Program Manager, ITSCM

Program Manager, ITSCM

Bangalore, India

The objective of Operational Resilience is to protect our people, customers and brand by sustaining critical customer services at acceptable levels while responding to expected and unexpected disruptions and adapting to changes in our operating environment. This position is associated with the discipline of IT Service Continuity Management (ITSCM) & IT Resilience (ITR) and enables AXA XL to build and maintain appropriate levels of resilience and readiness within our core business functions and their critical services and ensures regulatory and AXA Group compliance. This position is responsible for overseeing a variety of activities and supporting the Head of ITSCM in fulfilling AXA XL's global requirements for Information Technology Service Continuity and Disaster Recovery. It plays a pivotal role in assessing and validating the organization's capabilities to respond effectively to disruptive events. The role encompasses governance, administrative duties, and the tactical execution of disaster recovery planning components within the broader Operational Resilience (OR) program. The primary focus is on ensuring the continuity and recovery of IT systems, infrastructure, and services that underpin AXA XL's business and administrative functions. Key responsibilities include developing, implementing, and maintaining disaster recovery plans and standards for local offices and data centers, conducting business impact analyses and risk assessments, and facilitating tests and exercises with business and IT teams across diverse geographical locations. Considering regulatory compliance requirements (i.e. for EU-DORA), this position is responsible to manage the SaaS 3^rd Party DR plans are tested, holistically keep an eye to IT Resilience Risk and report them via building and executing on an effective partnership with teams like Global Technology and their supporting partners, Procurement, Third party Risk Management and senior executive business function representatives. Additionally, this position is expected to build an effective relationship with other functions within Security to address various other transversal topics around the Security aspects of AXA XL’s 3^rd parties/vendors. This position is also responsible to manage and the ITSCM & ITR Standards, other process documentation and dashboards/reports and supports the execution of controls and processes that contribute to the success of the overall program. As a Program Manager should have the capability, experience and skills to lead the junior team members, take on difficult conversations to defend our position as on our controls; should have a structured approach and ability to manage the involved senior stakeholders effectively. Can lead the assigned responsibilities self-directedly and take ownership of their assigned program components as per the annual strategic plan.

DISCOVER  your opportunity

What will your essential responsibilities include?

·         Coordinate and execute medium to large-scale disaster recovery exercises/tests for data centers and offices, ensuring proper processes and controls are followed, validated and reported.

·         Track and follow-up on issues and problems encountered during ITSCM/DR exercises.  Identify ITSCM/DR capabilities and areas of improvement while seeing risks/gaps to resolution and reporting progress on issues.

·         Drive business impact analyses/risk assessments and work with company units to determine critical IT systems/applications and operational processes.

·         Create and update ITSCM/DR governance and documentation as required.

·         Recommend acceptable recovery time/point objectives, and establish resources required for the successful resumption of IT data centers, infrastructure, operations, and systems/applications in the event of a disaster.

·         Assist IT crisis/incident team members in developing disaster recovery and incident management plan documentation, maintaining documentation in a central repository and in a constant state of readiness.

·         Execute on-going disaster recovery infrastructure and facilities monitoring, readiness and preparedness reviews.

·         Execute the ITSCM/DR certification process to keep plans current relative to changes in recovery team members, as well as the IT infrastructure, data centers, and systems/applications supporting the business.

·         Assist in performing data center operations and communications network disaster recovery capacity planning in coordination with AXA XL technology groups.

·         Perform and/or ensures that all relevant testing outputs are appropriately reviewed, approved and filed.

·         Drive the development and implementation of ITSCM/DR methodologies and tools.

·         Adhere to divisional and other external, professional business continuity management standards and professional practices (e.g., Disaster Recovery Institute International – DRII).

·         Participate in the completion of an annual ITSCM/DR strategic analysis and risk assessment, which includes a company-wide BIA to assess internal/external risks and recommend mitigation strategies.

·         Assist in IT recovery support and business resumption during a disaster/crisis or business interruption event.

·         Ability to structure/implement organizational support models in a dynamic environment that leverage multiple 3rd party resources.

·         Contribute to and help drive strategic ITSCM/DR initiatives.

·         Ability to interface with Senior IT Managers.

You will report to the Program Lead, ITSCM & ITR - Operational Resilience.

SHARE your talent

We’re looking for someone who has these abilities and skills:

Required Skills and Abilities:

·         Business continuity/disaster recovery/IT service continuity or related experience.

·         Experience in IT operations, infrastructure and/or change management, including 3rd party vendors/supplier.

·         Insurance, Reinsurance, or Financial Services Industry experience a plus.

