Operations Manager

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 mind-set, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 22,000 employees spanning 56 countries.

Our people are our biggest asset as well as our largest shareholder group and are everything that makes us unique; our inclusive culture, the quality service we offer our clients, and our continued growth, all come from our people-first approach. There’s no such thing as individual success. We all need to play our part, contributing our skills and experience to make a true difference. That’s Howden.

Why work at Howden?

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.

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 disappointed head-hunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

The Role

The Operations Manager will play a critical role in strengthening the operational backbone of Howden Specialty Luxembourg (HSLS) as the business continues to scale across multiple European jurisdictions. The role is designed to provide structured operational, regulatory, and governance support, and enhance consistency, resilience, and scalability across HSLS and its branches.

The role will operate across jurisdictions and business lines, acting as a central coordination point between HSLS, its branches, and Group functions.

What you’ll be doing

• Support the implementation and ongoing management of regulatory initiatives impacting HSLS and its branches (e.g. DORA, ERICCA 2 and other EU or local regulatory workstreams).
• Coordinate project set-up, tracking, and delivery of operational initiatives, including timelines, ownership, and reporting.
• Support preparation and coordination of regulatory submissions and responses, in collaboration with Finance, Compliance, Risk, IT, and Group teams.
• Maintain registers, trackers, and documentation required to evidence regulatory compliance and operational resilience.
• Support the HSLS Operations Committee by coordinating agendas, preparing management information, and contributing to committee packs.
• Track actions and decisions arising from governance forums and ensure timely follow-up.
• Produce and maintain operational KPIs and dashboards to support management oversight and decision-making.
• Coordinate the Client Considerations Approach for business conducted outside licensed jurisdictions.
• Track, escalate, and drive resolution of operational and regulatory queries linked to client considerations.
• Maintain appropriate documentation, audit trails, and reporting structures to enhance transparency and consistency.
• Act as a key liaison point with Group functions on operational matters impacting multiple jurisdictions.
• Coordinate operational support for branch-related activities, including new branch set-up, modifications to existing branches, and office expansion projects.
• Maintain regular communication with branch leadership to identify operational bottlenecks and support resolution.
• Support the development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of Business Continuity Plans (BCP) for HSLS and its branches.
• Coordinate testing, reviews, and updates of BCPs in line with regulatory and Group expectations.
• Support the invoice approval process, including coordination, tracking, and preparation of supporting documentation.
• Assist in managing increased volumes of invoices requiring senior approval, helping to reduce bottlenecks and delays.
• Deliver a personal performance that contributes to the Group’s objectives, including financial performance, culture, sustainability, and reputation.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Consistently deliver a high-quality, professional service.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and in accordance with Group policies at all times.
• Continuously develop skills and knowledge in line with role requirements.

Who we’re looking for

• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Ability to analyse problems, identify practical solutions, and drive execution.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• High attention to detail and ability to manage complex information.
• Comfortable working across jurisdictions and with senior stakeholders.
• 5+ years’ experience in an operations and/or project management role, ideally within financial services or a regulated environment.
• Experience supporting regulatory-related initiatives.
• Exposure to multi-jurisdictional operating models is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of operational risk, governance, and control frameworks.
• Educated to degree level.
• Willingness to travel occasionally.
• Fluent in English and another European language
• (Desirable) Project management qualification (e.g. Prince2, PMP, Agile) advantageous.
• (Desirable) Experience within insurance, reinsurance, or financial services.

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.

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.