About the job Head of Projects – Insurance & Investments
Head of Projects – Insurance & Investments
1. Role Summary
The Head of Projects is responsible for leading the organization's project management function and overseeing the successful planning, execution, monitoring, and delivery of strategic and operational projects.
Within the Insurance & Investments sector, the role ensures that projects support business growth, operational efficiency, digital transformation, regulatory compliance, technology modernization, and improved customer experience.
The incumbent establishes project management standards, oversees project managers and delivery teams, manages project portfolios, and ensures projects are completed within approved scope, budgets, timelines, and quality expectations. The role also works closely with executive leadership and business stakeholders to translate strategic priorities into actionable project initiatives.
2. Key Responsibilities
A. Project Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and implement the organization's project management strategy, frameworks, and delivery standards.
- Translate corporate objectives into project plans, implementation roadmaps, and measurable deliverables.
- Lead the identification, prioritization, and execution of strategic and operational projects.
- Ensure project initiatives align with organizational goals, business priorities, and transformation objectives.
- Provide leadership and direction to project managers, project coordinators, and delivery teams.
B. Project Portfolio & Delivery Management
- Oversee the planning, execution, and completion of multiple projects across business units.
- Monitor project scope, schedules, milestones, budgets, resources, and deliverables.
- Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with approved quality standards.
- Manage interdependencies, resource conflicts, and competing project priorities.
- Review project performance and implement corrective actions where required.
C. Project Governance & Controls
- Establish project management methodologies, governance structures, reporting processes, and control mechanisms.
- Develop standardized project documentation, templates, approval workflows, and performance dashboards.
- Monitor project KPIs, progress reports, risks, issues, and escalation requirements.
- Ensure appropriate project approvals, stage-gate reviews, and management oversight.
- Maintain transparency and accountability across the project portfolio.
D. Financial & Resource Management
- Develop and manage project budgets, forecasts, and resource allocation plans.
- Monitor project expenditure and ensure financial discipline across the project portfolio.
- Optimize the utilization of internal resources, consultants, contractors, and external vendors.
- Evaluate project business cases, investment requirements, and expected returns.
- Oversee procurement coordination, vendor performance, and contractual deliverables.
E. Stakeholder & Team Management
- Collaborate with executive leadership, department heads, project sponsors, and business stakeholders.
- Lead cross-functional coordination between operations, finance, technology, compliance, risk, and customer service teams.
- Manage stakeholder expectations and resolve project-level conflicts.
- Build and develop a high-performing project management team.
- Provide coaching, performance oversight, and professional development opportunities for project managers.
F. Risk, Compliance & Quality Management
- Identify and manage project risks, issues, dependencies, and mitigation strategies.
- Ensure projects comply with applicable insurance, investment, financial services, and regulatory requirements.
- Coordinate with risk, compliance, internal audit, and legal teams where necessary.
- Establish quality assurance and project review mechanisms.
- Ensure project documentation, reporting, and audit requirements are maintained.
G. Business Transformation & Continuous Improvement
- Lead projects involving digital transformation, technology implementation, process improvement, and operational modernization.
- Support organizational change management and implementation activities.
- Track project benefits and evaluate business outcomes against approved objectives.
- Identify opportunities to improve project delivery efficiency and organizational performance.
- Promote continuous improvement and project management best practices.
3. Required Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Project Management, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related discipline.
- Master's degree or MBA is preferred.
- 10–15+ years of experience in project management, programme delivery, business transformation, or strategic operations.
- At least 5 years in a senior project leadership or management position.
- Demonstrated experience overseeing multiple projects, project managers, and cross-functional delivery teams.
- Experience in insurance, banking, investment management, or financial services is highly desirable.
- Strong knowledge of project governance, budgeting, resource planning, risk management, and delivery methodologies.
- Experience managing large-scale technology implementations, business transformation, or operational improvement initiatives.
- Proficiency in project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Jira, Smartsheet, Monday.com, or equivalent.
- Professional certifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, MSP, PgMP, or Agile certifications are an advantage.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Percentage of projects delivered within approved timelines and budgets.
- Overall project portfolio performance and delivery success rate.
- Project budget variance and cost management efficiency.
- Achievement of project objectives and expected business benefits.
- Project resource utilization and team productivity.
- Stakeholder satisfaction and project sponsor feedback.
- Project risk mitigation and issue resolution effectiveness.
- Compliance with project governance and reporting standards.
- Successful delivery of strategic transformation and operational improvement initiatives.