Business Manager to the Chief of Staff

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 23,000 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 ambitious, highly organised, and purpose-driven individual to serve as the Business Manager to the Chief of Staff (CoS) - Group COO.

This is a unique opportunity to work directly with CoS and gain unparalleled insights into group strategy and direction of a highly successful organisation. The role will be instrumental in supporting the CoS across a range of coordination, communication, presentation, and project-related activities. The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment and be ready to immerse themselves in the evolving priorities of the operations agenda.

You will gain valuable experience that fosters continuous growth and development. We’re looking for someone with strong analytical skills, a proactive mindset, and the ability to adapt quickly. With curiosity and a passion for transformation, process optimisation and joining dots across cross-functional initiatives, you’ll turn challenges into opportunities and help drive meaningful impact across the organisation.

What you’ll do

• At a strategic level, the CoS is seeking support in driving business management and assist on key operational initiatives.

Business Management Support Includes:

• Assist with the development and articulation of the operations vision, strategy, and strategic plans
• Support agenda setting for key governance forums and leadership meetings
• Prepare and organise materials for meetings, presentations, and executive reports, ensuring clarity and impact
• Act as a liaison between the CoS and various business units (business managers), facilitating communication and collaboration across functions
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, and Communications teams to prepare content and materials for communications and presentations
• Ensure all key dependencies between corporate functions are clearly articulated & managed and critical paths are well understood

Project Management Includes:

• Lead and manage strategic projects as assigned by the CoS, ensuring successful execution and alignment with organisational priorities
• Conduct targeted data analyses (e.g. collaboration analysis, engagement data, reciprocity) to support decision-making and provide actionable insights
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the CoS on cross-functional initiatives, facilitating coordination and managing deliverables across the leadership team

Who will you be working with?

• CoS
• Corporate Functions business managers
• Finance
• Technology
• Risk
• Comms
• HR

Who we’re looking for

• Experience in the insurance industry
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels
• Strong analytical abilities with a solid understanding of operational metrics and performance
• Proven problem-solving skills, with a focus on actionable, results-driven solutions
• Expertise in writing business cases, proposals, and presentations that effectively communicate complex ideas and strategies
• Comfortable interacting with senior executives, including C-level leaders, and confidently navigating executive-level discussions
• Quick to adapt and able to hit the ground running in dynamic environments
• A self-starter with a results-oriented mindset, demonstrating a strong bias for action and accountability
• Excellent in building and nurturing relationships across the business

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

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.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.