Release Train Engineer - PLRe Technology

The PL Re Technology function comprises multiple globally distributed teams (Global Technology Solutions; Global Service & Infrastructure Management; Risk; Enterprise Architecture & Data; Information Security; and regional support hubs). Together, they are responsible for the design, delivery, management and security of PL Re’s global application and infrastructure landscape. The team delivers a mixture of bespoke, business critical solutions (e.g., Underwriting, Claims, Pricing and Actuarial applications) and enterprise systems, while maintaining a high standard of service and security across our UK/Europe, Asia, North America and Australia offices.

We are investing in strengthening our Technology change delivery capability as part of a maturing Portfolio Management and governance framework. As a result, we are seeking an experienced Release Train Engineer (RTE) to support the effective planning and delivery of technology initiatives across the Unify Programme. The PL Re Unify Programme is a multi-year business and technology transformation designed to deliver a globally integrated, scalable, and efficient back office operating model for Pacific Life Reinsurance. Unify underpins PL Re’s growth ambitions by modernising core processes, strengthening data and reporting capabilities, and reducing operational complexity across the division. Unify aims to shift PL Re from fragmented, region specific processes and legacy systems to standardised, end to end ways of working, supported by enterprise platforms and shared services. The programme is tightly aligned to Strategy Next and focuses on enabling sustainable growth across existing and new markets while maintaining strong governance and control in a regulated environment, the RTE plays a key enabling role—helping technology teams plan realistically, manage dependencies, align to programme level Releases to deliver business value predictably.

This is a senior delivery-enablement role, requiring strong facilitation skills, sound delivery judgement, and the ability to work confidently with senior stakeholders. You will play a key role in supporting the uplift in Technology Portfolio maturity, contributing to planning cycles, supporting effective prioritisation, and ensuring that delivery teams operate with discipline, transparency and predictable cadence. This position requires a proactive leader with deep delivery experience, exceptional stakeholder and vendor management skills, and the confidence to influence senior technology and business stakeholders. You will also act as a mentor in supporting the development of delivery capability across the function.

Key Responsibilities

• Interfacing with the Unify Programme on behalf of Technology, enable effective coordination across multiple technology teams by identifying and managing dependencies, delivery risks and alignment between Release objectives and technology implementation.
• Co-Lead and facilitate quarterly / PI planning events with established team, ensuring plans are realistic, capacity-led, and aligned to Unify Release priorities.
• Maintain visibility of delivery commitments, risks, and progress to support transparent decision-making.
• Act as a neutral escalation point for cross-team issues that cannot be resolved at team level.
• Partner with Platforms, Infrastructure, Data, Enterprise Architecture, Information Security, Portfolio, Technology Leadership and Unify Programme to maintain interdependency alignment.
• Support continuous improvement in planning discipline, delivery predictability, and ways of working.
• Communicate delivery status and risks clearly and concisely to senior stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with Technology risk management, security standards and regulatory expectations (where applicable).
• Engage and influence stakeholders across all Technology towers and business units, managing expectations and ensuring aligned priorities.
• Work collaboratively with Enterprise Architecture, Information Security and Risk to secure appropriate design, assurance and approval.
• Contribute to quarterly planning cycles, project pipeline shaping, and multi year roadmap development.
• Support Portfolio leadership in preparing prioritisation materials, business cases and impact assessments.
• Drive clarity on capacity requirements, delivery sequencing and resource constraints.
• Promote best practice delivery disciplines and champion continuous improvement across the change community.
• Support the maturity of PMO and Portfolio processes and tooling.

What This Role Is Not

• Not a line-management role – but requires knowledge and experience of line and matrix management.
• Not a traditional project or programme manager role – significant experience of either role is essential.
• Not a compliance or reporting function – experience working with these is required.

The RTE focuses on enabling effective delivery, not controlling teams.

Skills & Experience

• Significant experience supporting delivery and delivering complex technology projects in a multidiscipline, multilocation environment, ideally within financial services, reinsurance, insurance or another risk aware sector, complex or regulated environment.
• Expert understanding of project and programme management methodologies, including Agile or Lean delivery at scale, Waterfall and hybrid approaches, with the ability to tailor methods pragmatically to the initiative.
• Proven leadership in governance and assurance, including RAID management, dependency mapping, quality gates, design assurance, regulatory awareness and change control.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, cost tracking and benefit realisation management.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate, challenge constructively and work effectively at all levels up to Executive and Steering Committee.
• Strong facilitation skills, including running large planning or alignment sessions.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of producing executive ready reporting, board level summaries, and clear, concise technical and delivery documentation.
• Confident communicator, able to engage and challenge senior stakeholders constructively.
• Demonstrable experience in strategic planning cycles, including quarterly planning/PI planning, roadmap formation, and delivery sequencing.
• Solid understanding of technology change landscapes, including infrastructure, platforms, data, integration, security and cloud adoption.
• Strong analytical capability, with experience interpreting complex delivery, financial and resource data to inform decision-making and insight-led reporting.
• Advanced proficiency in delivery and Portfolio tooling, such as structured PPM systems, Jira/Atlassian, MS Project, Power BI, Confluence and MS365.
• Proactive, organised and resilient, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, manage competing demands and maintain delivery discipline in a fast moving environment.
• Ideally educated to degree level, but applications from individuals with demonstrable relevant experience are also actively sought.
• Professional certifications (APM, PRINCE2, SAFe, PMP, Scrum, or equivalent) are desirable, with a commitment to ongoing professional development.

Success Measures

• Planning events are well-prepared, focused, and credible with clear outcomes.
• Delivery risks and dependencies are surfaced early and actively managed.
• Stakeholders have confidence in delivery plans and forecasts.
• Technology teams demonstrate delivery predictability and alignment over time.

Personal Attributes

• Calm, facilitative, and outcomes focused.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity.
• Trusted by teams and credible with leadership.
• Strong bias toward transparency and continuous improvement.

Working For Pacific Life Re

Every person in our global team is valued for the unique qualities they bring to our business and we seek to build their expertise and support their individual ambitions at every step. We take our work seriously and we know our team can operate under great pressure. We work hard and thrive on achievement, but we also know how to have fun and relax too. We regularly host a range of team building days to strengthen our team’s connection with each other and reflect on their successes. Providing employees with a healthy work-life balance is very important to our culture. We have a wide range of employee benefits and we host regular social activities and well being initiatives. We are also committed to supporting our employee’s involvement in their communities, by actively fundraising, hosting charity events and overseeing volunteering opportunities.

Benefits (Only For Permanent And Fixed Term Employees)

• 25 days of annual leave with option to buy/sell more days
• Adoption and fertility leave
• Generous enhanced parental leave
• Comprehensive private insurance coverage for employee and dependents
• Group Life Insurance coverage of 9x basic annual salary and Group Income Protection up to 75% of basic annual salary
• Optical benefits
• 15% combined employee/employer contributions
• Subsidized gym membership
• Access to Employee Assistance Program
• Cycle to Work and Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Time off for volunteering
• Charitable matching of employee donations

You Can Be Who You Are

We are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion that embraces the authenticity of all employees, partners and communities. We support all employees to thrive and achieve their fullest potential. As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we will provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process to ensure equal access to applicants with disabilities. Please contact us about your needs so that we can discuss these with you to make sure that suitable adjustments are made, where possible.

Pacific Life Re Values

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