Application Development Manager in London

Job Title: Application Development Manager (Insurance/Reinsurance)
Location: London (Hybrid working, 3 days in office)
Role Type: 12 month fixed term contract
Role Purpose:

• To effectively manage the Exposure Management and Catastrophe Risk Management application development strategy delivering applications and tools that support the achievement of Exposure Management function objectives and broader strategic objectives within Aspen.
• To support and provide direction to others to deliver the agreed key objectives within the Exposure Management Applications Development & Support workstream and realise expected business benefits.
• To liaise with IT to communicate Exposure Management requirements and validate and advice on proposed system, architectural and technological solutions to ensure that they meet Exposure Management objectives as well as Aspen technological and governance standards.
• To actively achieve solutions for complex technical challenges by leading development, enhancements, maintenance and ensuring corporate and Exposure Management governance standards are met.

Our Aspen Values are expected to be reflected in the delivery and performance of every role..
Key Responsibilities:
Strategy and Planning:

• Contributes to the overarching Exposure Management strategic objectives as well as prioritising the deliverables and activities of the Exposure Management Applications Development & Support workstream.
• Contributes to the development, communication, and delivery of the vision for Exposure Management applications, data and MI to all stakeholders, inclusive of instilling Aspen's Principles and Values across the business.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across the business in particular IT, Underwriting and Operations to achieve effective application development and process improvement for Exposure Management.
• Deliver knowledge transfer and training to end users in the implementation and ongoing use of Exposure Management applications.
• Contributes to the development and achievement of data integrity across Aspen globally.

Policy, Process and Procedures:

• Deliver accuracy and efficiency in Exposure Management processes through the design and implementation of applications and tools that support efficient production workflows, analysis and reporting.
• Provide appropriate level of governance, as well as documentation/training material for the specific work being undertaken, in line with professional standards and/or Aspen specific standards and regulatory requirements.
• Provide expert technical / theoretical support across Aspen globally, as appropriate.

Environmental Awareness/Customer Focus:

• Build and maintain relationships with internal stakeholders to improve customer focus and to be the primary point contact for relevant business units that use Exposure Management applications.
• Network within the Underwriting function, Operations and IT functions and Aspen colleagues globally to encourage the sharing and adopting of best practice.
• Actively participate in relevant internal and external meetings as required to develop and demonstrate knowledge of Aspen and its processes.
• Builds upon broad awareness of their market context, industry best practice and headline legislation related to their specific discipline, by engaging with external peers, to enhance personal contribution to functional performance.
• As a senior technical expert will represent the function by providing support and technical input to project teams and other areas of Aspen to ensure solutions take account of functional needs.

Technical Performance:

• Develop, maintain and improve exposure management systems, data, reporting and procedures to ensure that these are aligned with business needs and fit for purpose. This is to include adopting efficient and consistent processes and/or technologies where appropriate. Implement forward-looking processes such as planning and strategic analysis.
• Produce integrated applications, data and insights for all relevant exposure and related data to management and underwriting teams so they can achieve their goal of data driven decision making.
• Review and challenge the status quo and present findings and solutions to relevant leaders.
• Find innovative ways to better use applications, data and analytics to support more informed decision making across the underwriting community.
• Provide transparency of the ongoing Return on Investments Exposure Management will achieve through the delivery of applications, tools and reports to your users.

People Management:

• Manages and/or support specific operational team(s) within or associated with the Exposure Management function to ensure that people, resources and processes are aligned with business needs and fit for purpose.
• Manage, resource, motivate, develop and focus team(s) to ensure the required standards of performance and support the continuing personal and professional development of all team members.
• Assists more senior management within the function in appointing, performance managing and rewarding the team to effectively manage resources within the function.
• Establish clear accountabilities and authority levels for direct reports or affiliated teams and build a strong culture of accountability and performance to ensure delivery of goals.

Requirements & Skills:

• Relevant degree and/or tertiary qualifications
• Strong general experience in the insurance industry involving data / analysis / systems / reporting / projects
• Experience of working in or closely with an Underwriting-related functional team within a multi-national insurance environment (e.g. Underwriting, Exposure Management, Risk Management, Actuarial)
• Extensive knowledge of the financial services industry best practice, focusing on (re)insurance
• Knowledge and understanding of key insurance underwriting concepts, including underwriting exposures, both man-made and nat-cat
• Extensive knowledge of data manipulation and data analytics
• Knowledge of operating in cross functional agile delivery environments blending technical and business knowledge to create value through tech and data within the business
• Develop a strong working knowledge of company systems and how technology can be leveraged to improve performance
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to look long term while balancing immediate term underwriting realities
• Able to manage conflicting priorities to achieve deadlines
• Able to plan effectively and efficiently
• Strong customer orientation skills
• Ability to lead and manage through a team of senior professionals across a large and diverse entity
• Ability to lead the development of strategy for the business
• Ability to negotiate, persuade and influence both directly and indirectly
• Strategic and innovative thinker
• Strong commercial judgement
• Strong reasoning capabilities - creative and lateral thinking, with strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to conceptualise and lead others in their use for solving specific problems
• Excellent in the use and interpretation of numerical data

About us:
Since Aspen was founded in 2002, we have become a leading, diversified specialty insurance and reinsurance company. We respond thoughtfully and creatively to find the best outcomes for our clients and business partners through carefully-tailored solutions. We believe the way we work is just as important as the work we do, and we are guided by our core values of respect, honesty, trust and professionalism.
Aspen is a great place to develop your career offering an exciting and challenging environment where achievement is rewarded.

GSC Manchester TET is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.