Project Director - Insurance & Investments

About the role

The Project Director provides strategic and operational leadership for major, complex, high-value projects in the Insurance & Investments sector, covering business transformation, digitalization, technology implementation, regulatory compliance, operational modernization and customer experience improvement. The role ensures projects meet approved objectives, scope, budgets, timelines, quality standards and regulatory requirements, working closely with executive leadership, sponsors, stakeholders, technical teams and external partners.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction, define scope, milestones and success criteria, and advise executives on feasibility and investment needs
• Lead end-to-end delivery of complex projects, overseeing planning, scheduling, implementation, monitoring and closure
• Manage project budgets, forecasts, cash flow, procurement, vendor agreements and commercial negotiations
• Present performance, risks and financial updates to executive committees and lead steering committees
• Identify and mitigate risks, ensure regulatory compliance and set up quality assurance and project controls
• Lead project managers and delivery teams, allocate resources and coordinate consultants and contractors
• Ensure successful handover, evaluate benefits realization and run post-implementation reviews

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Engineering, Project Management, IT or a related field; Master's or MBA preferred
• 12-15+ years of progressive experience in project management, delivery, business transformation or strategic operations
• At least 5 years in a senior project leadership or director-level position
• Proven track record leading major projects with significant budgets and multiple stakeholders
• Experience in insurance, banking, investment management or financial services highly desirable
• PMP, PRINCE2, PgMP, MSP or equivalent certification preferred

Required skills

• Project governance, financial management, risk management and procurement
• Quality assurance and project control
• Leadership of project managers, multidisciplinary teams, vendors and external consultants