Chief of Staff - 12 month Fixed Term Contract

About AXA: AXA is a global leader in insurance and financial services, dedicated to helping customers protect what matters most to them. As the sixth-largest insurance company in the world, we provide a wide range of services, including health, car, home, and business insurance. We support millions of customers worldwide, helping them navigate life's uncertainties with confidence. AXA UK Support Functions look after our three customer-facing business units, providing the infrastructure and expertise to make sure we can be there for our customers.

Job overview: We have a unique opportunity for a dynamic professional to join AXA UK&I as interim Chief of Staff for a 12 month fixed-term contract, reporting directly to the UK&I CEO. This pivotal role offers a unique opportunity to influence and shape the executive agenda, ensuring operational excellence across AXA UK&I. This role requires a proactive problem solver with exceptional communication skills, capable of navigating complex issues and delivering innovative solutions that support AXA UK&I’s strategic objectives. You will serve as a key facilitator and implementer, ensuring seamless execution of initiatives and fostering alignment across teams.

Key responsibilities:

• Accountable for the CEO Office and leading bespoke special projects directly commissioned by the CEO, ensuring strategic alignment and impactful delivery.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the UK&I CEO Office to ensure it provides clear direction, effective activities, and maintains the appropriate pace in support of the CEO’s agenda.
• Represent AXA UK&I and the CEO both internally and externally, including key engagement with AXA Group and European Markets to strengthen relationships and influence strategic conversations.
• Oversee the Executive Team’s contributions to Board and leadership meetings, managing the preparation of key documents, reports, and presentations to facilitate informed decision-making.
• Provide strategic oversight of key initiatives on behalf of the CEO, ensuring alignment with broader organisational goals and priorities.
• Develop and maintain the CEO’s narrative with Group, ensuring all functions are aligned on key messages when engaging with Group leadership and stakeholders.
• Lead all interactions with and requirements of key AXA Group stakeholders to ensure the UK&I business strategy and performance are well-understood and actively supported.
• Facilitate effective communication and information flow between the CEO and Executive team, ensuring relevant, accurate, and timely exchange of information to support decision-making.

At AXA we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team and our customers. You’ll work at least two days a week (40%) away from home, moving to three days a week (60%) in the future. Away from home means attending the office, visiting clients or attending industry events.

Your skills & experience:

• Commercially focussed and balanced (particularly reputational and commercial issues) with exceptional analytical and financial skills.
• Superbly organized with the ability to deliver at pace, with impact.
• Curious mindset, consistently bringing the outside in.
• Strong attention to detail and focus on execution and expectation setting.
• Courage to question.
• Independent contributor, ability to build networks and alliances and influence across non-direct reporting teams.
• Ability to create clarity through ambiguity.
• Passion for making others great.
• High levels of integrity and judgement.
• Experience fostering an inclusive culture where diverse perspectives are valued.
• Effective communicator with the ability to work across different levels of the organisation.

Internal candidates are encouraged to apply for this role as a secondment opportunity through the internal careers site. As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and don’t discriminate against employees or potential employees based on protected characteristics. If you have a long-term condition or disability and require adjustments during the application or interview process, we’re proud to offer access to the AXA Accessibility Concierge. For our support, please send an email to suzie.elliott@axa-uk.co.uk.