Head of Technology

Convergence Partners – Auckland, North Island Our client is one of New Zealand's fastest-growing life insurers, known for making life insurance simple, affordable and accessible for New Zealanders. You will own the technology roadmap, set strategy and investment priorities, and lead the performance and governance of the technology function. As the business scales, this role will take early steps towards a more sustainable hybrid model over time, while raising the bar for what we expect from our technology partners. Reporting to the General Manager, Marketing and Digital, this is a hands-on leadership role. You will stay close enough to the work to guide and support your team while acting as the trusted technology adviser to the senior leadership team. About the role: Own and maintain a single, practical technology roadmap covering systems, data, infrastructure, cybersecurity, automation and AI, aligned to the organisation's strategic goals, risk appetite, and investment capacity Own and continuously improve the cybersecurity posture, benchmarked against a recognised framework such as ISO/IEC 27001 or NIST, embedding secure-by-design practices across in-house and outsourced delivery, along with data governance, access control and business continuity Serve as the primary relationship owner for outsourced technology providers, setting a high bar for delivery and holding partners accountable for the value and outcomes they provide, not just contracts and SLA’s Lead the phased transition from an outsourced model to a hybrid model, establishing clear ownership of platforms, delivery capability, team structure and partner accountabilities Hire, lead and develop a small but high-performing team Guide the direction and performance of core enterprise platforms, including the policy administration system and underwriting engine Identify and lead AI and automation opportunities that improve business performance and customer outcomes Our client is one of New Zealand's fastest-growing life insurers, known for making life insurance simple, affordable and accessible for New Zealanders. You will own the technology roadmap, set strategy and investment priorities, and lead the performance and governance of the technology function. As the business scales, this role will take early steps towards a more sustainable hybrid model over time, while raising the bar for what we expect from our technology partners. Reporting to the General Manager, Marketing and Digital, this is a hands-on leadership role. You will stay close enough to the work to guide and support your team while acting as the trusted technology adviser to the senior leadership team. About the role: Own and maintain a single, practical technology roadmap covering systems, data, infrastructure, cybersecurity, automation and AI, aligned to the organisation's strategic goals, risk appetite, and investment capacity Own and continuously improve the cybersecurity posture, benchmarked against a recognised framework such as ISO/IEC 27001 or NIST, embedding secure‑by‑design practices across in‑house and outsourced delivery, along with data governance, access control and business continuity Serve as the primary relationship owner for outsourced technology providers, setting a high bar for delivery and holding partners accountable for the value and outcomes they provide, not just contracts and SLA’s Lead the phased transition from an outsourced model to a hybrid model, establishing clear ownership of platforms, delivery capability, team structure and partner accountabilities Hire, lead and develop a small but high-performing team Guide the direction and performance of core enterprise platforms, including the policy administration system and underwriting engine Identify and lead AI and automation opportunities that improve business performance and customer outcomes The successful candidate will: Have experience in a senior technology leadership role such as Head of Technology, IT Manager or Technology Lead, or have had strategic oversight of the full technology landscape spanning enterprise systems, infrastructure, security and project delivery, and be ready to step into formal leadership Ideally have built or significantly grown an in‑house technology function; experience transitioning from an outsourced model is highly regarded Bring a strong background in enterprise systems management, including bespoke or custom‑built platforms Have a solid understanding of cybersecurity governance and data management, ideally within a financial services, insurance or otherwise regulated environment Have experience with AI tools, automation, cloud infrastructure and digital transformation initiatives Be commercially sharp, with experience owning a technology budget, negotiating vendor contracts and building business cases for a non‑technical audience Communicate clearly and confidently at all levels, including with executive leadership What's in it for you? A genuine mandate to build: you will define how the team works, establish operating rhythms and lift the capability of the function over time Breadth of ownership that is hard to find, spanning strategy, security, enterprise systems, AI and vendor management A supportive, values‑led business where technology is central to growth plans Excellent benefits, including centrally based offices with car park and WFH 2 days per week Applications are welcomed from candidates who are legally entitled to work in New Zealand. This is an Auckland based role. #J-18808-Ljbffr