Head of OCIO Commercial Operations
Dublin, IE
- Full Time Permanent position
- Hybrid role based in our City Centre offices
What we offer
We have embraced a hybrid working model for a number of positions, which means that you can enjoy a balanced approach of working from home for part of the week and working from the office for the remainder of the week.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including competitive salaries and bonuses, robust Learning and Development support, excellent Defined Contribution pension and comprehensive Wellbeing initiatives and support to name but a few.
Further details on our benefits package can be accessed here Benefits (life-careers.com)
At Irish Life, our purpose is to help people build better futures. Our company values shape everything we do and underpin our vision of being the driving force behind Ireland’s financial, physical, and mental well-being.
We believe in doing the right thing—acting with integrity and making fair, responsible decisions. We aim high, setting ambitious goals and constantly find better ways to innovate and improve. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we are dedicated to understanding their needs and exceeding their expectations. We believe that as a team we work best together, in a supportive, collaborative environment where every idea and contribution is valued.
Role Overview
Irish Life is in the process of establishing of a new CIO-led Hub & Spoke IT operating model. The objective of the new model is to create a fit for growth, scalable model that strengthens core enterprise capabilities, whilst preserving strong engagement with the business. For our people, this change is intended to lead to clearer career paths, stronger specialist communities and more opportunities to develop and progress within ILG.
To support the development of the new model, we are establishing the senior OCIO leadership team that will support the ILG CIO in building a more connected, commercially focused and strategically aligned technology function and we are now recruiting for a Head of OCIO Commercial Operations.
Reporting to the ILG Chief Information Officer (CIO), the Head of OCIO Commercial Operations provides executive leadership for Business Management, Strategic Finance, Governance and Enterprise Planning across Irish Life Group Technology. The role is accountable for ensuring technology investment delivers measurable business value through financial stewardship, portfolio governance, commercial optimisation and strategic workforce planning.
As a member of the OCIO Senior Leadership Team, you will help shape technology strategy, enterprise investment priorities, organisational capacity and commercial performance, ensuring technology resources are aligned to ILG objectives and long-term business outcomes. The role also ensures alignment with the wider European Technology organisation and Canada Life Group.
This is a strategic leadership role with significant influence across technology, finance, procurement, HR and business leadership teams, supporting executive decision making and enterprise-wide transformation.
Team Background
• Reporting directly to the Chief Information Officer (CIO).
• Member of the OCIO Senior Leadership Team with responsibility for commercial operations across Technology.
• Leads strategic finance, workforce planning, governance, procurement and business management activities for ILG Technology.
• Works closely with Finance, Procurement, HR, European Technology, Group Functions and ILG business leaders.
• Plays a key role in ensuring technology investment, capacity and governance support current and future business objectives
What you will help us to achieve
In this role, you will ensure that Irish Life Group's technology investments, resources and operating model are governed effectively and aligned to strategic priorities, delivering measurable business value and supporting long-term growth and transformation.
More specific responsibilities will include
- Lead the Technology Business Management function, establishing strategic, financial, governance and operational frameworks that enable ILG Technology to operate effectively and deliver against enterprise objectives.
- Own the technology financial strategy, including long-term planning, investment governance, portfolio prioritisation, business case assurance and benefits realisation.
- Partner with HR to develop technology organisation design, workforce strategy and capability planning, ensuring organisational capacity supports both current and future priorities.
- Lead technology-wide change, communications and employee engagement initiatives in support of the CIO-led operating model.
- Oversee governance and decision-making frameworks for technology sourcing and commercial investments, providing strategic challenge and recommendations on key investment decisions.
- Deliver executive reporting, strategic planning, portfolio analytics and performance insights that support evidence-based decision making by the CIO and senior leadership team.
- Build strong relationships across European Technology, ILG businesses, Finance, Procurement and Group functions, ensuring alignment between investment decisions, business priorities and strategic outcomes.
- Act as a strategic adviser to the CIO and senior leaders, providing commercial insight, financial challenge and strategic recommendations to support technology transformation and enterprise objectives.
What you will need to be successful in the role
Experience
- Significant executive or senior leadership experience within financial services, technology, strategy, finance, transformation, governance or another complex regulated environment.
- Proven track record leading enterprise governance, strategic planning, investment management, financial management, value realisation and strategic sourcing initiatives.
- Strong experience in business case development, investment governance, portfolio prioritisation, benefits realisation and executive performance reporting.
- Experience developing and executing enterprise strategies that balance commercial outcomes, operational effectiveness, risk management and long-term organisational capability.
- Demonstrated success influencing executive stakeholders and leading organisation-wide change across multiple business and technology functions.
- Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams delivering finance, workforce planning, procurement, governance and business management capabilities.
Skills & Capabilities
- Exceptional strategic leadership with the ability to shape organisational priorities and influence enterprise-wide decision making.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to evaluate investment opportunities and maximise business value from technology spend.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with proven ability to engage and influence senior executives and cross-functional teams.
- Strong governance, planning and prioritisation capabilities, balancing strategic ambition with operational delivery requirements.
- Ability to lead large-scale organisational change, driving alignment, engagement and accountability across multiple stakeholder groups
Knowledge & Qualifications
- Strong knowledge of technology business management, enterprise governance and portfolio management practices.
- Deep understanding of financial planning, investment oversight, business case development and benefits realisation methodologies.
- Knowledge of strategic sourcing, workforce planning and organisational design within complex enterprise environments.
- Understanding of regulatory, risk management and governance requirements applicable to large financial services organisations.
- Relevant third-level qualification in Business, Finance, Technology, Strategy or a related discipline would be advantageous
Leadership Capabilities Model
- Drive business growth and resilience
- Stakeholder focused strategy
- Develop high performing teams
- Build collaborative relationships
- Deliver performance and value
- Lead the way forward
About us
Irish Life is one of Ireland’s largest financial institutions with a presence across a range of financial services markets. We are one of Ireland’s leading financial services groups with over 1.5 million customers. For over 80 years, we’ve been helping people to look after their life insurance, pension and investment needs, and more recently their health insurance.
It is a subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco and a member of the Power Financial Corporation group of companies.
We are proud of our culture of developing and supporting the growth and professional development of our people. The focus has resulted in a team of top talent with high standards, positioning us at the forefront of our industry.
The company reserves the right to draw up a shortlist as part of the selection process. Where Agency assistance is required the Irish Life Recruitment Team will engage directly with suppliers. Unsolicited CVs / profiles supplied to Irish Life by Recruitment Agencies will not be accepted for this role.
Irish Life is proud to be an Equal Opportunities employer. We have created an environment of inclusion and growth to help people achieve their potential, to ensure they can bring their whole selves to work and to feel valued. We celebrate diversity of thought and perspective and want all of our employees to feel valued, respected and supported.
We have built a culture that promotes equality and inclusion for all of our current and future employees and strive to ensure that our behaviours, processes and practices are aligned to this culture.
If you require any accommodations during the recruitment process please contact lifecareers@irishlife.ie and we will be delighted to ensure you are fully supported to be your best.
ILGL supports Equal Opportunity and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.