At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations, drive transformation, and enhance efficiency in a dynamic insurance environment.
- Company: Join Howden, a global insurance group with a strong employee ownership culture.
- Benefits: Flexible working, career progression, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Embrace diversity and enjoy a career defined by your values and aspirations.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving change and innovation in a leading insurance firm.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience in operations, ideally within insurance or complex organisations.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ per year.
Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.
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 headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.
We are seeking an Operations Director to lead the operating model, performance and business transformation agenda. This is a senior leadership role within a complex, regulated insurance broking environment, with accountability for ensuring the business operates with efficiency, control and scalability, while continuing to deliver strong client and commercial outcomes.
Working closely with the CEO, CFO and Transformation leadership, the role sits at the centre of how our business executes, performs and evolves. Please note this is a full time, permanent opportunity working from home but regular travel across the UK with over-night stays is required.
The role
- Accountable for the overall effectiveness of the operating model, ensuring it is scalable, efficient and consistently applied across all sub-divisions. Driving standardisation, productivity and cost optimisation while maintaining high-quality service delivery and client outcomes.
- Leads the end-to-end transformation agenda, bringing structure, prioritisation and pace to delivery. Chairs the governance of change, ensuring initiatives are clearly aligned to strategy, supported by robust business cases, and delivered with disciplined benefit realisation.
- Drives the adoption of technology, data and AI to enhance operational effectiveness, strengthen insight, and improve client experience. Embeds a more data-led operating environment, enabling performance to be actively managed and continuously improved.
- Leads the integration of acquired businesses, ensuring alignment to the operating model, delivery of synergies, and minimal disruption to ongoing operations and client service.
- Owns operational performance, establishing clear frameworks for management information, KPIs and performance governance across service, productivity, quality, cost and client outcomes.
- Accountability for the operational cost base, working in close partnership with Finance to ensure delivery against financial targets while identifying opportunities for efficiency and improvement.
- Provides oversight of operational risk, resilience and business continuity, ensuring risks are actively managed within appetite and operates within a strong and compliant control environment, including effective oversight of third-party providers.
- Leads, develops and aligns the Operations leadership team, ensuring a clear structure, strong accountability and capability across key areas including data, process excellence and continuous improvement.
Skills & Experience
- Proven senior operations leadership experience within a complex, matrixed organisation, ideally within insurance broking environment.
- Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to translate strategic objectives into operational delivery and measurable outcomes.
- Track record of delivering business transformation and operational improvement at scale, including leading cross-functional change and managing competing priorities.
- Highly developed data literacy, using insight to drive performance and decision-making.
- Credibility and presence to operate at executive level, with the ability to influence and align senior stakeholders.
- Pragmatic, delivery-focused approach, balancing pace, control and long-term value.
Success Measures
- Delivery of operational cost and efficiency targets aligned to financial objectives.
- Sustained improvement in service, productivity and client outcomes.
- Successful execution of transformation, with clear prioritisation and realised benefits alongside ongoing operational delivery.
- Strengthened operational resilience, risk management and control environment.
- A clear, effective and consistently applied operating model across the business.
- A high-performing, engaged Operations function aligned to business priorities.
What do we offer in return?
A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:
- Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new.
- We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges.
- We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond.
Reasonable adjustments
We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours or hybrid working. If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.
Operations Director in England employer: London Insurance Life
Howden is an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and dynamic work culture, perfect for those who thrive in fast-paced environments. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, we offer comprehensive training and development opportunities to help you excel in your role as a Hybrid Mortgage Applications Specialist. Located in a vibrant area, our team enjoys a supportive atmosphere where accuracy and teamwork are highly valued, making it a rewarding place to build your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Director in England
✨Dive Into Industry Networking Events
Get your foot in the door by attending insurance industry events and conferences. Not only will you learn about the latest trends, but you'll also meet potential employers and industry peers. Check out local chapters of professional bodies like the Chartered Insurance Institute for valuable meetups.
✨Use LinkedIn to Your Advantage
Don’t underestimate the power of LinkedIn in the insurance world. Engage with industry content, join relevant groups, and connect with professionals at companies you admire (like London Insurance Life). A thoughtful message explaining your interest can really make a difference!
✨Look Out for Graduate Schemes
Many firms in insurance have structured graduate programmes. Keep an eye on application windows and utilise your university's career services for insider tips. These schemes are designed to develop talent and often lead to permanent roles after your initial training.
✨Leverage Your Current Connections
Got friends or family in the industry? Now’s the time to reach out! Personal referrals can give you a head start, so let them know you're on the lookout for full-time opportunities at places like London Insurance Life. Don’t shy away from asking for a coffee chat; you never know what doors it might open!
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Director in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In insurance, we love a candidate who can crunch numbers and analyse data effectively. When crafting your CV, make sure to showcase any relevant coursework or experiences that highlight your analytical abilities, especially if you’ve tackled risk assessment or financial modelling.
Showcase Industry Knowledge:Don’t be shy about your knowledge of the insurance sector! We want to see that you've done your homework on current trends, regulations, and challenges in the industry. Mention any relevant projects or studies you’ve completed that demonstrate your understanding of the field in your cover letter.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you’re passionate about insurance. Share any personal experiences or what drew you into this profession. We’re looking for enthusiasm and a clear motivation for why you want to be part of our team at London Insurance Life.
Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don't just send a generic CV! Focus on tailoring it specifically for the insurance role at London Insurance Life. Highlight relevant skills such as risk management, customer service experience, or any certifications you've earned in the industry to make your application stand out.
How to prepare for a job interview at London Insurance Life
✨Know Your Numbers: Insurance Fundamentals
Brush up on your understanding of key insurance concepts, like underwriting principles and risk assessment. Expect the interviewer at London Insurance Life to throw some technical questions your way, so be ready to demonstrate your grasp of these essentials.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Side
In the insurance world, it's all about data. Prepare to discuss any analytical tools or methodologies you've used in past experiences. If you have a portfolio of projects where you've tackled complex data, bring that along to impress the team!
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
As a full-timer at London Insurance Life, they'll want to know how you handle real-life scenarios, not just theory. Think about challenges you've faced in teamwork or customer service, and how those experiences can relate to a career in insurance.
✨Know the Company Culture Inside Out
Understanding London Insurance Life's values and workplace culture is essential. Don’t just memorise their mission statement; think about how your personal values align with theirs. This will show your genuine interest in being part of their team long-term.
