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.
Role Purpose:
As a Senior Business Analyst in Howden Group's Data Function, you will play a pivotal role in bridging business needs and technical solutions. You will lead efforts to gather and analyse business requirements, take ownership of product visions, and mentor best practices within the team. In this role, you will be instrumental in driving innovation, improving data quality, optimising processes, and aligning solutions with business objectives and regulatory standards.
Key Responsibilities:
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Product Ownership & Strategic Alignment:
Define and own the product vision for data-related initiatives, ensuring alignment with organisational goals. Shape the roadmap and prioritise features to deliver maximum business value. Act as a champion for data governance and compliance best practices.
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Business Analysis & Requirements Gathering:
Lead complex requirements-gathering sessions with senior stakeholders. Define Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), oversee the development of robust business cases, and ensure solutions align with strategic objectives.
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Solution Design:
Collaborate with technical teams to architect advanced, scalable, and efficient data solutions. Leverage expertise in cloud technologies (e.g., Azure, AWS) and modern data architectures like data lakes and data mesh. Ensure designs address both functional and non-functional requirements, including performance, scalability, and security.
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Mentorship:
Provide guidance and mentorship to junior and mid-level team members, fostering the adoption of best practices in business analysis, solution design, and stakeholder management. Support professional growth within the team by sharing knowledge, leading training sessions, and promoting continuous learning.
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Agile Delivery & Leadership:
Influence Agile delivery processes by leading sprint planning, backlog prioritisation, and iterative solution refinement. Drive retrospectives to identify opportunities for improvement and enhance team performance.
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Data Insights & Business Impact:
Lead advanced data analysis to uncover insights that drive strategic decision-making. Spearhead initiatives to optimise business processes, increase operational efficiency, and deliver measurable value.
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Stakeholder Engagement & Communication:
Build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders, ensuring alignment of technical solutions with business needs. Facilitate workshops and clearly communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
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Governance, Risk, & Compliance:
Oversee adherence to data governance, privacy, and security standards. Collaborate with compliance and IT security teams to implement and monitor best practices, especially in regulated environments like insurance.
Key Skills & Competencies:
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Extensive experience in business analysis, data strategy, and product ownership.
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Expertise in cloud platforms (Azure, AWS) and data architectures (e.g., data lakes, data mesh).
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Strong solution design capabilities with a focus on scalability, efficiency, and security.
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Proven ability to mentor and develop team members, fostering a culture of excellence.
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Proficiency in Agile methodologies and advanced tools like Jira and Confluence.
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Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams.
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Deep understanding of data governance, security, and regulatory compliance frameworks.
Qualifications & Experience:
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Bachelor’s degree in Business, Computer Science, Finance, or a related field required, advanced degree preferred.
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5+ years of experience as a Business Analyst, including leadership roles in data-centric projects.
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Certifications such as BCS Business Analysis, ScrumMaster, or Agile Product Owner are highly desirable.
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Proven track record in mentoring teams and delivering large-scale data-driven initiatives.
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:
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Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new
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We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges
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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
