Head of Operations - Commercial Lines CUO in London

The Head of Operations (Strategy & Execution), CUO Commercial Lines provides strategic integration, prioritisation and execution grip across the Commercial Lines Chief Underwriting Office. Acting as the CUO's senior strategic and operational partner, the role ensures that the function's strategic priorities are translated into clear plans, coordinated delivery and measurable outcomes. It drives alignment across underwriting, pricing, exposure management, product and analytics, bringing a portfolio-wide perspective to performance, investment and execution. The role provides clarity on priorities and trade-offs, maintains oversight of key initiatives and business outcomes, and enables timely action to address emerging risks, dependencies and opportunities, helping deliver Commercial Lines' strategic and financial objectives.

By providing strategic insight, portfolio governance and delivery assurance, this role enables the CUO to focus on technical leadership, executive priorities, regulatory accountability and external engagement. Acting as the operational engine of the function, it ensures strategic priorities are translated into action, governance remains effective, and the CUO function operates efficiently and effectively in support of sustainable, profitable growth.

This is a key leadership role within the Commercial Lines Chief Underwriting Office (CUO), responsible for driving strategic focus, portfolio delivery and performance across the CUO agenda. Working closely with the CUO and senior leaders, you'll translate strategy into a clear set of priorities, ensuring investment, resources and change initiatives are aligned to the outcomes that matter most. You'll oversee portfolio prioritisation, governance and delivery assurance, providing challenge, insight and recommendations to keep strategic initiatives on track and delivering measurable value.

You'll act as a trusted strategic and operational partner to the CUO, bringing together performance, financial and delivery insight to support informed decision-making across the function. Providing operational leadership across the portfolio, you'll drive coordination, prioritisation and execution of key strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment across Commercial Lines and UKGI. Through strong stakeholder management and a focus on delivery, you'll enable effective decision-making, remove barriers to progress and ensure the function remains focused on its strategic objectives. You'll identify risks, dependencies and opportunities early, ensure effective governance and controls are in place, and help deliver sustainable, profitable growth through successful execution of the CUO strategy.

Skills and experience we’re looking for:

• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate business objectives into data-driven solutions that deliver measurable value.
• Ability to think strategically and operationally, balancing long-term vision with short-term delivery.
• Strong understanding of Commercial Lines underwriting and its supporting disciplines (pricing, analytics, risk, operations).
• Proven experience operating at senior leadership level, influencing and challenging executives in complex, regulated environments.
• Programme and delivery leadership, overseeing complex cross-functional initiatives with multiple interdependencies.

What you’ll get for this role:

• Competitive salary (depending on skills, experience, and qualifications).
• Bonus opportunity – 25% (F grade) of annual salary, (actual amount depends on your performance and Aviva’s).
• Generous pension scheme e.g. if you put in 8%, Aviva adds 14%.
• 29 days holiday plus bank holidays, and you can choose to buy or sell up to 5 days.
• Aviva-funded Private Medical Benefit to help you get expert support when you need it.
• Make your money go further - Up to 40% discount on Aviva products, and other retailer discounts.
• Up to £1,200 of free Aviva shares per year through our Matching Share Plan and share in the success of Aviva with our Save As You Earn scheme.
• Brilliantly supportive policies including parental and carer’s leave.
• Flexible benefits to suit you, including sustainability options such as cycle to work.
• Make a difference, be part of our Aviva Communities and use your 3 paid volunteering days to help others.
• We take your wellbeing seriously with lots of support and tools.

Aviva is for everyone: We’re inclusive and welcome everyone – we want applications from all backgrounds and experiences. Excited but not sure you tick every box? Even if you don’t, we would still encourage you to apply. We also consider all forms of flexible working, including part time and job shares. We flex locations, hours and working patterns to suit our customers, business, and you. Most of our people are smart working – spending at least 50% of their time in our offices every week - combining the benefits of flexibility, with time together with colleagues.