The Life Information Systems division of a major Belgian insurer runs underwriting and claims systems for life products and is preparing a multi-year programme of development projects. The team works across a Microfocus mainframe emulator environment (Cobol and Mix Cobol+.NET) and modern frontends (.Net, CRM), so strong experience in project management and Prince-2 is essential to coordinate technical and business stakeholders.
The mission
This role sits in a programme that delivers several large IT projects for life insurance products, many of which exceed 1000 mandays. The technical landscape includes a Microfocus mainframe emulator on Windows, Cobol/Mix Cobol+.NET backend code, .Net and CRM frontends, printing and integration components. Delivery follows Prince-2 and waterfall practices, with agile/scrum used on some streams.
Day to day you will run project governance, shape scope together with architects and business owners, and produce the roadmap, budget and test plan for each project. You will report progress and risks to senior management and steering committees, coordinate architecture and integration deliverables, and ensure projects meet timing, quality and budget expectations. Expect to work with multiple teams of developers, architects and business analysts and drive several concurrent projects in Brussels and across Belgium.
Your responsibilities
- Establish and run project governance, stakeholder matrices and steering committees to secure clear decisions and timely escalation.
- Lead scope definition and business requirement validation, producing open-point logs and a high-level business case that balances value, cost and timing.
- Coordinate architecture and integration activities with architects, delivering an architecture milestones plan and agreed outputs.
- Define project budget, product breakdown and detailed work-package estimates, and maintain budget forecasts in the administration tool.
- Monitor delivery progress, produce highlight reports on scope, timing, quality and cost, and implement risk and issue action plans.
- Motivate cross-functional teams, encourage collaboration between developers, testers and business analysts, and support skill development inside project teams.
Your profile
Essential skills
- Prince-2 project management capability and practical use on IT projects.
- At least 10 years of experience managing IT project deliveries, including projects of 1000+ mandays.
- Proven experience with waterfall delivery and project governance, reporting and budgeting.
- Insurance service experience, preferably on underwriting or claims systems.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office tools for planning, reporting and financial consolidation.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, methodical and result oriented.
Preferred skills
- Familiarity with Microfocus mainframe emulator and Cobol or Mix Cobol+.NET codebases.
- Experience with .Net frontends, CRM integrations, printing and DWH principles.
- Understanding of test management, business analysis and Agile/scrum practices.
Languages
- English, CEFR B2 (required).
- Dutch CEFR C1 or French CEFR C1 (one fluent, the other can be CEFR A1).
Education
- Master in Engineering, Computer Science, Sciences or equivalent professional experience.