Principal IT Project Governance Manager

Zurich is currently looking for a Principal IT Project Governance Manager to work out of our North American headquarters in Schaumburg, IL. The Principal IT Project Governance Manager is responsible for overseeing the governance framework and ensuring the successful delivery of IT projects within ZNA IT Infrastructure & Operations function. This role involves strategic oversight, risk management, and ensuring compliance with organizational standards and best practices.  

 

Job Summary:
The Principal IT Project Governance Manager is responsible for defining, implementing, and overseeing IT project governance processes across the IT Infrastructure & Operations function. This role involves ensuring that IT I&O projects are executed in alignment with business goals, adhere to Zurich project governance standards, and are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget. The manager will work closely with IT I&O leadership, project managers, local, regional, and global stakeholders, and vendors to ensure strong project execution and compliance with governance frameworks.

 

Key Responsibilities:

1.    Project Portfolio Management:

• Oversee the prioritization and alignment of IT projects within the IT I&O organizational portfolio, ensuring projects support strategic business objectives.
• Produce clear, concise, and comprehensive IT I&O project summary and roadmap by strategic objective and service tower.
• Manage year-to-date aggregate project spend compared to budget and produce accurate and effective reporting.
• Evaluate and monitor resource allocation and dependencies across multiple projects to ensure efficiency and avoid conflicts.
   

2.    Project Monitoring & Compliance:

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for project success, including scope, budget, schedule, and quality.
• Conduct periodic project audits and reviews to ensure compliance with governance processes, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.
• Assess and mitigate risks related to project execution, including financial, operational, and compliance risks.
   

3.    Governance Framework Adherence:

• Ensure consistent adherence to Zurich’s project management framework, methodology, and best practices for managing IT projects.
• Ensure consistency and standardization across IT I&O projects, including project lifecycle, documentation, and reporting procedures.
   

4.    Stakeholder Communication & Reporting:

• Act as a liaison between senior leadership, project teams, and stakeholders to provide regular project status updates, risk assessments, and issue resolution.
• Prepare and present project governance reports to senior leadership, providing insights into project health, risks, and corrective actions.

 

5.    Continuous Improvement:

• Collaborate with ZNA project governance function to improve project management methodologies, tools, and processes, driving improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.
• Stay up to date with industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies to continuously improve the project governance framework.
   

6.    Team Leadership & Development:

• Provide guidance and mentorship to project managers and governance team members.
• Build and foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement within the IT project management team.

 

Required Qualifications: