Assistant Vice President, Head of Project Management Office (AVP, Head of PMO)

The Opportunity

Are you looking for a caring, collaborative, values-driven workplace with inspiring teammates and leaders? Do you have the ambition and desire to be the best and thrive at the most impactful global insurance provider in the world? Look no further than Zurich Canada.  

If you have experience as a PMO Leader, managing governance, portfolios & projects, business & technology integration, and are looking for a new challenge, we would love to hear from you.  

Zurich Canada is currently looking for an Assistant Vice President, Head of Project Management Office (AVP, Head of PMO) who will be a pragmatic project leader who can challenge constructively, influence senior stakeholders, and drive better outcomes for the business, customers, and colleagues.

Reporting to the VP, Transformation Office, you will lead Zurich Canada’s Project Management Office and help turn strategic priorities into a disciplined project lifecycle with measurable delivery. You will provide portfolio oversight, governance, and execution discipline across business and technology initiatives.

This is a unique opportunity to build your knowledge and experience for the future in a supportive environment where your voice matters. This posting is for a new vacancy. 

Zurich Canada uses artificial intelligence–enabled tools to support certain aspects of the recruitment process, including the initial review and screening of applications. Artificial intelligence is not the sole basis for candidate shortlisting or selection. All hiring decisions are reviewed and made by qualified hiring professionals.

Zurich follows a hybrid work model requiring three days per week of in-person presence, which may include time in the office or market-facing engagements.

What you will do

PMO Leadership and Governance
•    Lead Zurich Canada’s PMO, setting standards, methods, and best practices for project and program delivery
•    Maintain governance frameworks that drive consistency, quality, and disciplined execution across the portfolio
•    Oversee intake, prioritization, resourcing, documentation, and reporting in line with strategic priorities, budget, and audit standards

Portfolio and Project Oversight
•    Provide independent challenge on business cases, plans, risks, issues, dependencies, and go/no-go decisions
•    Monitor portfolio performance, benefits realization, and progress against strategic goals using clear KPIs and dashboards
•    Manage interdependencies, resolve escalations, and reduce duplication across initiatives

Business and Technology Integration
•    Partner with business, transformation and IT leaders to translate strategic initiatives into prioritized projects with clear scope, workplans, budget, and implementation plans
•    Facilitate forums with leaders and stakeholders across the business and technology that drive decisions, approvals and prioritization of the Zurich Canada project portfolio. 

Job Qualifications - What you bring to the table

Required:

•    Bachelor’s degree and 7+ years of experience in project management, strategic / operational consulting, or business transformation

OR

•    High school diploma and 9+ years of experience in project management, strategic / operational consulting or business transformation

OR

•    Zurich certified insurance apprentice (with Associate Degree) and 7+ years of experience in the areas above

AND

•    A strong track record leading complex projects, programs, PMO functions, or transformation initiatives
•    Strong project / program management experience, including governance, delivery discipline, risk management, benefits realization, and portfolio reporting 
•    Proven ability to drive strategic and operational change, ideally in financial services or insurance
•    Confident senior stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, challenge, and align diverse groups
•    Clear executive communication skills, with the ability to distil complexity into practical decisions and actions
•    Strong analytical judgement, pragmatic problem-solving, and comfort working across a matrixed environment

Preferred:

•    Experience in claims, underwriting, or risk engineering
•    PMP or equivalent certification 
•    LEAN, Six Sigma or continuous improvement experience
•    Experience with PPM tools, operating model change, organizational design, or large-scale transformation 

At Zurich Canada, we are committed to pay equity. We determine compensation based on objective criteria such as skills, experience, and internal equity. The salary range for this position is 120,000 - 170,000. This range reflects the expected pay for the role across Canada and may vary depending on factors like office location, specific responsibilities, and individual qualifications. As required by local law, Zurich provides in good faith a reasonable compensation range, but starting salaries may exceed this range based on a candidate’s skills and experience.

Our Culture

•    At Zurich, we are proud of our culture. We are passionate about Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging (DIEB). We want you to bring your whole self to work, and we want our employees to be reflective of the communities in which we live and work. Our DIEB initiatives are creating an environment where everyone feels welcome. 

•    We have a collaborative culture where diversity of thought is valued. We value your input and strive to give our employees the tools they need to make an impact.  

•    We care about our employees’ well-being and offer a comprehensive health/benefits plan with varying levels of coverage to suit your specific needs and a competitive total compensation package. 

•    We understand how important it is to rest, recharge and do the things you love. At Zurich, all employees receive a minimum of four weeks of vacation per year to do just that. 

•    We also understand that employees require time off for personal reasons. Maybe you have an appointment during a workday, a cultural or religious holiday you would like to observe, or you need time off to focus on your mental health. Zurich employees receive four personal days per year to be used at their discretion.  

•    We are committed to continuous improvement and offer access to a comprehensive range of training and development opportunities.  

•    We care about our communities. Our communities are where our customers, people, and shareholders live and work. While we can be proud of the contribution to society Zurich makes through our core business of insurance, we must also give back to our communities through our talent, time and resources. 

•    We have won numerous awards for our workplace culture. We are proud to be one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers and to have received Insurance Business Canada’s 5-Star Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award.    

Make a difference. Be challenged. Be inspired. Be supported. Love what you do. Work for us.  

About Us

Zurich Canada is part of the Zurich Insurance Group, a multi-line insurer with approximately 55,000 employees worldwide serving customers in global and local markets. Zurich Canada has been a leading insurance provider serving mid-sized and large companies, including multinational corporations, in the Canadian commercial market for 100 years. With over 650 employees in offices across the country, Zurich offers the global strength of a top insurance provider combined with in-depth knowledge of industries and local markets. Zurich Canada aspires to be risk management professionals’ first choice as their premier partner to help meet the risk challenges of today and tomorrow. Read more at . 

A future with Zurich

Now is the time to move forward and make a difference. At Zurich, we want you to share your unique perspectives, experiences and ideas so we can grow and drive sustainable change together. As part of a leading global organization, Zurich North America has over 148 years of experience managing risk and supporting resilience. We are a leading provider of commercial property-casualty insurance solutions and a wide range of risk management products and services for businesses and individuals. Today, we serve more than 25 industries, from agriculture to technology and insure 90% of the Fortune 500®. Our growth strategy is not limited to our business. As an employer, Zurich strives to provide ongoing career development opportunities and foster an environment where voices are diverse, behaviors are inclusive, actions drive equity, and our people feel a sense of belonging. Be a part of the next evolution of the insurance industry. Join us in building a brighter future for our people, our customers and the communities we serve.

As a global company, Zurich recognizes the diversity of our workforce as an asset. We recruit talented people from a variety of backgrounds with unique perspectives that are truly welcome here. Taken together, diversity and inclusion bring us closer to our common goal: exceeding our customers’ expectations. Zurich is committed to providing a diverse, inclusive and barrier-free environment resulting in an accessible organization for employees, customers, and other parties who interact with, or on behalf of, Zurich. We strive to achieve a workplace free of discrimination of all forms, including discrimination on the basis of physical or mental disability, or medical condition. If you are interested in a job opportunity, please advise if you require an accommodation, so we can work with you to provide a more accessible process. 

Zurich does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies. Any unsolicited resume will become the property of Zurich Canadian Holdings Limited. If you are a preferred vendor, please use our Recruiting Agency Portal for resume submission.

Only applicable for Canada: For Zurich Canada's commitment to diversity and accessibility please click here . If you would prefer to not receive future electronic messages from Zurich Insurance Company Ltd's recruitment management system, please email your request to have your job profile deleted from the system by clicking here . Zurich Insurance Company Ltd 100 King St., W., Suite 5500, Toronto, ON, M5X 1C9.