Chief Project Officer (CPO) – Insurance & Investments

thehivecareers.co

14h

About The Position

The Chief Project Officer (CPO) leads the organization’s strategic project portfolio, enterprise-wide program management, and major transformation initiatives across its insurance and investment businesses. The role ensures that strategic projects are planned, prioritized, funded, executed, and delivered in alignment with organizational goals. The CPO oversees complex initiatives involving insurance operations, investment services, digital transformation, regulatory compliance, business expansion, mergers and acquisitions, and operational improvement. Working closely with the CEO, Board, and senior management team, the CPO establishes project governance, optimizes resources, manages delivery risks, and ensures measurable business outcomes from project investments. The CPO develops portfolio strategy and oversees project delivery, the Project Management Office (PMO), digital and technology transformations, financial and resource management, risk and compliance, business transformation, stakeholder engagement, and project team leadership. The role leads project directors, program managers, project managers, and PMO professionals, and reports project performance, risks, and recommendations to executive leadership and the Board. Performance is assessed through project delivery against budget and schedule, portfolio alignment and performance, achievement of benefits and ROI, risk management, governance compliance, resource utilization, stakeholder satisfaction, quality, and successful transformation and expansion initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Project Management, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.
12–15+ years of progressive experience in project management, program management, portfolio management, or enterprise transformation.
At least 5 years in a senior executive or leadership position overseeing complex project portfolios and strategic programs.
Proven track record of delivering large-scale, multi-departmental projects within approved budgets and timelines.
Strong understanding of insurance operations, investment services, financial products, and regulated business environments.
Experience establishing and managing enterprise PMOs and project governance frameworks.
Knowledge of Agile, Waterfall, PRINCE2, PMI, and other project delivery methodologies.
Strong financial planning, budgeting, risk management, and resource allocation capabilities.
Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.

Nice To Haves

MBA or Master’s degree in Project Management, Finance, Business Strategy, or a relevant discipline.
Experience in insurance, reinsurance, banking, investment management, asset management, wealth management, or financial services.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification.
Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP) certification.
PRINCE2 Practitioner certification.
Agile or Scrum certification.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the organization’s enterprise-wide project management and portfolio strategy.
Identify, assess, prioritize, and oversee strategic projects across insurance and investment business units, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy, growth objectives, and operational priorities.
Evaluate project feasibility, business cases, resource requirements, expected returns, and implementation risks; monitor portfolio performance and benefits realization.
Lead strategic initiatives across life insurance, general insurance, reinsurance, investment management, wealth management, and financial services.
Oversee insurance initiatives involving product launches, policy administration systems, claims management, underwriting, and distribution expansion.
Manage investment initiatives involving portfolio management systems, investment operations, client reporting, and service delivery, where applicable.
Coordinate projects involving regulatory changes, business process modernization, operational restructuring, new business models, financial products, and market expansion.
Establish and oversee the PMO, including project standards, methodologies, policies, governance frameworks, approval processes, stage-gate reviews, reporting structures, and escalation procedures.
Ensure consistent project management practices across business units and subsidiaries; monitor scope, timelines, budgets, deliverables, and quality.
Present portfolio performance reports, major risks, and project recommendations to executive leadership and the Board.
Lead strategic technology implementation and digital transformation projects, including initiatives involving InsurTech, FinTech, automation, AI, cloud platforms, CRM, and enterprise systems.
Coordinate digital insurance platforms, customer portals, mobile applications, and investment service platforms with CIO, CTO, and CDO teams; monitor costs, timelines, integration, and adoption.
Develop and manage project portfolio budgets and investment plans; monitor expenditure, cost variations, financial performance, and project profitability.
Optimize resource allocation and evaluate ROI, cost-benefit analyses, and benefits realization.
Manage external consultants, contractors, technology vendors, and implementation partners.
Identify and manage project-related operational, financial, regulatory, and technology risks; ensure compliance with applicable requirements.
Coordinate with risk management, legal, compliance, and internal audit teams; establish mitigation, contingency, and business continuity plans for critical projects.
Lead cross-functional transformation programs to improve operational efficiency and business performance.
Support organizational restructuring, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and post-merger integration; coordinate geographic expansion, new market entry, and business diversification.
Drive process improvement, automation, and cost optimization, and track adoption and business benefits.
Collaborate with the CEO, Board, executive leadership, and business unit heads to establish priorities; communicate with internal stakeholders, regulators, investors, consultants, and external partners as appropriate.
Resolve conflicts involving project scope, budgets, timelines, and resource allocation; provide executive updates on performance, delivery challenges, and strategic recommendations.
Lead project directors, program managers, project managers, and PMO professionals; build delivery teams and establish accountability, performance standards, and professional development programs.
Promote project ownership, collaboration, innovation, and delivery excellence; introduce project management tools, dashboards, and performance measurement systems.