Head of HR

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 18,000 employees spanning over 100 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.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Head of HR to lead the people agenda across our corporate functions, ensuring alignment with the overall business strategy. This role will partner with senior leaders to drive talent management, organisational effectiveness, and employee engagement, supporting the delivery of a high-performing culture.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic HR Leadership

• Develop and implement the people strategy for group functions, ensuring alignment with the wider business objectives.
• Act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, providing expert HR guidance on organisational design, change management, and workforce planning.
• Champion a high-performance culture, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.

Talent & Organisational Development

• Drive leadership development initiatives, succession planning, and talent retention strategies.
• Oversee the rollout of learning and development programmes to enhance capability across group functions.
• Lead diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to support a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Employee Engagement & Culture

• Develop and execute strategies to enhance employee engagement and experience.
• Drive cultural transformation programmes, ensuring values and behaviours are embedded across group functions.
• Act as a key advocate for employee well-being and mental health initiatives.

Operational HR Excellence

• Ensure HR policies, procedures, and practices are legally compliant and aligned with best practice.
• Oversee compensation, benefits, and reward strategies to attract and retain top talent.
• Support employee relations, ensuring a fair and consistent approach to performance management and dispute resolution.

Experience & Skills Required

• Extensive HR leadership experience within a complex, matrixed organisation.
• Experienced in location based solutions for service functions
• Proven track record of driving cultural change, integration, organisational development, and talent management initiatives.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to align HR strategies with commercial objectives.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience working at a senior leadership level.
• In-depth knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practices.
• CIPD qualification (Level 7) or equivalent experience preferred.

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

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.