Operations Head of PMO

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.

Role: Operations Head of PMO 

Preferred locations include Miami, Charlotte, and Chicago, though outstanding applicants in other regions will also be considered.

Why Join Howden US?

At Howden, we’re not just building a business- We’re rewriting the rules of what a global insurance broker can be. And now, it’s your turn to be part of something extraordinary. From three people and a dog to over 22,000 employees across 56 countries, we’ve grown into a $4bn revenue powerhouse with bold ambition: to become a $13bn business with 40,000 people by 2030.

We’re launching our US retail platform with the same entrepreneurial spirit that’s driven our success worldwide- and we’re looking for trailblazers to help shape the future.

Why Howden?

You’ll Own It

With 6,000 employee shareholders owning 34% of the company, our unique ownership model means you’re not just joining a team—you’re building a business you truly own.

You’ll Be Empowered

We’re a destination for talent where people are trusted to look after their clients and grow together. You’ll have the freedom to lead, backed by global scale and local expertise.

You’ll Be Part of Something Bigger

Our integrated platform spans broking, reinsurance, and MGA capabilities—giving you access to everything you need to deliver for clients and build something remarkable.

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. 

What is the role?

We are seeking a strategic and results-oriented Head of PMO to lead the planning, governance, and delivery management of business transformation initiatives across the US Retail business.

You will be responsible for establishing and maintaining the frameworks, standards, and tools that enable consistent project execution, visibility, and accountability. This role will oversee a team of Program Managers and Business Analysts, ensuring resources are effectively deployed to drive successful delivery of key initiatives that advance the firm’s strategic and operational goals.

This is a high-impact leadership role requiring a blend of delivery discipline, stakeholder management, and business acumen – balancing structure with agility to enable measurable business outcomes.

What will you be doing?

Program Governance and Standards

• Define and maintain program and project management standards, methodologies, and tools to ensure consistency and quality across all initiatives.

• Establish and operate governance frameworks to support initiative prioritization, approval, and reporting.

• Ensure alignment of PMO practices with enterprise change management, process governance, and technology delivery frameworks.

Planning and Reporting

• Oversee integrated planning and sequencing of initiatives across business functions.

• Develop and manage portfolio-level reporting to track progress, risks, dependencies, and benefits realization.

• Partner with Finance and Operations to monitor resource utilization, budget adherence, and return on investment for strategic programs.

Resourcing and Delivery Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of Program Managers and Business Analysts to ensure effective project delivery and capability development.

• Manage project resource planning and allocation to align capacity with business priorities.

• Support the consistent use of project tools and templates to drive transparency and accountability in delivery.

Stakeholder Partnership and Change Enablement

• Partner with business leaders to ensure initiatives are scoped, planned, and delivered in alignment with business objectives.

• Drive cross-functional coordination and communication to resolve issues, manage dependencies, and drive execution.

• Support change management efforts, in partnership with the Capability & Change team, to enable adoption and realization of program outcomes.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.

• Proven ability to establish PMO standards and lead complex, cross-functional programs.

• Analytical and structured thinker with strong planning, prioritization, and problem-solving abilities.

• Strong understanding of business operations, process transformation, and change management principles.

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to distill complex information into clear insights and actionable recommendations.

• Ability to balance governance discipline with a pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Program/Project Management or PMO leadership roles – preferably within the insurance brokerage space

• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale business transformation or operational improvement programs

• Proven people leadership experience with responsibility for managing junior resources

• Strong knowledge of project management methodologies (e.g., PMI, Agile, or hybrid approaches)

• Experience with project portfolio management tools (e.g., Monday.com) and data visualization/reporting platforms

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, or related field (MBA or equivalent is a plus)

• PMP, PgMP, or similar professional certification is a plus

What do we offer in return? A career that you define.

Our business succeeds by allowing our people to make a mark in the areas they care about most: personal development, volunteering, and fundraising for charity, or creating new insurance products that address society’s greatest challenges.

And we know that separate home and work lives don't really exist. If you're happy and healthy at home, you're more likely to be happy and fulfilled at work – and vice versa. That's why we do our best to support our people in every aspect of their lives.

Diversity and Inclusion At Howden we value diversity - there is no one Howden ‘personality 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 consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness, and respect – regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or family circumstances. 

Our sustainability promise

We’re on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world. You can read more about our sustainability work here. 

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.