Aviva UK is on the lookout for a seasoned IT delivery professional to join the IT Platforms team as Head of Life, Savings & Retirement IT Platforms.

The role holder will be accountable for leading the operational Application Development & Maintenance (AD&M) teams and functions supporting both the UK Life and Savings & Retirement businesses and potentially with global scope. This is a critical role to support the business by leading the drive for commercial performance, delivering operational stability and resilience and leading platform/technical roadmaps to maintain, enhance and transform the business. Aviva is undergoing a significant period of change and this is an incredible opportunity for someone to play a significant part in a new, IT-focussed strategy.

This role is critical to providing IT leadership and transformational capability through the implementation of leading technology and solutions. It's a great role for someone who is keen to partner with Aviva's CIO and other business leaders to identify, develop and execute transformation capabilities that will provide world-class IT and operational functions.

Responsibilities

• Developing and executing the Platform strategy (including technical and functional roadmaps to drive re-use, standardisation and remediation of technical debt).
  
• Planning and delivering Platform-level resourcing, capacity planning and costs consistent with Group CIO commitments and targets.
  
• Developing technology innovation and transformational roadmaps to improve agility, stability and modern ways of working.
  
• Active management of the operational integrity of the Platform, including platform security and platform health (capacity, performance, problem management, upgrades, processing & data integrity).
  
• Delivering quality changes to production (in support of change activities) in compliance with group standards, methods and processes.
  
• Actively managing delivery of platform services, ensuring NFRs and service levels are met.
  
• Owning Platform compliance with IT and wider Aviva standards.
  
• Reducing cost of delivering change through increased efficiencies and automation.
  

Skills and Experience

• Excellent understanding of IT platforms and systems used for relevant business areas such as Pensions (policy and admin systems), Healthcare platforms, Annuities & Equity Release and mainframes.
  
• Significant experience in managing complex IT deliveries for companies within the Financial Services or Insurance sectors.
  
• Solid transformation experience - a proven track record of delivering productivity and cost transformation.
  
• Accustomed to managing either application development or software engineering teams.
  
• Can bring high degrees of agility, resourcefulness, influence, execution in building talent and teams and the desire to reinvent/challenge.
  
• Experience working through differing methodologies, including LEAN, Dev Ops, Agile and Waterfall Approach. Driving new modern software development techniques.
  

What will you get for this role?

• Competitive annual salary depending on skills, qualifications and experience.
  
• Generous defined contribution pension scheme.
  
• Annual performance related bonus and pay review.
  
• Holiday allowance of 29 days plus bank holidays and the option to buy/sell up to 5 additional days.
  
• Up to 40% discount for some Aviva products through "My Aviva Extras" plus discounts for Friends and Family (some exclusions apply).
  
• Excellent range of flexible benefits to include a matching share save scheme.
  

Working at Aviva

At Aviva, we're people with a purpose. To be with you today, for a better tomorrow.

We bring this to life by ensuring managing risk is at the heart of the way we all work. We love people who do the right thing for our customers, and our colleagues. We want people who speak up, who take responsibility, and who make good decisions.

The way we do this is important too. We always 'Care More'. It's our thing. We're all about our people - that's you - so we can be pretty flexible. If you want to work from home some of the time or change your hours so you can pick up your kids or care for someone in your family, we're very open to that. In fact, we don't advertise roles as either part or full time, because we know each person has different needs, just as each business area has different needs. So, it's up to you to discuss working hours during your interview.

We care deeply about being inclusive and that means we encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We want our employees to bring their whole self to work and that starts with you.

We interview every disabled applicant* that meets the minimum criteria for the job. Once you've applied, please send us a separate email stating that you have a disclosed disability, and we'll make sure we interview you.

We'd love it if you could submit your application online. If you require an alternative method of applying, please give Megan Douglas a call on 0121 234 7665 or send an email to megan.douglas@aviva.com.

*As defined in The Equality Act 2010*. By 'minimum criteria' we mean you should provide us with evidence which demonstrates that you generally meet the level of competence required and have the qualifications, skills or experience defined as essential to perform the role.