Guidewire Technical Lead

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 bring strong Guidewire expertise and are looking to take on a meaningful new challenge, we would love to hear from you.

Zurich Canada is seeking a Guidewire Technical Lead to provide hands-on technical leadership for the implementation, evolution, and ongoing management of our Guidewire-based Policy and Claims Administration platforms, including PolicyCenter Cloud and ClaimCenter Cloud.

Reporting to the Head of IT Core Platforms, you will play a pivotal role in shaping Zurich’s Guidewire strategy.  You will guide the integration of Guidewire solutions within the broader Zurich technology landscape, influence complementary modules such as Jutro, and define the roadmap for Guidewire initiatives across the organization.

This is a unique opportunity to expand your expertise and shape the future in a collaborative and supportive environment where your ideas and contributions truly matter.  This posting is a newly created role. 

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

•    Act as the technical authority and point of accountability for Guidewire platforms (PolicyCenter Cloud and ClaimCenter Cloud), ensuring stable, scalable, and well-governed implementations across Zurich Canada.
•    Provide hands-on technical leadership and decision support to delivery teams, resolving complex Guidewire design, configuration, and integration challenges without directly owning day-to-day development.
•    Partner closely with Enterprise and Solution Architecture teams to translate target-state architectures into executable Guidewire design patterns, implementation standards, and delivery guardrails.
•    Define and maintain Guidewire-specific technical standards, patterns, and best practices, ensuring consistent adoption across internal teams and vendor partners.
•    Guide the integration of Guidewire with Zurich’s broader technology ecosystem, including core platforms, digital channels, data, and external services, ensuring alignment with enterprise integration strategies.
•    Own the technical roadmap for Guidewire capabilities, including platform upgrades, cloud optimization, use of modules such as Jutro, and adoption of new Guidewire features.
•    Provide technical oversight across initiatives to proactively identify risks, dependencies, and cross-program/project impacts related to Guidewire implementations.
•    Collaborate with Cyber Security, DevOps, and Platform teams to ensure Guidewire solutions meet Zurich’s requirements for security, resiliency, performance, and operational readiness.
•    Coach and mentor Guidewire developers and technical leads, raising overall platform maturity, code quality, and problem-solving capability across teams.
•    Serve as a key escalation point and trusted advisor for senior IT and business stakeholders on Guidewire-related technical decisions, trade-offs, and delivery outcomes.

Job Qualifications - What you bring to the table

Required:

•    Bachelors Degree and 10+ years of progressive IT experience, with significant time spent delivering large-scale enterprise platforms within complex, regulated environments.

OR

•    High School Diploma or Equivalent and 15+ years of progressive IT experience, with significant time spent delivering large-scale enterprise platforms within complex, regulated environments.

OR

•    Zurich Certified Insurance Apprentice including an associate degree and 12+ years of progressive IT experience, with significant time spent delivering large-scale enterprise platforms.

AND

•    5 or more years of hands-on experience with Guidewire platforms, including deep expertise in PolicyCenter Cloud and / or ClaimCenter Cloud implementations.
•    Proven experience acting as a Technical Lead or Platform Lead for Guidewire initiatives, providing technical direction across multiple teams, vendors, and concurrent delivery streams.
•    Strong understanding of Guidewire configuration, extension frameworks, data model, product model, and integration patterns, with the ability to guide design decisions without being the primary developer.
•    Demonstrated experience integrating Guidewire with enterprise ecosystems, including digital front ends, data platforms, document management, billing and third-party services.
•    Experience working within defined enterprise architecture and governance models, collaborating effectively with Enterprise and Solution Architects rather than owning target-state architecture.
•    Solid knowledge of cloud-native and SaaS delivery models, including CI/CD pipelines, environment, release planning, and operational readiness in Guidewire Cloud context.
•    Experience partnering with cross-functional technology teams (DevOps, Cyber Security, QA, Data, Integration, infrastructure) to ensure non-functional requirements are met.
•    Proven ability to coach and mentor Guidewire developers and technical leads, elevating platform consistency, quality, and delivery maturity.
•    Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred:

•    Experience with multiple Guidewire modules (e.g. Digita l/ Jutro, Reinsurance,)
•    Prior experience in P&C Insurance across both Commercial and Personal Lines
•    Exposure to multi-vendor Guidewire delivery models and offshore / nearshore teams
•    Guidewire certifications (e.g., ACE, Developer, or Integration certifications).

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 www.zurichcanada.com.