UK&I Portfolio Governance Lead

AXA UK – Royal Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom Are you a strategic leader with a passion for driving large-scale change and ensuring successful project delivery? AXA is seeking an experienced UK & Ireland Portfolio Governance Lead to oversee and enhance the management of our change initiatives. You’ll be instrumental in establishing governance standards, prioritising initiatives and ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within scope and aligned with business objectives. Your expertise will help shape our approach to managing complex programmes, supporting a culture of continuous improvement and effective decision-making. In this role you will work with senior leaders, project teams and external partners to coordinate reporting, stakeholder engagement and process improvements. You’ll lead key workstreams within the Next Gen Ways of Working programme by championing best practices and supporting new governance models, influencing how AXA manages change regionally to deliver long‑term value. Responsibilities Support governance of the UK & Ireland change portfolio, including defining standards, prioritising initiatives and reporting on key risks and trends. Lead workstreams within the Next Gen Ways of Working to implement and embed the new portfolio governance model. Manage Group‑mandated "SPC" programme reporting, reviewing key programme submissions and governance gates specific to UK&I. Represent the UK&I portfolio in forums and stakeholder meetings, supporting the Head of Strategy and Portfolio Governance. Contribute to the delivery team with culture, engagement, and continuous process improvement activities. Ensure disciplined project and programme management, including planning, resourcing, risk mitigation and stakeholder communication. Build strong relationships with stakeholders across business units, ensuring project delivery aligns with strategic objectives and standards. Promote AXA’s culture of high performance, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the UK&I portfolio. Qualifications Proven experience delivering Target Operating Models (TOMs) and developing agile practices within complex, multi‑organisational environments. Strong knowledge of end‑to‑end project and programme management disciplines, including Agile methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, and SAFe. Demonstrable ability to manage budgets, influence senior stakeholders and cultivate productive relationships across multiple business units to achieve strategic objectives. Experience managing relationships with third‑party suppliers, including contract management and quality assurance. Proven skill in clear and impactful communication, with a track record of influencing and negotiating with senior stakeholders. Leadership qualities, including staff development and performance management, fostering high‑performance cultures. Knowledge of current market trends in Insurance and IT, such as digital transformation. As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom. Benefits Competitive annual salary dependent on experience. Annual company & performance‑based bonus. Contributory pension scheme (up to 12% employer contributions). Life Assurance (up to 10× annual salary). Private medical cover. 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays. Opportunity to buy up to 5 extra days leave or sell up to 5 days leave. Well‑being services & resources. AXA employee discounts. Application Process To apply, click the ‘apply for this job’ button, then log in or create a profile to submit your CV. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and do not discriminate against employees or potential employees based on protected characteristics. If you have a long‑term condition or disability and require adjustments during the application or interview process, we’re proud to offer access to the AXA Accessibility Concierge. For support, please email lauren.cooper@axa‑uk.co.uk. Who we are AXA UK Support Functions power AXA’s three customer‑facing business units, providing the infrastructure, support and expertise to ensure our customers can always count on us. Whether you’ve got heaps of experience and qualifications behind you, or you’re just starting out, we’ll give you the support and opportunities to help you grow and develop with confidence. #J-18808-Ljbffr