Program Director

About Us

AuxiliaGroup is one of Ireland’s foremost business consulting firms, offering multi-business function support, via our panel of over 700 high calibre, C-Suite level experienced professionals who are available for consultancy, project management or interim placements.

Job Description

We're looking for an exceptional Program Director to lead a high-impact transformation initiative in the financial services sector. This is a critical role where deep insurance industry experience and strong product knowledge particularly in life and pensions are essential to ensure successful delivery in a highly regulated and customer-focused environment.

The Program Director will lead the end-to-end transition of a legacy insurance policy administration system to a modern platform. This individual will oversee planning, execution, governance and stakeholder engagement, ensuring the program delivers business value, minimises operational disruption and meets compliance obligations.

Location: Dublin City

Duration: 12-month contract

Start Date: ASAP

Key Responsibilities:

• Program Leadership & Strategy
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive program plan, defining scope, objectives, timelines, milestones and success criteria.
• Establish clear program governance structures and reporting mechanisms to ensure accountability and transparency.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Collaborate with senior leadership, technology teams, underwriting, claims, finance and regulatory/compliance functions to align program objectives with strategic business goals.
• Serve as the primary liaison between internal teams, external vendors and implementation partners.
• Team Management
• Build and lead a multidisciplinary team of project managers, business analysts, developers, testers, trainers and change management professionals.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, performance and continuous improvement.
• Technology Delivery Oversight
• Direct the selection, customisation, integration and deployment of the new policy administration system.
• Oversee data migration strategy and execution to ensure accuracy, integrity and security of policyholder information.
• Operational Readiness & Change Management
• Design and implement a robust change management plan, including training, communication and stakeholder buy-in across the organisation.
• Ensure that new processes, workflows and system capabilities are fully embedded and operationalised.
• Risk & Compliance Management
• Identify, assess and mitigate program risks related to technology, data, compliance and business continuity.
• Ensure the transition meets regulatory standards and company compliance requirements.
• Financial Management
• Develop and manage the program budget, tracking expenditures against forecasts and ensuring value delivery.
• Performance Measurement & Reporting
• Monitor and report on program progress, risks and issues to executive leadership, providing clear updates and recommendations.

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• Proven experience (10+ years) in leading complex, multi-year IT transformation programs in insurance, financial services, or similarly regulated industries.
• Strong background in insurance operations, ideally with exposure to policy administration, underwriting and claims systems.
• Demonstrated expertise managing large-scale system replacements, including legacy data migration.
• In-depth understanding of program management methodologies (e.g., MSP, Agile-at-scale, PMBOK).
• Track record of successful vendor selection and management.
• Excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Degree in Business, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., PMP, PgMP) are advantageous.

Challenges & Success Factors

• Operational Perspective: Smooth continuity of policy servicing during transition is critical to maintain customer trust and regulatory compliance.
• Technology Perspective: Accurate data mapping and migration, along with system integration with existing tools (CRM, billing, reporting).
• Business Perspective: Success depends on aligning system capabilities with evolving insurance product strategies and customer service expectations.
• Cultural Perspective: Employee readiness and adoption are essential.

“On behalf of our Clients, we actively seek talent from diverse backgrounds whilst adhering to a fair and unbiased best recruitment selection process. Our recruitment practices are based on skills, qualifications and experience, providing equal opportunities for all applicants. We encourage individuals of different ethnicities, races, genders, sexual orientation, religions, age groups, disabilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply with us”.