Business Manager/Chief of Staff in London

Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mind-set, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 100 countries. Our people are our biggest asset as well as our largest shareholder group and are everything that makes us unique; our inclusive culture, the quality service we offer our clients, and our continued growth, all come from our people-first approach. There’s no such thing as individual success. We all need to play our part, contributing our skills and experience to make a true difference. That’s Howden.

Why work at Howden?

We have always been employee-owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we’ve focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients. Always have, always will. People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down disappointed head-hunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

What is the role?

The Business Manager will play a pivotal role in shaping and driving the vision for Howden’s Corporate Services function, which operates as our Global Business Services (GBS) capability. Corporate Services is in its early stages of maturity, and this role will be instrumental in building scalable, high-quality services that deliver value across the entire Howden Group. This is a strategic and operational leadership role, acting as a trusted advisor to the Group Head of Corporate Services and a key liaison across senior stakeholders. The Business Manager will ensure alignment of priorities, drive execution of critical initiatives, and embed a culture of continuous improvement and service excellence.

You will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience that fosters continuous growth and development. We expect you to demonstrate strong analytical skills, a keen ability to solve problems on the fly, and adaptability in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. With a mindset of innovation and curiosity, you will embrace challenges and turn them into opportunities for success.

What will you be doing?

• Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Vision
• Partner with the Group Head of Corporate Services to define and articulate the vision, strategy, and roadmap for the Group Corporate Services (GCS) function. Build group-wide services which are efficient, scalable, and compliant.
• Drive forward change and run – translating strategic objectives into actionable plans and ensure delivery against agreed milestones.
• Monitor industry trends and best practices to position Group Corporate Services as a world-class capability.

• Operational Excellence
• Oversee the design and implementation of core services to support the Group’s growth. Build out end to end value streams to bring together siloed operating areas to successfully deliver for the organisation, e.g., Source to Pay (Procurement, TPRM, and Finance Ops), Travel and Expense, Property and Facilities, HR Operations.
• Establish governance frameworks, performance metrics, and reporting mechanisms to track progress and drive accountability. Drive analytics to measure where we are today, and conduct analysis to identify gaps and root cause where we are falling short.
• Identify and mitigate risks to ensure smooth execution of transformation initiatives.
• Kick off new transformation initiatives to enable Group Corporate Services to successfully deliver on its vision and objectives.

• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
• Act as a central point of coordination between Group Corporate Services and business units globally.
• Prepare executive-level communications, presentations, and updates for senior leadership, ensuring clarity and impact.
• Foster strong relationships with internal stakeholders to ensure buy-in and adoption of new services.
• Deputise for the Group Head of Corporate Services when required, representing their views and priorities.

• Team Development & Culture
• Support the development of a high-performing Corporate Services team, promoting collaboration and innovation.
• Champion a culture of service excellence and continuous improvement across the function.
• Be the drumbeat for Corporate Services – maintain momentum on priorities, ensure consistent communication, and keep the function aligned and energized around its goals.

What are we looking for?

• Skills & Experience
• Proven experience in a Business Management, Chief of Staff, Strategy, or Transformation role within a complex, global organization.
• Strong understanding of Global Business Services or shared services models.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.
• Track record of delivering large-scale operational transformation programmes, from strategy and design, through to implementation and continuous improvement.
• Highly organized, analytical, and comfortable operating in an evolving, fast-paced environment.