Project Manager

Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. 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 24,000 employees spanning over 56 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.

Role Purpose

We are seeking a highly motivated and delivery-focused Project Manager to join our Central Project Management team and play a key role in delivering strategic change across Howden UK&I Retail.

Reporting to the Head of Project Management, you will be aligned to one or more business pillars, working closely with the relevant Heads of Change and business stakeholders to successfully deliver a diverse portfolio of change initiatives. Whilst supporting specific pillars, you will remain part of the central Project Management function, ensuring consistent project delivery, governance, reporting, and adherence to the PMO framework across the organisation.

This is a permanent remote-based role with occasional travel to offices across the UK.

Key Accountabilities

• Define and manage project scope, objectives, deliverables, and success criteria, ensuring alignment with business needs and strategic priorities.
• Lead, direct, and motivate project teams to deliver successful outcomes.
• Manage project plans, budgets, resources, dependencies, and timelines throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate internal resources, third-party suppliers, and external partners to ensure effective project delivery.
• Build strong relationships with Pillar Heads of Change, business stakeholders, and project teams to support the delivery of change initiatives.
• Produce and maintain project governance documentation, including Project Initiation Documents (PIDs), RAID logs, plans, and status reports.
• Proactively identify, manage, and mitigate project risks, issues, assumptions, and dependencies.
• Take ownership of end-to-end project delivery, monitoring progress and implementing corrective actions where required.
• Manage project change control and ensure appropriate governance is followed throughout the project lifecycle.
• Provide regular reporting and updates to the PMO/IMO and senior stakeholders.
• Champion and consistently apply the PMO framework, methodologies, standards, and governance processes.
• Ensure all project deliverables, documentation, and outputs are completed to a high standard and achieve intended business outcomes.

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience delivering complex projects as a Project Manager, with PRINCE2, APM, Agile qualifications, or equivalent experience.
• Experience delivering change within the insurance sector, ideally within insurance broking.
• Strong understanding of business operational change and regulatory change delivery.
• Demonstrable experience managing projects through the full project lifecycle.
• Experience producing and managing core project artefacts, including PIDs, RAID logs, project plans, and status reporting.
• Excellent planning, organisation, and prioritisation skills.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and challenge constructively at all levels.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complexity and resolve project issues effectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and competing demands.

The role requires the ability to balance the needs of individual business pillars with the standards and governance expectations of a centralised Project Management function.

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.