Head of Talent

AXA UK; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AXA UK is seeking a visionary Head of Talent to shape our Talent Management and Development strategies, strengthening succession pipelines and building capabilities for the future. You will partner with senior leaders and global teams to translate talent ambitions into meaningful business outcomes and foster a high-performance culture where our people thrive.

As part of AXA UK's People function, you will lead data-driven initiatives, manage the talent budget, and drive change across a complex,

Qualifications

• Extensive experience of developing, owning and delivering talent strategies.
• Hands-on embedding of talent best practices to drive business impact.
• Proven experience leading talent teams within complex, global organisations.
• Data-driven, predictive approaches to talent strategies.
• Strong relationship skills with stakeholders at all levels, including C-suite.
• Excellent communication and influencing abilities.
• Deep understanding of external talent trends and practices.
• Experience in strategic partnerships and stakeholder management.
• Ability to lead change and foster a high-performance culture.
• Extensive experience in talent development, succession planning, and growth initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the UK Talent Management and Development Strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Own end-to-end talent management cycle from development to delivery.
• Build strategic partnerships with internal stakeholders including Group Talent and senior leadership.
• Lead succession planning to strengthen pipelines for key roles.
• Define and execute talent development initiatives for high-potential segments.
• Own the end-to-end early careers strategy, design and delivery.
• Develop the skills and capabilities roadmap with the Workforce strategy team.
• Provide strategic leadership to the Talent team, fostering a high-performing culture.
• Influence senior leaders and AXA Group HR on talent initiatives.
• Lead on talent insights and data, translating into impactful action.
• Manage the talent budget to maximise ROI.
• Stay ahead of talent trends and contribute thought leadership to AXA UK Talent Centre of Excellence.

Skills

Talent strategies

Talent management

Succession planning

Data-driven talent

Stakeholder management

Change leadership

Talent development

High-performance culture

Job description

About AXA:

AXA is a global leader in insurance and financial services, dedicated to helping customers protect what matters most to them. As the sixth-largest insurance company in the world, we provide a wide range of services, including health, car, home, and business insurance. We support millions of customers worldwide, helping them navigate life's uncertainties with confidence.

AXA UK Support Functions look after our three customer-facing business units, providing the infrastructure and expertise to make sure we can be there for our customers.

Job overview:

This is an exciting time to join AXA UK’s People function as we continue an ambitious transformation journey to build a more future-ready, strategic and impactful organisation. We’re looking for an inspiring Head of Talent to play a pivotal role in shaping this change—leading our Talent Management and Development strategies, strengthening succession and talent pipelines, and building the skills and capabilities AXA needs for the future. Reporting to the Director of Culture, Capability & Talent, you’ll partner with senior leaders and global teams to turn our talent ambitions into meaningful business outcomes and help create a high-performance culture where our people can thrive.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and implement the UK Talent Management and Development Strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Develop, own and deliver a best in class end to end talent management cycle.
• Build strategic partnerships with internal stakeholders, including Group Talent, European Markets, and senior leadership.
• Lead succession planning processes to strengthen talent pipelines for key roles.
• Define and execute talent development initiatives for high-potential segments.
• Own the end to end early careers strategy, design and delivery.
• Lead on the development of the skills and capabilities roadmap, partnering closely with the Workforce strategy team.
• Provide strategic leadership to the Talent team, fostering a high-performing, innovative culture.
• Influence and engage senior leaders and the AXA Group HR team on talent initiatives.
• Stay ahead of emerging talent trends and contribute innovative ideas and thought leadership to the AXA UK Talent Centre of Excellence.
• Develop and lead on talent insights and data, and translating these into impactful action.
• Manage the talent budget effectively to maximise return on investment.

Work arrangements:

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%) from December 2026. Away from home means attending the office, visiting clients or attending industry events. We’re also happy to consider flexible working arrangements, which you can discuss with Talent Acquisition.

Your skills & experience:

• Extensive experience of developing, owning and delivering talent strategies.
• Deep understanding of talent best practices and hands on experience of embedding these to drive business impact.
• Proven experience managing and motivating talent teams within complex, global organisations.
• Strong track record in designing and delivering predictive, data-driven talent strategies.
• Excellent relationship-building skills with internal stakeholders at all levels, including C-suite.
• Exceptional communication and influencing abilities.
• Deep understanding of external talent trends, emerging technologies, and best practices.
• Experience in strategic partnership development and stakeholder management.
• Ability to lead change and foster a high-performance culture.
• Extensive experience in talent development, succession planning, and organisational growth initiatives.

As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom.