Operations Head of PMO

Role:
Operations Head of PMO

Preferred locations include Miami, Charlotte, and Chicago, though outstanding applicants in other regions will also be considered.

Why Join Howden US?

At Howden, we're not just building a business
- We're rewriting the rules of what a global insurance broker can be. And now, it's your turn to be part of something extraordinary. From three people and a dog to over 22,000 employees across 56 countries, we've grown into a $4bn revenue powerhouse with bold ambition: to become a $13bn business with 40,000 people by 2030.

We're launching our US retail platform with the same entrepreneurial spirit that's driven our success worldwide- and we're looking for trailblazers to help shape the future.

Why Howden?

You'll Own It

With 6,000 employee shareholders owning 34% of the company
, our unique ownership model means you're not just joining a team-you're building a business you truly own.

You'll Be Empowered

We're a destination for talent where people are trusted to look after their clients and grow together. You'll have the freedom to lead, backed by global scale and local expertise.

You'll Be Part of Something Bigger

Our integrated platform spans broking, reinsurance, and MGA capabilities-giving you access to everything you need to deliver for clients and build something remarkable.

We have always been employee-owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we've focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients. Always have, always will.

What is the role?

We are seeking a strategic and results-oriented Head of PMO to lead the planning, governance, and delivery management of business transformation initiatives across the US Retail business.

You will be responsible for establishing and maintaining the frameworks, standards, and tools that enable consistent project execution, visibility, and accountability. This role will oversee a team of Program Managers and Business Analysts, ensuring resources are effectively deployed to drive successful delivery of key initiatives that advance the firm's strategic and operational goals.

This is a high-impact leadership role requiring a blend of delivery discipline, stakeholder management, and business acumen - balancing structure with agility to enable measurable business outcomes.

What will you be doing?

Program Governance and Standards

• Define and maintain program and project management standards, methodologies, and tools to ensure consistency and quality across all initiatives.
• Establish and operate governance frameworks to support initiative prioritization, approval, and reporting.
• Ensure alignment of PMO practices with enterprise change management, process governance, and technology delivery frameworks.

Planning and Reporting

• Oversee integrated planning and sequencing of initiatives across business functions.
• Develop and manage portfolio-level reporting to track progress, risks, dependencies, and benefits realization.
• Partner with Finance and Operations to monitor resource utilization, budget adherence, and return on investment for strategic programs.

Resourcing and Delivery Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of Program Managers and Business Analysts to ensure effective project delivery and capability development.
• Manage project resource planning and allocation to align capacity with business priorities.
• Support the consistent use of project tools and templates to drive transparency and accountability in delivery.

Stakeholder Partnership and Change Enablement

• Partner with business leaders to ensure initiatives are scoped, planned, and delivered in alignment with business objectives.
• Drive cross-functional coordination and communication to resolve issues, manage dependencies, and drive execution.
• Support change management efforts, in partnership with the Capability & Change team, to enable adoption and realization of program outcomes.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to establish PMO standards and lead complex, cross-functional programs.
• Analytical and structured thinker with strong planning, prioritization, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong understanding of business operations, process transformation, and change management principles.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to distill complex information into clear insights and actionable recommendations.
• Ability to balance governance discipline with a pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Program/Project Management or PMO leadership roles - preferably within the insurance brokerage space
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale business transformation or operational improvement programs
• Proven people leadership…