, and Communication

As Technology Director you will be the primary representative for Technology within the European business unit as well as the primary representative of the European business unit within Technology. Your role is accountable for all aspects of Technology within the EU Business Unit (that accountability can be managed by delegation to other Technology functions according to the Hiscox Technology operating model). You will have exceptional stakeholder management ability, a focus on delivery and right-first-time approach.

As a member of the Technology Leadership Team, you will be expected to work in the best interest of the Group, moving beyond your business area objectives. The Technology leadership team is accountable for the definition and delivery of the Hiscox Technology strategy that sits behind the goal to put technology at the heart of our business.

Strategy

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  Accountable for continuing to translate business strategy into a Technology strategy with associated 1/3/5 year roadmap, delivering the required Technology services that underpin the business strategy and vision, whilst ensuring alignment to the wider Group Technology strategy
• Constantly strive to drive down the TCO of Technology systems within the business unit, reducing the number of systems, whilst ensuring the business units? technology landscapes are fit for purpose, within an agreed risk framework
• Contribute to the ongoing evolution and implementation of Group Technology strategy as part of the Technology Leadership Team
• Work with internal and external teams (e.g. business leaders, business change, vendors, and consultancies) to review technology developments that can be utilised in order to improve operational performance in the strategic priorities of product, efficiency and distribution

Business application ownership

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  You will work with the Enterprise Architecture function to define and deliver a pragmatic roadmap for each of the prioritised applications, supporting stated business goals and aligning with Group-wide architecture roadmap
• You will drive the provision of fit for purpose non-production environments, comprehensive testing services and controlled software release management process
• You will define and implement the most viable application delivery and support model best adapted to business needs (considering in-house, outsourced, on/offshore, size, location, duration variables) and understand cloud based pricing for SaaS/IaaS/PaaS
• You will effectively manage third party relationships involved in the application change delivery and support services according to Hiscox vendor management practice

Change delivery

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  You will work with business change teams to understand business problems, integrating systems and data across differing platforms and provide technical solutions to resolve systems issues. You?ll have the ability to sequence a number of projects to deliver simultaneously at an end-point rather than in a graduated manner
• You will work with the COO and the business change teams to support the change portfolio prioritisation process, ensuring that Technology capacity meets the agreed demand levels through an effective resource strategy and planning
• You will work with the Enterprise Applications Technology Director and other delivery resources (e.g. IT Services) to ensure that your business unit can prioritise and manage the delivery of small to medium size projects using pool resources
• You will successfully manage the Technology element of the business unit portfolio of projects (and small changes) and deliver these elements on time, on budget, within scope, control and process and with the agreed level of quality, having a full understanding of business case requirements
• You will ensure changes are delivered in accordance with Hiscox Architecture and Change management principles
• You will own the business unit Technology Change budget(s): work closely with the COO, Business functions as well as the Technology Finance function to define and then track to agreed yearly budget
• You will support local delivery of Technology-led projects including UAT planning, business communications, and managing impacts to change capacity.
• Jointly accountable for the delivery of the yearly Technology game plan
• Act as Project sponsor when applicable

Operational service

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  Assume front end accountability for IT service within the Business area, i.e. the day to day business as usual elements of Technology (e.g. system stability, performance, security), taking ownership of communication and issue resolution where necessary
• Work closely with the IT services teams (e.g. service reviews, priorities, service improvement initiatives, funding) to ensure effective delivery of operational services to the Business area
• In partnership with the EU COO and Group CISO ensure risk position is maintained and that key security controls are implemented across the UK application portfolio.
• Chair the Service Governance review with the EU COO, to ensure that business operations and customer service are not adversely impacted by Technology Operational run services and all risk events, audit reports and DR processes are reviewed and actioned.
• Maintain service governance forums with key departments of the business unit and operational forums with the central IT service areas that support the business unit.

People leadership

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  Recruit, develop and manage a dedicated team of Technology staff across multiple disciplines to deliver the Business Unit or Function plan
• Support the Technology People Plan in areas such as Performance and Talent Management, Learning and development, Diversity and Inclusion, headcount management, Employee Engagement and Recognition
• Act as a role model (as well as mentor or coach when required) for other Technology staff
• Be an ambassador of the Hiscox values within Technology

Communication

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  Create and maintain a transparent working environment between the business and Technology, to ensure long term strategic relationships
• Stakeholder management: Act as the primary point of communication between the Business Unit and/or Function and Group Technology across a wide number of topics from Technology strategy refresh through serious production incidents.
• Provide total transparency in terms of performance, metrics and cost of Technology within the business unit.
• Ensure that the communication is timely, relevant and transparent, with clear and unambiguous understanding around priorities, risks and issues, so that expectations are correctly set and managed.
• Personalize the delivery of Group Technology messages to Business area to ensure relevance and effectiveness

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person specification:

You will be degree educated or equivalent with a number of years technology leadership behind you in a transactional, data driven and forward thinking business. You will have had exposure to national and international projects as well as internal business change at enterprise level.

You will have exposure to mathematical, statistical, ML/AI/RPA and analytical software environments with a strong comprehension of data management, manipulation, analysis and BI as well as the coordination and integration of applications within a cloud based technology environments.

You will have had experience and exposure managing heritage/legacy IT systems as well as implementation of greenfield technology to business and be a champion of new technology enablement rather than heritage IT utilisation. You will be able to present a highly scalable classic core software service that can be utilised as a core platform for business unit and further group technology function.

You will have worked in a regulated environment in the past and have strong leadership experience across dispersed national and international teams covering full business unit functionality.

You can follow Hiscox on LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Instagram (@HiscoxInsurance)

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