Address From day one, our mission has been to create an independent business with a unique culture – one that is controlled by the people who work for it. Finding the most talented and entrepreneurial people has always been key to our success.
People come to Howden for lots of different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. That’s what sets us apart, and why we nurture and retain the best talent in the market. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering - you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.
Location: London
Term: FTC - 12 months -Maternity Leave Cover
The Role
The Head of Brand Operations takes up a pivotal role supporting the development of a multi-function Group Brand and Marketing team within a complex and fast paced organisation. This role is focused on setting up the team for long term success and managing the processes and structures that support this.
The Head of Brand Operations takes up a pivotal role supporting the development of a multi-function Group Brand and Marketing team within a complex and fast paced organisation. This role is focused on setting up the team for long term success and managing the processes and structures that support this.
In a team that is responsible for multiple brands with varied objectives, projects and initiatives, this person is a well-seasoned, dynamic individual capable of managing huge complexity. They will be able to bring calm and simplicity to creatively driven teams, creating the conditions for exceptional and high-quality output across multiple areas at any given time.
Key Project and Activities to Lead
- Development of new Brand & Marketing processes and refinement of existing processes as
necessary, to ensure the team is operating as effectively as possible. - Refinement of the team management system alongside the Group Head of Brand and Marketing.
- Work in collaboration with the Group Head of Brand and Marketing in the strategy, management and oversight of headcount and team structure.
- Lead finance forecasting and reporting processes in collaboration with Finance business partners. Inclusive of oversight and management of the BAU brand budget, supporting other heads of department with their budget lines as appropriate.
- Responsible for digital brand tooling and systems that enable global brand self-serve and promotes brand consistency across the Group.
- Build on cross functional ways of working, strengthening how the team adds value to other functions/regions, and formalising processes as required.
- Team training planning alongside the Group Brand and Marketing management team, to enable further learning and development of the team.
- Project management, scoping and set up of significant and complex change projects in support of Group Head of Brand and Marketing and other senior stakeholders.
- Build and foster strong relationships across the business at both a Group and regional level, such as Integration teams, Operations, Legal, Finance, Events, Communications, Digital, Global Marketing leads, Regulations and Compliance and Procurement.
- Responsible for keeping abreast of global merger and acquisitions and new initiatives, refining any processes which have been formalised, alongside Integration Directors and operational Project Managers. Consulting with Brand Strategy Director on complex branding scenarios. Ensure brand transition processes have been agreed, tracking the process to ensure brand consistency is maintained as the business grows, working in conjunction with the wider Group Brand and Marketing team and Regional Marketing leads as appropriate.
- Work in collaboration with Group legal to continue to protect the Howden wordmark and Howden visual mark, globally. Supported by third party legal teams as required.
Skills and Attributes
- Proven experience in the management and delivery of complex brand and marketing projects.
- Well versed in brand and marketing practice, understanding how agency relationships work and used to supporting relationships between agencies and internal teams.
- Track record in owning and managing budgets and delivering excellent outcomes.
- Relishes working at high pace in ambiguous and complex environments.
- A real people person, able to lead and build powerful personal relationships quickly and maintain them successfully, the person everyone wants in the room.
- A team player and problem solver.
- Incredibly well organised, in a way which instils utter confidence in all around them.
- Significant experience in the set up and management of marketing and brand functions in ‘start up’ and ‘development’ environments.
- Change management experience would be beneficial.
Our Culture: People First
We’ve travelled far since opening our first office in 1994. Back then we were local experts – based in London, with direct access to the world’s biggest insurance market. We’re still locals, and we still deliver the right advice and the right insurance to our clients. But now, we’re local all over the world. With 15,000 global colleagues and a partner network spanning more than 100 territories, we are the largest independent insurance broker in the world. But our values haven’t changed since day one, when we set out to create a company grounded in:
- An employee-ownership model
- Aligned external investors
- The trust and integrity born of friendship
- Expertise
- Independence
Our focus on being a people-first business has always been at the very heart of Howden. Our vision was to create an independent business with a unique culture; one that would survive and thrive as a business controlled by the people working for it. Our employee ownership model sets us apart in the market. It’s created a culture of collaboration and innovation, where we’re driven to think bigger and empowered to challenge convention.
Our flat structure and entrepreneurial spirit help us attract the best people and empower them to be the best version of themselves. And when we bring in and nurture great talent, more follows. That makes us better – and that’s better for everyone.
Diversity & Inclusion
At Howden 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 their age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or family circumstances.
