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Head of Chief Operating Office Risk
Job description details
Job ref: 2025-9922
Closing date: 25/09/2025
Location:
London
Career area:
RISK MANAGEMENT
Join AXA as our Head of Operational Resilience – Lead the Future of Business Safety and Strength!
Are you passionate about making businesses stronger, safer, and more prepared for anything? Do you want to shape how a leading insurer adapts to new regulations and industry challenges? AXA is looking for a dynamic leader to take charge of our operational resilience across the UK & Ireland. This is your chance to be at the forefront of building a resilient, future proof organisation that puts customers first.
As our Head of Operational Resilience, you’ll lead the charge in transforming how AXA UK protects its business and customers. You’ll develop strategies, oversee plans, and embed a culture of resilience making sure we’re ready for disruptions and able to bounce back stronger. You’ll work closely with teams across all our business areas, ensuring we meet regulatory standards while building internal capabilities that keep us ahead of the curve.
At AXA we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team and our customers. You'll work at least two days a week (40%) away from home, moving to three days a week (60%) in the future. Away from home means either attendance at one of our office locations, visiting clients or attending industry events.
What you’ll be doing:
- Lead AXA UK’s response to evolving resilience regulations, continuously improving our approach.
- Oversee crisis management plans, training, and simulations to ensure preparedness.
- Manage our Business Continuity programme, ensuring plans are effective and up to date.
- Oversee third party resilience, assessing and managing risks from suppliers and partners.
- Coordinate regular testing exercises to validate our resilience strategies.
- Promote awareness and understanding of resilience practices across the organization.
- Provide strategic reports to senior leadership and regulators, demonstrating our resilience progress.
- Build and lead a dedicated resilience team that works seamlessly across the business.
Due to the number of applications we expect to receive for this role, we reserve the right to close this advert earlier than the listed closing date to ensure we’re able to effectively manage interest. Therefore, if you’re interested in joining us at AXA, please don’t hesitate to apply.
We know that some candidates may be discouraged from applying if they don't meet every requirement. If you’re excited by this job and the prospect of working at AXA but you’re not sure you tick every box, we’d still encourage you to apply.
What you’ll bring:
- Extensive experience in resilience, business continuity, or crisis management.
- Certification in Business Continuity (CBCI or equivalent) and active membership with the Business Continuity Institute.
- Proven ability to influence senior leaders and work effectively across multiple teams.
- Strong understanding of industry standards, regulations, and best practices.
- Experience working with multiple entities within a large organization, preferably within financial services.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts clearly.
- Skilled in project management, planning, and delivering results on time.
As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom.
What we offer:
At AXA UK, we’re appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. You can expect to receive:
- Competitive annual salary
- Annual company & performance-based bonus
- Contributory pension scheme (up to 12% employer contributions)
- Life Assurance (up to 10 x annual salary)
- Private health cover
- 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
- Opportunity to buy up to 5 extra days leave or sell up to 5 days leave
- AXA employee discounts
- Wellbeing services & resources
To apply, click on the ‘apply for this job’ button, you’ll then need to log in or create a profile to submit your CV. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and don’t 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 our support, please send an email to suzie.elliott@axa-uk.co.uk.
#LI-Hybrid
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.
What we offer
We acknowledge and appreciate the exceptional efforts of our people in protecting what matters most to our customers. In exchange we offer a series of core and supporting benefits designed to empower our people to thrive both professionally and personally.
Competitive Salary
Annual Bonus
25 - 28 Days Annual Leave
21 Hours Volunteering Leave
Pension Scheme
Life Assurance
Private Medical Cover
AXA Shareplan
Wellbeing Initiatives
Employee Assistance Programme
Flexible Benefits
Discounts
Customer first
All our thinking starts with the customer
Integrity
We’re guided by strong moral principles
Courage
We speak our mind and act to make things happen
One AXA
Being together and being different makes us better
Inclusion
At AXA we have a culture of trust, respect and care, where everyone belongs. We have an ambition to become one of the most inspiring companies to work for, as such we’re committed to supporting employee needs, providing meaningful career development, and celebrating differences. We all have a role to play in ensuring a working environment in which everyone, regardless of who they are, can reach their true potential.
Equal Opportunities
We believe in hiring people who possess the appropriate skills and values that align with our vision. Our selection process is fair and equitable, ensuring that all candidates have an equal opportunity to join us. We are dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion, and we actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we take pride in treating our employees and potential hires with respect and without discrimination based on any Protected Characteristics.
Accessibility Concierge
As a Disability Confident employer, we’re proud to offer our support and access to the AXA Accessibility Concierge. A unique, industry leading offering created to support and encourage candidates with long term health conditions or disabilities that may require alternative methods of applying or for reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Our trained Accessibility Concierge Ambassadors will have a conversation with you to identify the support you need and explain how you will be supported throughout the process. The service is available to all candidates, including those already employed by AXA. To ensure ease of access, every job advert lists a responsible Talent Acquisition contact, who’ll be able to connect you with the Accessibility Concierge if you require any support.
