Tech Innovation Lead, APAC

Zurich Insurance; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Zurich Insurance in Kuala Lumpur seeks a dynamic leader to drive AI-enabled digital insurance innovations and emerging tech strategies. You will own the innovation pipeline, translate digital strategy into executable tech-enabled solutions, and collaborate with product, engineering, and operations to scale across geographies.

The role emphasizes user research, data-driven decision making, and a strong bridge between business needs and IT execution to enhance customer offerings within Zurich Edge

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead the discovery, development, and implementation of innovative AI and digital solutions across the digital insurance journey.
• Define a clear product vision and translate it into a concrete roadmap with the tech team.
• Monitor trends in insurtech, fintech, e-commerce and assess applicability to our ecosystem.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and operations teams to prototype and scale ideas across geographies.
• Own and manage the innovation pipeline from idea to proof-of-concept and scaling.

Skills

Tech leadership

AI strategy

Data-driven decision making

User research

Product roadmap

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business

Tools

AI APIs

Microservices

Customer engagement tools

Job description

The Opportunity:

We are seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking leader to drive innovation at the intersection of digital distribution, insurance, and emerging technologies. This role will be central to identifying, shaping, and executing innovative business-led use cases with a strong focus on AI and emerging tech. This opportunity is designed for a business-first tech lead who can envision and drive new digital capabilities to enhance our customer offerings across the value chain with Zurich Edge strategy.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

• Lead the discovery, development, and implementation of innovative AI and digital solutions across the lifecycle of the digital insurance journey.
• Identify, evaluate, and integrate emerging technologies, tools, and vendors to enhance our digital stack (e.g., microservices, AI APIs, customer engagement tools, etc.).
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and operations teams to prototype and scale new ideas across geographies.
• Own and manage the innovation pipeline, from idea generation to proof-of-concept and scaling.
• Translate digital strategy into executable tech-enabled solutions, acting as a bridge between business and IT teams.
• Monitor trends in insurtech, fintech, e-commerce, and assess their applicability to our ecosystem.
• Define a clear product vision for short- and long-term objectives, translating it into a concrete roadmap with the tech team.
• Conduct user research and usability studies, collaborating with designers, developers, and research teams.
• Communicate consumer needs and partner requirements, translating them into new product features for design.
• Enhance platform propositions to ensure Zurich's long-term market play, focusing on retail digital strategy.
• Partner with IT to manage the roadmap and backlog for all digital products, ensuring timely and expected delivery.
• Monitor and evaluate product performance for continuous iteration and improvement.
• Optimize product performance through iterative development improvements and features using data and insights.
• Build processes to design new products and propositions using customer research and data, ensuring solutions meet customer needs.
• Ensure stakeholders understand the necessary operational and technical changes to implement proposed innovations.

Qualification, Skills & Experience:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business, or a related field.
• Degree or certifications or courses in AI or advanced programming highly regarded.
• Proven experience in leading tech innovation initiatives within the insurance, fintech, or e-commerce sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to translate business strategies into actionable tech solutions.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to leverage data and insights for continuous product improvement. Experience in conducting user research and usability studies.
• Proven ability to manage innovation pipelines, including idea generation, validation, prioritization, proof-of-concept, and scaling. Experience in managing product roadmaps and backlogs.
• Willingness to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Ability to handle multiple priorities and navigate through ambiguity.