Operations Director

Our Private Clients business brings together Insurance, Mortgages and Wealth propositions, creating a significant opportunity to drive greater alignment across the organisation. A key priority will be driving integration across the business, helping previously separate propositions operate more effectively as one organisation while unlocking greater collaboration, consistency and efficiency. Alongside this, you'll lead a significant transformation agenda focused on improving business performance, enhancing customer outcomes, strengthening operational resilience and ensuring the business is positioned for sustained success.

This is a highly visible leadership role, offering the opportunity to influence strategic direction and play a central role in shaping the future of the business.

Proven experience leading large-scale operational functions within Insurance, Wealth, Mortgages or other regulated financial services environments.

Experience operating at a comparable level of organisational complexity, with responsibility for significant budgets, multiple management layers and geographically dispersed teams.

A track record of delivering operational excellence, transformation and measurable business improvement.

Demonstrable experience leading organisations through growth, integration, acquisition or operating model change.

Strong commercial and financial acumen, with accountability for performance, efficiency and cost management.

Experience building and developing leadership teams and creating high-performance cultures.

Highly effective stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and challenge at Executive level.

Strong understanding of governance, risk and regulatory requirements within customer-focused environments.

The ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery and execution.

This is an opportunity to influence the future of a business at a pivotal stage in its evolution. You'll join a leadership team responsible for bringing together Insurance, Mortgage and Wealth propositions into one integrated Private Clients business, shaping how it operates, grows and delivers for clients. With revenue expected to increase from £90m to £150m and headcount growing from 600 to 900 employees, you'll play a central role in delivering the operational capability, transformation and leadership needed to support that ambition.

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.