·         Ability to travel up to 10% to domestic and international locations.

·         Ability and motivation to work in a agile environment to support the team and our stakeholders when mostly required, such as during a response to business interruption events or accelerated risk response priorities.

·         MBCP/CBCP designation or equivalent ITSCM/DR work experience.

·         Ability to plan and manage medium to large-scale projects.

·         Ability to prioritize among competing priorities.

·         Ability to effectively instruct resources/activities regionally across diverse cultures and languages, as well as 3rd party vendors.

·         Solid understanding of AXA XL’s business lines and supporting IT systems (If Internal).

·         Responsiveness and service commitment both internally and externally.

·         Ability to communicate with upper management/executive level.

·         Excellent communication and negotiation skills in English and native language.

·         English as business language and additional languages such as French or Spanish are a plus.

·         Excellent technical writing skills.

·         Solid interpersonal skills to interface with operational managers, staff and 3rd party vendors.

·         Working knowledge of personal computers and MS-Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Visio and Outlook.

Desired Skills and Abilities:

·         Knowledge of IT disaster recovery/service continuity management planning methodologies, tools and data replication technologies a plus.

·         Demonstrated leadership skills, capable of performing complex scheduling, control, planning and influencing with minimal supervision.

·         Effective knowledge of Azure Cloud architecture, PaaS, IaaS environments; server technologies, virtualization, network,, telephony, backup and replication software and ITSCM/DR testing requirements. Examples include VMWare, Netapp and EMC Storage, RecoverPoint, Platespin, MIMIX, and MS Cluster.

·         ITIL, PMP, Azure Cloud Architect designation a plus.

·         Other Infrastructure Technology related certifications a plus.

·         BA/BS degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business Administration, Information Technology or equivalent work experience.

FIND your future

AXA XL, the P&C and specialty risk division of AXA, is known for solving complex risks. For mid-sized companies, multinationals and even some inspirational individuals we don’t just provide re/insurance, we reinvent it.

How? By combining a comprehensive and efficient capital platform, data-driven insights, leading technology, and the best talent in an agile and inclusive workspace, empowered to deliver top client service across all our lines of business − property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty.

With an innovative and flexible approach to risk solutions, we partner with those who move the world forward.

Learn more at axaxl.com

Inclusion & Diversity

AXA XL is committed to equal employment opportunity and will consider applicants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity and origins, marital status, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

At AXA XL, we know that an inclusive culture and a diverse workforce enable business growth and are critical to our success. That’s why we have made a strategic commitment to attract, develop, advance and retain the most diverse workforce possible, and create an inclusive culture where everyone can bring their full selves to work and can reach their highest potential. It’s about helping one another — and our business — to move forward and succeed.

• Five Business Resource Groups focused on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and origins, disability and inclusion with 20 Chapters around the globe
• Robust support for Flexible Working Arrangements
• Enhanced family friendly leave benefits
• Named to the Diversity Best Practices Index
• Signatory to the UK Women in Finance Charter

Learn more at axaxl.com/about-us/inclusion-and-diversity.  AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Sustainability

At AXA XL, Sustainability is integral to our business strategy. In an ever-changing world, AXA XL protects what matters most for our clients and communities. We know that sustainability is at the root of a more resilient future. Our 2023-26 Sustainability strategy, called “Roots of resilience”, focuses on protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, and embedding sustainable practices across our operations.

Our Pillars:

• Valuing nature\: How we impact nature affects how nature impacts us. Resilient ecosystems - the foundation of a sustainable planet and society – are essential to our future. We’re committed to protecting and restoring nature – from mangrove forests to the bees in our backyard – by increasing biodiversity awareness and inspiring clients and colleagues to put nature at the heart of their plans.
• Addressing climate change\: The effects of a changing climate are far reaching and significant. Unpredictable weather, increasing temperatures, and rising sea levels cause both social inequalities and environmental disruption. We're building a net zero strategy, developing insurance products and services, and mobilizing to advance thought leadership and investment in societal-led solutions.
• Integrating ESG\: All companies have a role to play in building a more resilient future. Incorporating ESG considerations into our internal processes and practices builds resilience from the roots of our business. We’re training our colleagues, engaging our external partners, and evolving our sustainability governance and reporting.
• AXA Hearts in Action\:  We have established volunteering and charitable giving programs to help colleagues support causes that matter most to them, known as AXA XL’s “Hearts in Action” programs. These include our Matching Gifts program, Volunteering Leave, and our annual volunteering day – the Global Day of Giving.

For more information, please see axaxl.com/sustainability.