Elite Sales Team Manager

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. 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 24,000 employees spanning over 56 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.

The Elite Sales Team is a nationally coordinated specialist new business function that supports branches by converting opportunities, driving sustainable growth and improving client availability. It remains closely aligned to branch objectives and local management support.

The Elite Sales Team Manager will lead the implementation, management and ongoing evolution of the proposition. Reporting to the Senior Divisional Director, the role is the central point of accountability for performance, people, standards, operating practices, governance and future development. It combines hands‑on leadership with the authority and strategic capability to challenge, improve and scale the model.

Working with Branch Managers, Divisional Directors, specialist centres and senior leaders, the postholder will oversee and develop a high-performing, sales-driven and professional culture that delivers excellent client outcomes. The expectation is never to stand still, but to use data, insight and experience to continuously improve results.

• Own the Elite Sales Team proposition and, take full accountability for its ongoing performance, development and continuous improvement.
• Set and embed clear operating standards, service levels, governance, accountabilities and ways of working.
• Lead the future strategy and evolution of the team, proactively identifying opportunities rather than waiting for direction.
• Act as the escalation point for significant performance, conduct and operational matters.
• Communicate credibly and influence effectively from colleague and branch level through to the Executive Board.

• Own the team budget and profit and loss performance, including income, productivity, cost control and return on investment.
• Own individual and collective performance against agreed objectives, using accurate and actionable management information.
• Establish a disciplined performance rhythm that identifies trends, opportunities and underperformance and converts insight into action.
• Ensure consistent performance management standards and support local managers where intervention is required.

Own continuous improvement across the complete lead lifecycle:

Leads, Valid leads, Worked leads, Contacts, Quotes, Sales, Income

• Track and improve lead response time, contact rate, quote rate, conversion, new business income, productivity and cost per sale.

ELITE SALES TEAM MANAGER

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Hold clear accountability for sales quality, regulatory compliance and fair client outcomes, with the same ambition for quality as for growth.
• Ensure the team operates within applicable compliance frameworks, including conduct risk and the identification and support of vulnerable clients.
• Use quality assurance results, complaints, cancellations, client satisfaction and NPS to identify risk and drive improvement.
• Work constructively and confidently with Compliance and other control functions, acting promptly on…