Head of Technical & Quality Assurance

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

They will lead Quality & Technical Assurance resources (internal and 3rd party) across multiple Product Management teams, ensuring that business and technology requirements are both delivered and are aligned.

Job Description

• Develop and communicate the overall Quality & Technical Assurance strategy and long-term vision for CTG, ensuring it aligns with the company's broader business goals.
• Provide clear and decisive leadership to the quality assurance and technical teams, fostering a proactive and engaged culture
• Manage strategic relationships with internal business stakeholders and external service providers to ensure alignment on Quality & Technical Assurance and performance
• Identify risks associated with new tools, processes and ways of working and establish procedures to mitigate those risks
• Evaluate the challenges and risks faced by the business and implement actions to mitigate them effectively
• Work with cross-functional teams to integrate quality standards throughout the entire product and service lifecycle, from design to delivery
• Establish quality and reliability standards by benchmarking industry best practices and defining clear metrics
• Stay current with evolving national and international standards, regulations, and technologies related to quality and compliance
• Overall responsibility for developing and testing IT controls, implementing and managing the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework, assessing and mitigating a wide range of risks (including operational, strategic, and compliance risks), and ensuring IT systems support overall risk management efforts
• Oversee internal and external audit processes, ensuring corrective and preventative actions (CAPA) are implemented in a timely manner
• Being an active member of the CIO 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 Quality & Technical Assurance strategy in alignment with the company's overall objectives.
• Provide visionary leadership to the Quality & Technical Assurance teams.
• Create and maintain a culture of Quality & Technical Assurance excellence in the company
• Ensure that the team is working efficiently and effectively, bringing an Agile 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 Quality & Technical Assurance delivery, planning and execution of all Quality & Technical Assurance across Chaucer. Ensure work is completed on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.

Technical Oversight:

• Provide Quality & Technical Assurance guidance and support to the Quality & Technical Assurance 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 Quality & Technical Assurance 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 Quality & Technical Assurance activities. 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 Quality & Technical Assurance roles, with previous experience in an Quality & Technical Assurance 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 wherever 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.