Head of Strategic Capacity Planning & Capability Building

AXA UK; London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Head of Strategic Capacity Planning and Capability Building to align workforce strategies with business objectives. This pivotal role involves developing a comprehensive overview of capacity and capability across various resources, leading workforce planning, and enhancing capabilities in Technology and Operational Excellence. The successful candidate will inspire teams, influence senior stakeholders, and implement effective workforce solutions. With a commitment to flexible working arrangements, this innovative company offers a competitive rewards package, including annual bonuses and generous leave options, making it an exciting opportunity for strategic leaders.

Benefits

Competitive annual salary

Annual company & performance-based bonus

Contributory pension scheme

Life Assurance

28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays

Opportunity to buy/sell extra leave

AXA employee discounts

Gym benefits

Qualifications

• Expertise in developing best practices for capacity and capability management.
• Strong understanding of demand drivers and strategic trade-offs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of impactful workforce solutions in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Establish as-is and long-term workforce needs for UK&I.

Skills

Capacity Management

Leadership

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Strategic Thinking

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Tools

Workforce Planning Tools

Performance Management Systems

Job description

Description

As the Head of Strategic Capacity Planning and Capability Building, you'll be accountable for ensuring our workforce aligns with and supports our strategic objectives. You'll develop a comprehensive overview of capacity and capability for Technology, Data, Operational Excellence (OpEx), and Change resources, both internal and external. Your leadership will guide medium to long-term planning, workforce strategy, and capability development across the AXA UK and Ireland (UK&I) region.

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 40% of your week away from home, moving to the majority of your working week from September 2025. Away from home means either attendance at one of our office locations, visiting clients, or attending industry events. We’re also happy to consider flexible working arrangements, which you can discuss with Talent Acquisition.

What you’ll be doing:

1. Establish as-is, medium, and long-term workforce needs for UK&I and support strategic workforce decisions.
2. Lead the design of impactful workforce solutions in collaboration with the COO ExCom and other stakeholders.
3. Maintain a comprehensive view of COO resources and sourcing strategies.
4. Build strong partnerships with recruitment partners and consultancies to drive value.
5. Develop and implement a framework to enhance Tech, Data, and OpEx capabilities across UK&I.
6. Collaborate with guilds and Academies to ensure consistent training offerings and career paths.
7. Establish a succession and talent management framework to address knowledge gaps and dependencies.
8. Serve as the central point for UK&I workforce planning, maintaining capability mapping and sourcing views.
9. Define processes and infrastructure for effective capacity management, ensuring priorities and standards are met.
10. Lead the development of a workforce strategy aligned with business goals and functional strategies.

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:

• Expertise in developing best practices and tools for capacity and capability management.
• Inspirational leadership with the ability to design high-impact workforce solutions.
• Strong understanding of demand drivers and strategic trade-offs.
• Experience in cross-functional collaboration, including HR, L&D, recruitment, and finance.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and deliver complex programmes successfully.
• Results-oriented with a focus on timely, high-quality delivery.
• Strong conceptual and strategic thinking abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorized 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)
• 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
• Gym benefits

To apply, click on 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 don’t discriminate based on protected characteristics. If you have a long-term condition or disability requiring adjustments during the application or interview process, please contact us at [e-mail].

#LI-Hybrid

Who we are:

AXA UK Support Functions power AXA’s customer-facing business units, providing infrastructure, support, and expertise to ensure our customers can always count on us. Whether you have extensive experience and qualifications or are just starting out, we’ll support your growth and development with confidence.