Director, IT Solutions Delivery

About FWD Group FWD Group (<1828.HK>) is a pan-Asian life and health insurance business that serves approximately 34 million customers across 10 markets, including BRI Life in Indonesia. FWD’s customer-led and tech-enabled approach aims to deliver innovative propositions, easy-to-understand products and a simpler insurance experience. Established in 2013, the company operates in some of the fastest-growing insurance markets in the world with a vision of changing the way people feel about insurance. FWD Group is listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code 1828. For more information, please visit FWD Technology and Innovation Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., known as FWD TIM, was established in late 2019. Strategically located in Kuala Lumpur, FWD TIM serves as a pivotal shared service location within FWD Group, providing services to multiple markets across the Group. FWD TIM houses a diverse and talented workforce focused on essential business and technology services such as information security, cloud operations, IT solutions delivery, digital and data, actuarial, finance, investments, and customer service, among many others. FWD TIM is dedicated to drive and deliver operational excellence and efficiency, foster innovation and ensure regulatory compliance across all business functions as well as maintain a competitive edge in the market. PURPOSE Lead, drive and direct the Life & Health front-end technology Solutions Delivery function that operates across FWD Group to: Collaborate with FWD markets and functions to drive operationalization of technology solution prioritization and execution Drive solution development roadmaps and collaboration on solution design to achieve optimal business outcomes Deliver optimized technology solutions to drive operational efficiencies in line with target operating models and business goals KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES Lead to define the technology solution roadmap and implementation strategy with Group & Market technology teams and business leaders across identified Life & Health systems, driving the adoption of new application that hosted on cloud services, and microservice/containerization application architecture in solution and design. Lead the Policy Administration System (PAS) application development and infrastructure to define the DevOps best practices through innovative technology solution, design and delivery and drive for automatic software deployment in a fast-changing environment. Define measurable and quality metrics for solutions as assigned as they have a sizable impact to the business performance at each market and requires advanced judgement to develop new and practical solutions. Plan and design systems for scale, harmonization and reusability to support leverageable technology solution assets Advise and facilitate solutions prioritization and delivery in concert with Group/Market technology, functions and business leaders’ requirements and direction Partner Group Platforms and respective business, functions, country and peer Technology teams to embed technologies to achieve target business outcomes, and benefits; realizing through technologies Collaborate and partner stakeholders to manage technology solution roadmaps as a going concern, aligned with defined target business goals and target IT architecture Advise and work closely with markets and business functions on budget assessments, justifications and approvals for implementation and operationalization to drive business benefit and efficiency Spearhead and drive the standardization & modernization of Life systems across FWD countries, e.g. PAS for all markets and etc. in order to achieve the business targets Comprehensive understanding of the business and organization from end functions and the inter-dependencies with other functions as it represents the Front-end solution function to agree on defining technology roadmaps, project prioritization and project implementation details in respective project steering committee, e.g., integration projects post M&A. Lead and manage to ensure coordinated design, development and deployment plans with business functions and technology solutions delivery teams Leads multi-geography teams to ensure optimal resource allocation of assigned Life systems, and continuous improvement of team performance and their technical and non-technical competencies on solution deliveries Lead and steward the management of technology projects through its life cycle, including resources planning, budget monitoring, clients’ expectation management, change management, contingency planning, risk assessment and mitigation KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Strategic KPIs (to realize in 3 years) Adopt 100% of application hosted on cloud services Achieve 100% adoption of automatic software deployment Achieve 100% microservice/containerization application architecture Operational KPIs Lead and own the operationalization/modernization of PAS by working with business and country functions to optimize in-house and vendor managed solutions and strategic technology roadmap for the BUs supported Leverage distribution sales technology solutions to expand new growth for Direct, Agency, Banca and IFA sales channels Manages solutions delivery risks, identifies, determines and recommends risk mitigation solution for deployment and maintenance as appropriate Lead mentorship and provide guidance to IT team members EXTERNAL & INTERNAL CONTACTS This position will support the VP Technology Solutions Delivery to: Manage cross-functional, external and internal partners for country-specific and group-led initiatives Guide cross-functional stakeholders and resources to deliver on target solution states Ensure closed-loop execution and co-ordination with peer and Country technology leaders and teams Lead vendor management for assigned Life systems solutions Ensure efficient communicate and coordination with peer Group Technology teams across application, infrastructure and security on the solution roadmap, design, and implementation DECISION MAKING Act as key Subject Matter Expert and Leader for assigned technology solutions design, strategy and execution Collaborate and coordinate with relevant parties through triage and consultation to fulfil solutions delivery Support resource allocation and prioritization decisions to fulfil solutions delivery objectives Lead and manage prioritization decisioning and allocation to achieve optimal resourcing outcomes to fulfill solutions delivery goals QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE University degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or equivalent, minimum 12 years' working experience in Information Technology, with at least 5 years at a senior managerial position or above, specialized in system development Proven managerial experience Proven track records in managing front-end systems, preferably experiences in implementing insurance IT systems/projects in multi-geography environment Implementation experience in Life insurance systems, e.g. Point of sales, compensation system and workflow will be an advantage. KNOWLEDGE & TECHNICAL SKILLS In-depth knowledge of multiple organization functions and its business contributions and requirements to achieve business goals Solid understanding of the life insurance and technology industry, including current and emerging digital solutions Deep appreciation of latest and emerging technologies and practice Well versed with Agile methodology Well versed with Life Asia/Life 400, JT400/MQ/MSP, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Git & GitHub, Backend languages, database storage, HTTP & REST, Design skills and etc. Business domain knowledge and financial acumen skills High awareness of the process flow Project Management skills Subject matter expert of the systems and whole process - end to end knowledge from development to maintenance of the system COMPETENCIES Customer Focus Team Leadership Collaboration Results Oriented Problem Solving & Decision Making Good interpersonal, communication and stakeholders management skills at all levels of business users, IT, partners and vendors Virtual Collaboration Creative