Chief Information Officer

Talenza; Sydney; On-site; AUD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Talenza is seeking a CIO-level leader to own the run/operate technology across its Australian business. You will ensure stability, cost-effectiveness and reliability while serving as a bridge to APAC/global technology leadership. Report to the country CEO and partner with the transformation team.

You will lead a high-autonomy, top-table role with accountability for legacy and modern platforms, driving disciplined execution and value across the tech estate.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a CIO, Head of IT, or senior technology leader owning a run/operate function at scale.
• Financial services background essential; general insurance experience highly regarded
• Comfortable operating within a matrixed, APAC/global reporting structure
• Track record of stability, reliability and disciplined execution in a run/operate technology environment
• A grounded, curious leadership style - partners and earns trust rather than dictates

Responsibilities

• Own and run all built technology across legacy and modern platforms, ensuring stability, reliability and operational excellence
• Partner closely with the transformation function to ensure everything built is supportable and cost-effective to run
• Act as the key bridge between local technology operations and APAC/global technology leadership
• Lead and develop the team responsible for day-to-day technology operations
• Bring insight, data and clear options to budget and prioritisation conversations, rather than just executing what's handed down

Skills

CIO leadership

Head of IT

run/operate ownership

financial services

APAC/global reporting

stability and reliability

curious leadership

Job description

• A globally recognised, formidable player in insurance
• Highly autonomous, decentralised Australian operation
• Backing a major multi-year transformation and technology investment program

About the role

This is a newly created seat, sitting at the leadership table of a market-leading insurer, responsible for owning all "run" technology across the Australian business - from long-standing core platforms through to newly delivered systems. You'll be the critical handshake between the build/transformation function and business-as-usual, making sure everything delivered is stable, supportable and cost-effective over time. Reporting into the country CEO, with a strong matrix into APAC technology leadership, this role plays a genuinely central part in how the business modernises and scales its technology estate.

• Genuine autonomy - operate almost like your own business, not a branch waiting on head office
• Earn a permanent seat at the top table, as a trusted peer to the country's senior leadership
• Real investment behind you - a business putting serious money into transformation and technology, not just talking about it
• A high-performance culture paired with humility - deep insurance and underwriting expertise at the top, and genuine respect for curiosity over swagger

Duties

• Own and run all built technology across legacy and modern platforms, ensuring stability, reliability and operational excellence
• Partner closely with the transformation function to ensure everything built is supportable and cost-effective to run
• Act as the key bridge between local technology operations and APAC/global technology leadership
• Lead and develop the team responsible for day-to-day technology operations
• Bring insight, data and clear options to budget and prioritisation conversations, rather than just executing what's handed down

Skills and experience

• Proven experience as a CIO, Head of IT, or senior technology leader owning a run/operate function at scale
• Financial services background essential; general insurance experience highly regarded
• Comfortable operating within a matrixed, APAC/global reporting structure
• Track record of stability, reliability and disciplined execution in a run/operate technology environment
• A grounded, curious leadership style - someone who partners and earns trust rather than comes in with all the answers