About

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 23,000 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. At Howden UK Brokers – Corporate & Commercial (formerly Aston Lark), commercial insurance isn’t just what we do – it’s who we are. We support our clients through the complex landscape of commercial risk. We understand the diverse needs of businesses from large corporates to emerging ventures, meticulously crafting bespoke solutions to empower businesses to navigate uncertainty and achieve unwavering growth. Our depth of commercial insurance expertise allows us to protect client’s assets and fuel their progress. When our clients prosper, we celebrate success with them; when challenges arise, we provide unwavering support. Job Title: Head of HR Client Services – UK Retail, Corporate & Commercial As Head of HR Client Services – UK Retail, Corporate & Commercial, you’ll lead a high-impact function at the heart of Howden’s people strategy. You’ll shape and evolve our HR Client Services proposition—defining what we offer, why it matters, and how it’s delivered. This is a pivotal role, driving financial success and client satisfaction through innovative service design, pricing strategy, and operational excellence. You’ll be responsible for leading a talented team of HR Consultants and strategic partners, fostering a culture of performance, growth, and client-centricity. Your leadership will ensure our services remain relevant, differentiated, and commercially successful—delivering measurable outcomes for our clients and the business. You’ll own key client and supplier relationships, ensuring seamless delivery and renewal processes, while collaborating closely with Marketing, People Operations, and Business Development to drive engagement, retention, and growth. You’ll also play a critical role in shaping external communications and lead generation strategies, positioning Howden as a strategic partner rather than a reactive service provider. Key Accountabilities: Lead the Howden HR Client Services function, taking ownership of its strategic direction and ensuring excellence in delivery. Provide leadership, guidance, and motivation to HR Consultants and strategic partners, overseeing their work and supporting both individual performance and team development. Drive the evolution of products, pricing, services, and the overall HR Client Services proposition to ensure it remains relevant and valuable to our audience. Collaborate with Operations and Marketing to execute business strategies that support retention and growth, aligned with short- and medium-term goals. Manage and nurture relationships with key clients, overseeing service delivery and renewal processes to maintain high levels of satisfaction and engagement. Take responsibility for relationship management and service delivery with key suppliers and partners, ensuring alignment and quality across all touchpoints. Partner with the Marketing team to support both external and internal lead generation campaigns that promote HR services and drive interest. Professional Background: Proven experience in leading HR consultancy or people client services functions, ideally within a complex or matrixed organisation. Experience working in or with outsourcing, professional services, insurance, or similar sectors is advantageous. Strong commercial acumen with a track record of delivering financial success through HR service propositions. Skills: Leadership & People Management: Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate and develop high-performing teams, including consultants and strategic partners. Strategic Thinking: Ability to shape and evolve service propositions, pricing strategies, and delivery models aligned with business goals. Client Relationship Management: Strong interpersonal and communication skills to manage key client and supplier relationships, ensuring high retention and satisfaction. Product Development & Delivery: Experience in designing and delivering HR products and services that are fit-for-purpose and compliant with regulatory standards. Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement: Skilled in working cross-functionally with Marketing, Operations, and Sales to drive growth and service excellence. Regulatory Awareness: Up-to-date knowledge of employment law, HR regulations, and health & safety standards. Business Development: Ability to support lead generation and conversion activities, contributing to broader business growth. Experience: Extensive experience in HR consultancy, or people client services roles, with demonstrable experience in a leadership capacity. Experience managing budgets, pricing models, and service delivery frameworks. Proven success in evolving service propositions and driving client engagement strategies. Familiarity with marketing and sales collaboration to support lead generation and conversion. 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. Permanent Howden began in 1994, as just three people and a dog. Now there are 23,000 of us, and we're a leading global insurance group, managing $37bn of premiums for our clients. Our largest shareholder group is us – the people who work in the business – supported by three long-term, minority growth-equity partners who share our vision to build a business to last, one that will never be sold. The owner's mindset is something that's embedded in our culture; our people readily take ownership of their decisions, their actions, and their outputs. They’re invested in every sense. And we all know that by working together to drive the business forward, everyone will benefit from the extraordinary results we can achieve.