Programme Manager

Are you looking for your next opportunity? Sompo has a unique opportunity for a Programme Manager in our UK Change and Transformation within our Insurance Operations team. The UK Change and Transformation team plays a vital role in delivering improvements to the operational teams that support Underwriting, Claims and other support functions, while simultaneously undertaking transformation activities to broaden and better control the services provided by these teams. This exciting opportunity will allow the incumbent to lead and manage a portfolio of key projects, working closely with senior leadership, cross‑functional teams and external stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of programmes aligned with Sompo’s strategic goals. The work will support business growth and strengthen the operational resilience of the services provided to Underwriting, Underwriting Operations, Claims and UK Insurance supporting functions. The successful candidate will report to the Head of UK Change and Transformation.

Location: This position will be based out of our London office.

What you’ll be doing:

• Strategic Programme Development: Define and own the overall programme roadmap, aligned with Sompo’s strategy and commercial objectives. Develop detailed programme plans, including scope, milestones, deliverables, interdependencies and governance structures. Manage the full programme lifecycle from initiation through to benefits realisation, tracking and reporting all activities accurately. Align programmes with wider transformation initiatives across the business, including operational efficiency, digitisation, regulatory compliance and cultural evolution.
• Case for Change: Develop compelling, commercially viable business cases that articulate the rationale for change and secure necessary buy‑in. Conduct impact assessments, cost‑benefit analyses and ROI modelling to demonstrate value creation and strategic alignment. Define measurable objectives, key success criteria and desired business outcomes. Engage subject‑matter experts, finance and commercial stakeholders to validate assumptions and ensure robust financial and operational underpinnings. Support the Head of UK Change & Transformation in presenting business cases to governance forums and senior stakeholders, securing approvals and tracking post‑implementation benefit realisation.
• Change Management Framework: Apply change management practices and methodologies to embed change into BAU, mitigating resistance and ensuring employees are informed and involved from the start.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Build and enhance strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership, underwriting, claims, brokers, IT, Finance, HR and legal departments. Communicate progress, issues and achievements through presentations and reports. Facilitate collaboration across teams to ensure smooth project execution and alignment with business needs.
• Project Execution: Lead cross‑functional teams to deliver project milestones within the agreed scope, schedule and budget.
• Capacity Planning: Work with senior leadership and department heads to assess resource requirements and ensure the business has the necessary capacity for successful programmes.
• Resource Management: Coordinate resources, budgets and timelines to ensure successful implementation of each project. Oversee budgets and expenses related to service delivery to optimise costs and benefits. Negotiate and manage vendor contracts and third‑party delivery partners. Forecast and reallocating resources as priorities shift to maintain momentum.
• Performance Monitoring: Measure and evaluate programme performance, ensuring adherence to SLAs and KPIs through effective reporting and escalation when necessary.
• Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Drive strategic initiatives supporting growth objectives, such as digital transformation and process automation. Ensure programmes deliver value to customers and enhance operational efficiency. Champion and drive continuous improvement of project management processes and methodologies within the organisation.
• Risk Management: Identify, assess, mitigate and monitor risks across programmes to ensure delivery on time, within budget and with minimal disruption to operational activities.
• Compliance and Governance: Ensure all programmes adhere to legal, regulatory and internal governance standards.
• Team Leadership: Build and lead a high‑performing programme delivery team, making workforce decisions based on demand and service utilisation.
• Training & Development: Lead and mentor project and change professionals, building delivery capability and fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability and innovation.

What you’ll bring:

• 15+ years of experience, including 10+ in the insurance industry (ideally commercial).
• Good understanding of the London Market (Lloyds and Company) Insurance across Open Market and Delegated business.
• 5+ years of experience in Programme management.
• A proven track record in delivering large and complex change projects, including system implementations.
• Good understanding of the regulatory landscape.
• Experience working closely with a wide variety of insurance functions (Actuarial, Finance, IT, Underwriting, Operations), ideally having run an Underwriting Operations or Claims transformation team.
• Experience in underwriting systems / policy administration systems and finance systems; specifically Guidewire, Genius and SAP.
• Exceptional leadership and team management skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrable skill in project management discipline relating to the structuring of programmes, business case creation, governance and risk management, and delivery models.
• Advanced knowledge of project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall).
• High energy, passion and drive to execute change.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.

At Sompo, we recognize that the talent, skills and commitment of our employees drive our success. This is why we offer competitive, high‑quality compensation and benefit programmes to eligible employees. Our compensation program fosters a pay‑for‑performance culture, resulting in higher incentive awards when the Company performs well and lower awards when it underperforms. The total compensation opportunity for all regular, full‑time employees is a combination of base salary and incentives adjusted based on overall Company performance and final awards based on individual performance. We continuously evaluate and update our benefit programmes to ensure they remain competitive and meet the needs of our employees and their dependents.

Benefits (summary):

• Health & Wellness Benefits
• Retirement & Savings Plans
• Global Parental Leave & Adoption Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement & Professional Qualification benefits

Who we are and what we stand for: At Sompo, our shared purpose is to create meaningful value for clients, communities and each other. We foster a workplace where everyone feels respected, included and empowered to excel. As a global organization, we embrace diversity and champion equal opportunity. Guided by our core values—Accountability, Agility, Collaboration, Development, and Integrity—we build trust and support one another to achieve our goals worldwide. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and organizational need, and we strive to ensure equitable access to opportunities so everyone can do their best work. If you need an accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact the recruiter in charge.