Job Summary
The Senior Manager, IT Policy and Underwriting Systems will lead the application team responsible for the policy and underwriting technology portfolio, with a focus on Guidewire Cloud PolicyCenter and core systems transformation while supporting legacy platform coexistence during the transition. This role will translate business objectives into executable delivery plans, drive accountability across internal and vendor teams, manage risks and dependencies, and ensure technology outcomes support commercial insurance operations, compliance, audit readiness, and modernization objectives.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead the application team responsible for policy and underwriting platforms, including Guidewire PolicyCenter, Guidewire Cloud, related integrations, and legacy policy systems during the transition to the future-state core platform.
• Own PolicyCenter delivery and operational readiness, including configuration, product model evolution, underwriting workflows, rating, forms, integrations, defect management, backlog execution, release readiness, and post-go-live support transition.
• Lead application team execution for core systems transformation releases, including stabilization, UAT support, defect resolution, deployment planning, hypercare, and production validation.
• Partner with the Director of Production Support to establish disciplined production support practices, including incident triage, escalation paths, monitoring, batch and job support, runbooks, SLA adherence, vendor handoffs, and business communications.
• Partner with underwriting, product, operations, finance, compliance, architecture, security, infrastructure, data, PMO, and senior IT leaders to prioritize high-value work, resolve dependencies, manage expectations, and align delivery with strategic objectives.
• Manage Guidewire, systems integrators, managed service providers, staffing partners, and other vendors, holding partners accountable for scope, quality, schedule, deliverables, cost discipline, contract expectations, and issue resolution.
• Manage application portfolio finances, including budget planning, forecasting, staffing mix, consultant utilization, vendor spend, invoice review, SOW inputs, purchase order tracking, accruals, and cost and risk tradeoff recommendations.
• Ensure delivery and support practices comply with SDLC, change management, SOX, access control, segregation of duties, audit evidence retention, and company policy requirements.
• Develop internal staff and capabilities through coaching, performance management, Guidewire skills development, knowledge transfer, certification planning, succession planning, and staff accountability.
• Communicate clearly with senior leaders, business partners, vendors, and team members through concise status reporting, transparent risk escalation, and action-oriented follow-through.
• Manage team capacity based on current and upcoming demands and right-size the team based on staffing forecasts.
• Stay informed about emerging technologies in the policy and underwriting space and evaluate opportunities for introduction to stakeholders.
Required Qualifications
• 10+ years of progressive IT or business systems experience, including enterprise application delivery, modernization, or large-scale transformation leadership.
• 5+ years of IT leadership experience, including direct supervision, staff development, performance management, and accountability for team outcomes.
• 3+ years of experience with Guidewire PolicyCenter and/or P&C commercial insurance policy administration systems, preferably in Guidewire Cloud or InsuranceSuite implementation and support environments.
• Strong knowledge of commercial P&C insurance, including policy administration, underwriting, product and rating configuration, forms, renewals, endorsements, and integrations.
• Experience leading delivery across complex, multi-release programs involving business, architecture, integration, data, security, testing, and production support dependencies.
• Proven experience managing vendors, systems integrators, managed services providers, and contract resources, including SOWs, delivery governance, escalation, and invoice review.
• Demonstrated experience with budgeting, forecasting, contractor and vendor costs, run-rate management, and portfolio financial accountability.
• Working knowledge of Agile delivery, backlog management, sprint planning, defect triage, release coordination, Jira or similar tools, IT controls, SDLC governance, change management, SOX, access controls, and audit evidence practices.
• Strong communication, facilitation, follow-up, prioritization, and issue-resolution skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business, a related field, or equivalent work experience.
Preferred Qualifications
• Guidewire certification in PolicyCenter, InsuranceSuite, Cloud, configuration, integrations, or related disciplines.
• Experience with BillingCenter, ClaimCenter, ContactManager, Guidewire Cloud Platform, integrations, or operational support.
• Experience leading production readiness, hypercare, managed services transition, or steady-state support for a core insurance platform.
• Experience with Azure integration services, APIs, data platforms, DevSecOps, CI/CD, monitoring, cloud operations, SAFe, Scrum, ITIL, or service management practices.
• Experience leading insurance systems modernization, digital transformation, legacy migration, consulting, or contract-to-hire engagements.
