Head of Data Management

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.

The Role

We’re looking for Group Head of Data Management to join our Group Data team and help drive forward some of our most challenging and exciting data initiatives. Howden Group is seeking an experienced data professional to lead the ongoing development and execution of our Group Data Strategy. You will define the vision and strategy for Data Management across the Group Central Data functions as well having a leadership or oversight role in Group Data for specific programmes and projects.

You will develop and embed a Data Management framework that addresses business needs in an innovative and efficient manner that works optimally within our federated data culture. This means that you also play a role in influencing local data teams to follow core principles this will extend to providing technical direction and advice for key data initiative delivery projects across the Group.

You will be required to set the direction for and manage key data services that form the core of strategy such as Master and Reference Data Management to budget and operational targets.

As the Group Head of Data Management you will report to the Group Head of Data, and this will require working alongside the Head of Data Platform, Head of Data Governance & Quality and the Group Data Portfolio Manager in order to successfully execute on the Data strategy.

The scope of the role applies across the Group including Data Architecture, Master Data Management, Reference Data Management, post-merger data operations, data strategy and data driven processes across core operational systems as well as support on specific data initiatives as they arise. The role is international in scope and so occasional overseas travel may be required.

This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance and manage the blueprint of how Data Management is carried out throughout the whole Howden Group globally.

Key Responsibilities

Define and own the Data Management strategy for the Group

Ensure the successful operation of our Master Data Management and Reference Data Management services, including product roadmaps and potentially management of stewarding teams.

Work directly with the business to ensure that data solutions closely match business needs

Act as lead on specific major programmes where Data Management is a key component

Provide oversight and best practice unification for business entities where Data Management work is underway locally

Define, own and maintain Group Data Management artefacts (e.g. Reference Data)

Align with in-house Data Governance and Quality teams to establish and embed Data Management best practice in company policies

Act as the focal point for other staff working in Data Management across the globe, providing guidance and mentoring where appropriate

Work with in-house technical teams to build Data Management into planning and operations

Work with offshore third parties and help govern designs and artefacts produced by them

Lead effort to design and architect our data platform to support different methods to ingest and process data, presenting at review boards as necessary

Adhere to architecture and design best practice, highlight inconsistent practices and drive consistency

Develop reusable patterns, templates and artefacts to ensure project delivery is optimised

Set the data management and architecture standards and patterns across the team

Align the approach with the overall Group’s technology strategy

Skills and Attributes

Experience of working as a data focused Data Management Leader, Senior Data Architect or similar role (at least 5 years)

Experience in Master Data Management, Reference Data Management and relevant tools

Experience with rolling out and maintaining self-service based data products

Proven experience in following processes for design and governance

Experience of Azure cloud platforms, including core data services

Familiar with general IT principles (e.g. RDMS, report-building and analytic products etc.)

Experienced with data and analytic applications build processes at all stages of the software development lifecycle

A solid understanding of data warehousing, extract, transform, load both software and hardware

Experience of data modelling and modelling tools

Experience in Agile project environment

Experienced leaderwith management responsibilities anddeliveringsophisticatedprojects

Highlyorganised, with good planning/prioritisation/time management skills

Experience of data and analytics architecture (warehouses, lakes, lakehouses, cubes, reporting etc.)

Exposure and experience Azure data and analytics products and services (SQL and NoSQL databases, data lake, Synapse, Databricks, PowerBI)

Strong interpersonal skills 

Strong leadership and communicationskills with both business and technicalpartners 

Strongproblem solvingskills

Knowledge of London insurance market - beneficial

Familiar with Lloyd’s data standards and processes - beneficial

Familiar with insurance standards (e.g. AIR, RMS, ACORD, Polaris etc.) - beneficial

The Location

Howden is based in the vibrant area of the City of London. Our office is just a short walk away from Liverpool Street Station. 

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.

In November 1994, David Howden founded a business that was literally the smallest insurance broker in the world. It had no clients and no track record. But it did have five things:

Equity ownership – the people doing the business, owned the business

A minority external investor with a long-term outlook

A product specialty

3 friends (and a dog)

A commitment to building a business with independence enshrined in its fabric

Today, the business has a global footprint of more than 14,500 employees in 50 countries spanning Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas. For the FY22 our Group’s organic growth was 19%, our revenue exceeds (USD) $2bn, and we handle $30bn in written premiums for clients.

Howden Group is an independent, global insurance group headquartered outside North America, comprising:

Want to see what kind of organisation Howden Group is? Click here  to learn about what makes us who we are.