Head of Architecture

Head of Architecture About Us

Zurich Insurance Benelux is one of the most specialized insurance companies within non-life insurance for local and international businesses in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg. Our ambition is to become one of the most responsible and impactful businesses in the world. Our IT department is unique, as they focus on IT solutions for the Benelux, France, and Nordic Business Units in Zurich Insurance’s Commercial Insurance business.

This is a fulltime hybrid role where you will be working from our office in Diegem, Belgium. Occasional travel to the Nordics and France is part of the role.

The Head of Architecture is a senior IT leader reporting directly to the Head of IT. This role guides the evolution of the IT architecture, leads application landscape development, supports technology risk management, and creates frameworks for delivering resilient solutions. You will have line management responsibility for several team members and work closely with stakeholders to align technology with business strategy.

Through clear communication and inclusive leadership, you foster a culture of innovation, learning, and continuous improvement, ensuring the IT landscape operates effectively and sustainably.

• Analyze and map current and target business capabilities to IT solutions, aligning with frameworks such as COBIT and TOGAF to obtain a well-managed IT landscape.
• Develop and communicate roadmaps for IT architecture (3–5 years horizon), ensuring integration with internal and external strategic roadmaps.

• Set and maintain standards and guidelines for architecture, development, technology stack, and key concerns such as monitoring and disaster recovery.
• Establish requirements for automated testing, and code quality
• Implement and monitor protocols to ensure all technology risks are controlled, evidenced, and compliant with internal/external requirements.
• Evaluate and select technology vendors and partners as part of solution selection exercises, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture and value delivery.

• Provide support to the team of developers proficient in .NET, front-end frameworks (Angular, Node.js), Lowcode (Outsystems), and Guidewire platforms to ensure alignment with Zurich standards and best practices.
• Inspire excellence by promoting knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and an inclusive team culture that values diverse perspectives and skills.

• Actively participate in the demand intake process; provide expert guidance on IT landscape fit and IT risk posture for proposed initiatives.
• Ensure agreements with business stakeholders on empowered use of technology to facilitate experimentation, support demand shaping and low-risk automation.

• Lead and optimize system integration solutions, including APIs, ensuring interoperability, scalability, robustness and security.

• Guide and partner with BUs on cloud architectures and Fin Ops, optimize tool selection, and manage licensing to maximize value and control costs.
• Support operational excellence through sound advice on budgeting, cost forecasting, and cost control.
• Guide the selection and integration of technology solutions and vendors, ensuring alignment with Zurich’s target architecture and business value.
• Eye for setting up tangible AI architecture framework and guide from scratch to bring in enabling successful, safe, and scalable solutions ensuring interoperability

• Master’s degree or equivalent based on experience in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field; relevant certifications preferred (e.g., TOGAF, COBIT, PMP, CISSP).
• At least 10 years of experience in IT leadership roles, with proven track record in enterprise architecture, solution architecture & design, and technology risk management.
• Demonstrable experience with .NET, Angular, Node.js, Guidewire platforms, Lowcode and modern cloud architectures (Azure/AWS).
• Strong understanding of software quality frameworks…