Chief of Staff, GCUO in London

AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Chief of Staff is the strategic integrator and execution lead for the AXA XL Global CUO (GCUO). You will serve a critical function and support to the Global CUO Office to ensure the success and execution of the GCUO mandate; connect global direction with business and local underwriting execution; and enable timely, evidence-based decisions. The Chief of Staff ensures that strategy, governance, communications and follow-through operate as one coherent system within the broader GCUO office, with clear ownership, accountability and measurable outcomes. You will act to ensure priorities are met, assessed, and mitigate risks to the Global CUO Office by identifying and solving problems before they arise, fostering collaboration and working closely with the Regional CUOs and their teams on transversal topics and engaging with all relevant stakeholders to manage key relationships for the GCUO Office.

This role will support and, where appropriate, lead delivery against the six Mandates of the GCUO – Strategy, Technical Excellence, Authority & Governance, Data, Client & Commercial Markets and Capital & Reinsurance through collaboration and support across the GCUO Office. Reporting to and primarily providing support to the Global Chief Underwriting Officer, this role requires a robust partnership with Senior Leaders at local, regional and global levels on matters of strategic importance (and in many cases of a highly confidential / sensitive nature.) Additional stakeholder management is also required across a broad range of functions, including; Leaders in the GCUO and Regional Underwriting community Pricing, Distribution and Client relations, Data & Analytics, Risk Management, Operations & Technology, HR, Communications and AXA Group GUO.

What you’ll be doing

What will your essential responsibilities include?

• Strategy: With your peers in the GCUO Office, identify priorities of the GCUO Office, providing support problem solving and ensuring the execution of critical business initiatives across the overall AXA XL Underwriting Community. Lead and sponsor execution and accountability on key operational and strategic initiatives. Establish a disciplined operating rhythm for the GCUO Office, including decision forums, action tracking and escalation. Monitor progress, risks, interdependencies and value realization; intervene early when execution is off track. Responsible for the delivery of the key strategic priorities and objectives of the GCUO Office across products, regions and enabling functions while preserving clear business ownership. Engage, influence, align, and partner with stakeholders in support and achievement of the GCUO objectives across AXA XL and AXA Group; e.g., Annual Operational Planning Process, Top 5 Operational Priorities. Ensure leadership decisions are translated into clear actions, accountable owners and visible follow-through. Planning and coordinating key Global CUO offsite meetings with other leaders in the GCUO team. Ensure outputs/deliverables or escalation points are understood, 'actioned' or resolved. Enable insight-led portfolio steering. Partner with finance, actuarial, risk, data and analytics teams to provide a coherent view of performance, exposure, trends and forward-looking risks. Frame information around decisions and actions rather than reporting volume, highlighting what matters, why it matters and what should happen next. Improve the quality, consistency and usability of management information supporting underwriting leadership. Ensure strategic narratives and executive materials are fact-based, concise and decision ready. Support in defining & following Governance (internal & external) and at establishing clear roles & responsibilities across the area. Shape the GCUO Office narrative for executive audiences, underwriting communities and key internal and external stakeholders. Prepare leadership communications, briefings, agendas and meeting materials that reinforce strategic priorities and expected outcomes. Coordinate critical stakeholder engagements on behalf of the GCUO and ensure continuity across conversations and commitments. Act as a trusted connector across the enterprise, accelerating information flow and resolution of cross-functional issues.
• Operations: Build the effectiveness of the GCUO Office. Act as the leader and where appropriate an advisor and sounding board for new ideas and initiatives of the GCUO Office. Design clear ways of working, roles and interfaces across the GCUO Office to maximize collective impact. Lead planning and prioritization for the office, balancing strategic initiatives, governance obligations and emerging issues. Promote an inclusive, high-accountability culture grounded in enterprise thinking, constructive challenge and practical delivery. Oversee special projects and time-sensitive matters requiring discretion, judgment and rapid coordination.

You will report to the Global Chief Underwriting Officer.

What you’ll bring

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

• An outstanding background and experience of leading business transformation and process improvement projects, driving portfolio management, analyzing, designing and implementing sustainable change within the Commercial Insurance Sector.
• Ability to challenge constructively and bring clarity to ambiguous or complex issues.
• Visualize clear outcomes and strategy, identify gaps and formulate a clear plan of execution to get there. Can invent, design and build.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, collaboration, presentation, facilitation and influencing skills. Able to communicate and engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• An excellent track record in delivering tangible results through structured project management, process analysis and continuous improvement e.g., Agile, Lean and Six Sigma, Visio, MS Project, PowerPoint. Experience in working on Digital, Robotics and/or AI would be an advantage.
• Experienced in designing and facilitating results-focused workshops to engage stakeholders, front line staff and managers to understand root cause issues, prioritize improvement opportunities delivering measurable business performance.
• Comfortable with reviewing and analyzing business data to support the business case and tracking of benefits (e.g., Intermediate or Advanced Excel).
• Understands and considers ‘business readiness’ as a core part of implementing successful change, considers the potential impact of change on people and BAU operations when developing and implementing solutions.
• Able to act independently; demonstrate excellent business acumen including consideration to the global and strategic aspects of a change. An imaginative, thoughtful approach to problem-solving, identifying gaps and formulating a clear plan of execution to get there.
• Innovative thinker, willing to challenge the status quo. Capable of handling highly complex situations.

What we offer

Inclusion: 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 enables business growth and is critical to our success. That’s why we have made a strategic commitment to attract, develop, advance and retain the most inclusive workforce possible, and create a culture where everyone can bring their full selves to work and 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.

Total Rewards: AXA XL’s Reward program is designed to take care of what matters most to you, covering the full picture of your health, wellbeing, lifestyle and financial security. It provides competitive compensation and personalized, inclusive benefits that evolve as you do. We’re committed to rewarding your contribution for the long term, so you can be your best self today and look forward to the future with confidence.

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 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.

The U.S. base salary range for this position is $220,000 to $250,000 USD. Actual pay will be determined based upon the individual’s skills, experience and location. We strive for market alignment and internal equity with our colleagues’ pay.

Who we are: 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.