Head of Product

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

The Head of Product is responsible for defining and executing the product vision, strategy, and roadmap across the organisation. This role leads cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, customer-centric products that drive business growth and market differentiation. It requires a blend of strategic thinking, user empathy, commercial acumen, and leadership excellence.

Responsibilities

• Product Strategy & Vision

Develop and communicate a compelling product vision and strategy aligned with business goals.

Own the product roadmap, prioritising initiatives based on customer needs, market trends, and business impact.

Identify new product opportunities and lead 'go-to-market' planning for business.

• Leadership & Team Development

Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing product management team.

Foster a culture of innovation, ownership, and continuous improvement.

Collaborate with Engineering, Cloud and other stakeholders to ensure successful product delivery.

• Customer & Market Insight

Champion customer-centricity through research, feedback loops, and data analysis.

Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and emerging technologies to inform product decisions.

Translate insights into actionable product features and enhancements.

• Execution & Delivery

Oversee the full product lifecycle from ideation to launch and iteration.

Ensure timely delivery of high-quality products that meet user and business needs.

Implement agile product development practices and tools.

• Stakeholder Engagement

Act as the voice of the product in executive discussions and strategic planning.

Align product initiatives with commercial, operational, and technical stakeholders.

Communicate product performance, KPIs, and roadmap progress to leadership.

Skills/Experience Required:

• Proven ability to define and execute product vision and strategy.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and fostering collaboration between engineering, design, and business stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of business drivers and ability to prioritise initiatives based on ROI and customer value.
• Familiarity with Agile and DevOps methodologies.
• Understanding of software development lifecycle and ability to work closely with engineering teams.
• Exposure to large-scale organisational change or digital transformation programmes.
• Ability to manage complex stakeholder environments and communicate effectively at C-suite level.
• Passion for creating exceptional user experiences and driving customer satisfaction through product innovation.

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