Head of Engineering

About Us:

Chaucer is a leading insurance group at Lloyd's, the world's specialist insurance market. We help protect industries around the world from the risks they face. Our customers include major airlines, energy companies, shipping groups, global manufacturers and property groups.

Our headquarters are in London, and we have international offices in Copenhagen, Miami, Dubai and Singapore to be closer to our clients across the world. To learn more about us please visit our website: www.chaucergroup.com

Job Profile Summary

The role is accountable for overseeing the Engineering functions within the Chaucer Technology Group (CTG). This role leads a key department as part of the evolution of the operating model and is instrumental in modernising the ways of working.

This role requires a strategic thinker with an Engineering background and proven leadership skills. The role has overall accountability for the Engineering vision and roadmaps that support and advances the company's business objectives. It also involves leading and mentoring a team of DevSecOps Leads and a Security Engineering Lead, collaborating with cross-functional teams such as Product Management, Architecture, Service Management, and Quality & Technical Assurance within a matrix IT organisation.

They will lead Engineering resources (internal and 3rd party) across multiple Engineering teams, ensuring that business and technology requirements are both delivered and are aligned.

Job Description

• Develop and communicate the overall Engineering strategy and long-term vision for the IT technology portfolio, ensuring it aligns with the company's broader business goals.Coordinate with stakeholders across teams to ensure work is completed on time and within budget
• Act as a liaison between engineering teams and other stakeholders, and keep senior leadership informed on progress and challenges
• Identify risks associated with new tools, processes and ways of working and establish procedures to mitigate those risks
• Provide technical leadership on large business change to ensure they are completed effectively
• Manage day-to-day Engineering operations, including networks, servers, storage, cloud infrastructure, security engineering and software development
• Being an active member of the Technology Leadership team

Leadership and Strategy

• Demonstrates a high level of self-awareness through a commitment to continuous, personal improvement and learning
• Demonstrates high personal resilience and ability to adapt to change
• Builds effective teams, coaches and mentor’s people
• Translates organisational vision through effective goal setting and strategic planning. Able to think creatively and innovatively
• Understanding of the way the business works and displays knowledge of the external marketplace, to drive the business forward
• Striving to build key relationships and showing ownership of targets; focusing on results
• Develop and execute the engineering strategy in alignment with the company's overall objectives.Provide visionary leadership to the Engineering teams.
• Create and maintain a culture of Engineering excellence in the company
• Ensure that the team is working efficiently and effectively, bringing an DevSecOps mindset, adapting to changing circumstances while working within the organisational constraints of budget, resource whilst adhering to quality standards
• Motivate the team to deliver the best services possible, and take accountability for the teams’ actions and decisions
• Set clear goals, foster a culture of ownership and collaboration, and provide opportunities for continuous professional development

Technical Delivery Management

• Oversee the technical delivery, planning and execution of all engineering transformation across the business portfolios. Ensure work is completed on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards

Technical Oversight

• Provide engineering guidance and support to the engineering teams. Ensure the adoption of best practices and the latest technologies.
• Ensure standardisation, simplification and effectiveness across the technology value chain

Vendor Management

• Conduct due diligence during the selection and onboarding of third-party providers
• Monitor and review vendor performance against agreed KPIs and metrics
• Schedule regular governance meetings with vendors to review performance
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with key stakeholders, including senior management, clients, and partners, to understand their needs and ensure successful product outcomes

Risk Management

• Identify and mitigate risks associated with engineering activities.
• Implement robust processes and controls to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations

Performance Monitoring

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the success of engineering initiatives. Continuously seek opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness

Skills and Competencies

• Creates an inclusive environment that values individual difference to leverage diversity
• Relevant industry experience in engineering roles, with previous experience in an engineering leadership position.
• Problem-Solving – Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities. Ability to think strategically and make data-driven decisions.
• A team-builder and collaborator, who can work comfortably in a highly collaborative setting.
• Can work comfortably with senior business leadership, has a positive can-do attitude, open and welcoming to change.
• Have exceptional leadership skills, being able to influence cross-functional departmental leaders in a particular direction.
• Can quickly form meaningful connections inspiring trust and confidence in others.
• Detail and quality oriented, with a customer focus, an exceptionally keen eye for detail and highly organised.Able to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines, demonstrating an ability to remain calm under stress and in times of uncertainty

Why

Join Chaucer?Chaucer is a leading global insurer at Lloyd’s, helping industries worldwide manage risk—from airlines to energy, shipping, manufacturing, and property. Headquartered in London, with offices in Copenhagen, Miami, Dubai, and Singapore, we’re close to our clients wher

ever they are. We’ve doubled our Gross Written Premiums from $1.4bn in 2019 to $2.7bn in 2023—and are on track to exceed $3bn in 2024. Backed by strong teams, platforms, and client relationships, Chaucer is poised for continued success

• We offer:A flexible hybrid work model that supports individual and team needs.
• A diverse, inclusive culture that values people for who they are.
• Extensive, non-contributory benefits, including medical, life, and pension cover, flexible holidays, and wellbeing support.