Global Strategic Program Manager (Vice President)

Zurich Cover-More; Schaumburg (IL); Hybrid; USD 215,000 - 399,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Zurich Cover-More is seeking a senior transformation leader to drive a global technology program aimed at modernizing our platform and processes. You will partner with executives, regional leaders and strategic partners to deliver transformational outcomes at scale.

This role requires extensive experience across business and technology domains, strong stakeholder influence, and a proven ability to navigate complex, regulated environments while building a capability-led operating model.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of global transformation leadership experience.
• Delivered multi-region programs worth US$25M+.
• Experience with executive committees, boards and senior leadership.
• Strong track record in delivering both business and technology transformation.
• Experience across customer, operational and technology domains.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and relationship-building capability.
• Experience managing large partner ecosystems, vendors and third-party delivery models.
• Strong commercial, financial and business case ownership experience.
• Thrives in complex, highly regulated environments and through ambiguity.
• Ideal: global operating models and capability-led organizations.
• Background in Insurance, financial services or travel is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of a global technology transformation project.
• Establish and maintain transformation vision aligned to growth ambitions.
• Drive a Build Globally, Configure Locally philosophy across regions and workstreams.
• Challenge operating models to improve customer, partner and operational outcomes.
• Build trusted relationships with Executive Committee members and regional leaders.
• Lead executive governance forums and investment reviews across the program.

Skills

Transformation leadership

Global programs

Stakeholder management

Vendor management

Business case

Financial acumen

Regulated environment

Insurance/travel domain

Job description

Where will your career take you next? Let’s find out together.

At Zurich Cover-More, we’re proud to be one of the world’s leading travel insurance and assistance providers. Each year, we protect more than 20 million travelers worldwide, making sure we’re there every step of their journey with proactive care, personalized cover and specialist support. Zurich Cover-More partners with many of the world’s best-known brands – think major airlines, travel giants, top banks, credit card providers, and large retailers – to deliver more care, more cover, for all.

Launched in December 2024, Zurich Cover-More is the global travel brand of Zurich Insurance Group, one of the world’s leading multi-line insurers. Our family of customer-facing brands includes trusted names like Travel Guard, Cover-More Travel Insurance, Travelex Insurance, Universal Assistance, World Travel Protection, Freely, and Blue Insurance. Together, we’re redefining what it means to travel safely and with confidence. Whether it’s a long-awaited holiday, a last-minute business trip, or an unexpected detour, we deliver in the moments that matter.

About this opportunity:

This is a rare opportunity to lead a critical global transformation project that will shape the future of Zurich Cover-More. With a significant multi-year investment, the program will modernize our technology, enhance customer and partner experiences, and strengthen our position as a leading travel insurance business. Working closely with senior executives, regional leaders and strategic partners, you'll be accountable for delivering transformational outcomes while helping define the future operating model of the organization. You'll influence key stakeholders, challenge established ways of working, and lead complex business, technology and operational change on a global scale.

Please note this role could be based in the USA or UK.

What you’ll be doing:

• You'll lead the delivery of a global technology transformation project, ensuring strategic outcomes, business value and long-term transformation objectives are achieved.
• You'll establish and maintain a compelling transformation vision aligned to Zurich Cover-More's growth ambitions.
• You'll drive a "Build Globally, Configure Locally" philosophy across regions, functions and workstreams.
• You'll challenge existing operating models and identify opportunities to improve customer, partner and operational outcomes.
• You'll build trusted relationships with Executive Committee members, regional leaders and Zurich Group stakeholders.
• You'll lead executive governance forums, steering committees and investment reviews across the program.
• You'll influence and challenge senior stakeholders to navigate complexity, resolve roadblocks and maintain momentum.
• You'll hold accountability for program delivery, governance, benefits realization, risk management and financial performance.
• You'll lead a global, multi-disciplinary program organization spanning business, technology and operational teams.
• You'll ensure regional execution remains aligned with global strategic objectives and transformation priorities.
• You'll identify, prioritize and realize opportunities for additional business value and future investment returns.
• You'll drive adoption of new capabilities and embed sustainable ways of working across the organization.
• You'll shape future-state operating models, governance structures and service ownership frameworks.
• You'll lead strategic relationships with delivery partners, system integrators and major technology vendors.
• You'll build high-performing teams and strengthen transformation capability across the organization.

What skills and experience you’ll bring on this journey:

• You'll bring 15+ years' experience leading large-scale, global, enterprise-wide transformation programs.
• You'll have successfully delivered complex multi-region programs valued at more than US$25M.
• You'll have extensive experience working with Executive Committees, Boards and senior leadership teams.
• You'll demonstrate a strong track record delivering both business and technology transformation programmes.
• You'll have significant experience leading across customer, operational and technology domains.
• You'll bring exceptional stakeholder management, influencing and relationship-building capability.
• You'll have experience managing large-scale partner ecosystems, vendors and third-party delivery models.
• You'll have strong commercial, financial and business case ownership experience.
• You'll thrive in complex, highly regulated environments and bring confidence leading through ambiguity and change.
• You’ll ideally have experience establishing global operating models and capability-led organizations.
• A background in Insurance, financial services or travel is highly desirable.

Why you’ll love working with us!

We value optimism, caring, togetherness, reliability, results-orientation, and forward-thinking.

We have more than 3000 employees worldwide. We are a global group of digital specialists, actuaries, marketers, doctors, nurses, case managers, claims specialists, finance experts, customer service and corporate services professionals. We share a global purpose to look after travelers, at every step of their journey.

Job flexibility. We understand the importance of making sure that work fits into your life, not the other way around. Our hybrid approach ensures you can maintain work-life balance with the flexibility of 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home.

Career growth. This is an extremely exciting time for us at Zurich Cover-More, as we rapidly expand our business across the globe. We’re committed to helping our people thrive through a comprehensive onboarding experience, continuous professional development, and a supportive work environment that empowers growth at every stage of your career.

Take the time you need, for you and your communit"y. We encourage you to take the time you need when you need it. We offer regular annual and personal leave benefits along with volunteer leave and a comprehensive paid parental leave scheme.

Investing in your health and your future. We offer a competitive high-deductible health plan, EAP programs and access to health and well-being activities along with 401(k) program with employer matching to help you plan for your future.

Diversity and inclusion. We respect who you are and thoroughly embrace diversity. Wherever life has taken you, we welcome you to bring your whole self to work. Just be you – because that’s exactly who we’re looking for.

At Zurich Cover-More, compensation for roles is influenced by a variety of factors, including but not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. In compliance with local laws, Zurich commits to providing a fair and reasonable compensation range for each role. For more information about our Total Rewards, please click here. Additional rewards may encompass short-term incentive bonuses and merit increases. We encourage candidates with salary expectations beyond the provided range to apply as they will be considered based on their experience, skills, and education.

The compensation indicated represents a nationwide market range and has not been adjusted for geographic differentials pertaining to the location where the position may be filled. The proposed salary range for this position is $215,110 - $399,490 with short-term incentive bonus eligibility set at 35%, and long term incentive eligibility set at 35%.