Disability Confident 'Offer of Interview' Scheme
AXA UK are recognised as a Disability Confident Leader. We actively encourage applications from people who face barriers in the workplace due to a disability or long-term health condition. We participate in the Disability Confident ‘Offer of Interview’ scheme. This means a fair and proportionate number of candidates with long-term health conditions or disabilities who meet the essential criteria of a job, will be offered an interview.
- You'll need to show you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the job advert or job description
- You don’t need to share the details of your long term health condition or disability for your application to be considered under this scheme
As part of your application, you’ll be asked if you would like to ‘opt in’. To ensure ease of access, every job advert lists a responsible Talent Acquisition contact, who’ll be able to connect you with our Accessibility Concierge if you require any support.
Screening & Conduct
As a regulated financial services company, all successful candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks. Additionally, adherence to the Prudential Regulation Authority’s (PRA) Insurance Conduct Standards and the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) Conduct Rules will be required.
How we hire
There are 3 stages to our recruitment process; Application, Interview and Decision. This process provides an opportunity for us to get to know you, and for you to get to know us. We’re looking for people who share our values and ambition.
Application
Application
Can I apply for jobs in other parts of AXA?
AXA Global, AXA Ireland, AXA Partners and AXA XL all have separate Careers sites.
Can I be referred by someone I know who works at AXA?
Yes, please make sure you pop their name in when prompted during the application process.
How long will it take to hear back after I've applied?
The dedicated Talent Acquisition contact listed on the the job advert will aim to get back to you shortly after the job closing date. If you still don't hear anything get in touch.
What do I do if I need support with my application?
Please get in touch with the dedicated Talent Acquistion contact, details of who to contact are on every job advert.
Does AXA offer flexible working options?
Yes dependent on the needs of the business and the role you're applying to. We encourage you to discuss this with the Talent Acquisition contact or Hiring Manager at Interview. Our How We Work page also includes information on our Smart working approach.
Who can I contact to report a concern of behaviour or process believed to be inappropriate, unethical or illegal?
At AXA we're committed to offering a fair and inclusive experience to all candidates. You're encouraged to report, in good faith, any concerns of behaviour or processes believed to be inappropriate, unethical, or illegal.
Should you wish to report any concerns, you can do this through by sending an email to speak-up@axa.com, AXA’s dedicated hotline. This service is managed by an independent investigation team. Please note that this email address is not for dealing with job or application related queries.
Interview
Interview
I've got an interview! How does it work?
You'll be contacted by someone from our Talent Acquisition team to arrange the date, time, and format of your interview (online or in person). Good luck!
Are interviews online or in person?
This depends on the location of the role, and what works best for you and the interviewer. We'll give you all the information you need to prepare for whichever format’s used for your interview.
I'm struggling to connect to my online interview, what should I do?
Don't worry, we know these things happen. Get in touch with the person who arranged your interview, or the Talent Acquisition contact. One of the team will be able to help get the interview started or re-arrange it for a different time.
How do I get feedback on my interview?
Whenever possible, we’ll call and provide feedback by phone. Sometimes, we’ll need to provide feedback by email.
How can I prepare for my interview?
We'll send a candidate preparation pack before the interview to help you prepare.
How do I tell AXA about considerations to make sure I can access my interview?
The AXA Accessibility Concierge can support you with applying or making any accessibility adjustments to our recruitment process.
Decision
Decision
When will I hear back from you after my interview?
We aim to provide feedback as soon as the interview process allows. The time period will vary depending on the role.
How do I discuss the package I've been offered for a role?
You can discuss the package with your Talent Acquisition contact at offer stage.
Yay! I've got the role, what's next?
We’ll carry out a number of background checks before you start. This is known as 'screening'.
Do you do any background checks?
Yes. All financial services companies, including AXA, are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Being part of a regulated industry means we must check the background of all applicants before we confirm a job offer.
Pre-employment screening is not just regulatory, it also gives us the confidence that our people are the right fit to protect what matters to customers, colleagues, and our business.
- Who is screened? Everyone, from first-jobbers to senior directors! Often, the higher up the career ladder you are, the more stringent the screening becomes.
- What is screened? Identity and address; qualifications; employment history; credit check; criminal record; directorships.
If you think anything may affect these checks, please tell us.
What benefits or perks do you offer?
At AXA, we appreciate the people who work for us and regularly review our rewards package to reflect that. The advert for the role you’re interested in will detail what you can expect to receive, but you can see an overview of our benefits and perks on our Why Join Us page.
Does AXA offer car allowance or a company car?
This depends on the grade, role, and eligibility of the employee. Check the benefits listed on the ad for the role you’re interested in or confirm with your recruitment contact.
How we work
We know one size doesn't fit all so depending on our customer's needs, your unique circumstances and how your team operates we offer a blend of home and office-based working.
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