Who are we?
Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. 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 20,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.
We're moving from strength to strength, expanding our global reach and growing both organically and through strategic, high-quality mergers and acquisitions. By bringing together diverse expertise and perspectives, we're enhancing our unique culture and values, whilst continuing to expand our capability to innovate, and deliver exceptional solutions for our clients.
The Role
The Director of Process Improvement will lead strategic initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness across Howden. This role is pivotal in driving a culture of continuous improvement, aligning process optimisation efforts with the organisation’s broader goals. Working closely with Global Heads of Process, Analytics, and Group IT, the Director will ensure that best practices are embedded across all business units.
This position requires a strong background in process improvement methodologies, excellent project management skills, and the ability to influence and collaborate across a global, matrixed organisation. The Director will also play a key role in mentoring project and business analyst teams, ensuring that improvements are sustainable, measurable, and aligned with long-term business strategy.
What You’ll Be Doing
* Develop and implement a company-wide process improvement strategy aligned with business objectives.
* Conduct in-depth analysis of current processes using methodologies like Lean, Six Sigma, and Value Stream Mapping.
* Lead end-to-end process improvement projects, ensuring delivery on time, within scope, and budget.
* Collaborate with Global Heads of Process, Analytics, and Group IT to ensure alignment and support for initiatives.
* Facilitate workshops and meetings to gather input, build consensus, and share progress.
* Implement new policies, procedures, and technologies to support process improvements.
* Provide training and support to build internal capabilities in process improvement.
* Establish and monitor KPIs to measure the success and sustainability of initiatives.
* Work with finance partners to demonstrate benefit realisation and ROI of improvements.
* Support and guide project and business analyst teams, acting as a role model for leadership and best practice.
* Benchmark internal processes against industry standards to identify further opportunities for innovation.
* Ensure change management principles are embedded in all improvement initiatives to drive adoption and long-term success.
Who We’re Looking For
* Proven experience in process improvement, operations management, or a related field.
* Strong knowledge of methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen.
* Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional projects in a global environment.
* Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
* Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic, and matrixed organisation.
* Experience collaborating with IT and analytics teams to drive data-informed decisions.
* Ability to build and manage relationships across diverse teams and geographies.
* Strong facilitation skills and experience leading workshops and stakeholder sessions.
* Committed to continuous improvement and fostering a culture of innovation.
* Experience in managing benefit realisation and performance tracking across multiple business units.
* Familiarity with regulatory environments and governance frameworks in a multinational context.
Qualifications
* Advanced degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field.
* Certification in process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean Six Sigma Black Belt).
* Experience working in a global or multinational organisation.
* Familiarity with industry-specific regulations and standards.
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
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.
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.
*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.
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.