Retail Strategic Lead ROI

AXA; Belfast; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance provider is seeking a Retail Strategic Lead to drive the development and execution of innovative retail strategies. This pivotal role involves supporting sustainable business growth, enhancing customer experiences, and fostering cross-functional collaboration. Ideal candidates will have 5–7 years of experience in Direct Retail management or insurance operations, with strong analytical skills and a Bachelor's degree or equivalent. The position offers flexibility in work location, balancing remote and office attendance.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of experience in Direct Retail management, underwriting, or insurance operations.
• 2–4 years of relevant experience in business analysis or strategy.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Deep understanding of regulatory frameworks specific to Ireland.
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Support in the development and execution of strategic plans.
• Drive retail performance through innovation and customer engagement.
• Create long-term roadmaps for growth and digital transformation.
• Monitor performance metrics and implement corrective actions.
• Lead customer experience initiatives in retail propositions.

Skills

Analytical skills

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Customer engagement

Regulatory understanding

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Professional qualifications (CIP, ACII)

Tools

MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

AXA IT systems (Darwin, Genesys, SOLUS)

Job description

We are seeking a Retail Strategic Lead to assist in the development, execution and to support in the implementation of innovative retail propositions in the Republic of Ireland. This key role focuses on designing long-term strategies that drive growth, profitability, and exceptional customer experiences across all product lines.

Reporting into the Head of Direct Retail Strategy & Performance, the successful candidate will support sustainable business development by promoting technical excellence and maintaining AXA Ireland’s competitive edge. Collaborating closely with local and group teams, they will foster a culture of continuous improvement and cross-functional teamwork to deliver a consistent, customer-centric approach.

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 majority of your week away from home. Away from home means either attendance at one of our head office locations, visiting clients or attending industry events.

What you’ll be doing:

• Support in the development and execution of strategic plans across all product lines, integrating market, regulatory, and legal considerations to meet retail strategy commitments.
• Drive retail performance through innovation, business engagement, cost efficiency, and enhancing the customer journey.
• Create long-term roadmaps for growth, digital transformation, and omni-channel initiatives in collaboration with the wider team.
• Monitor performance metrics, identify improvement opportunities, and implement corrective actions to optimise outcomes.
• Lead customer experience initiatives to ensure retail propositions align with market best practices and customer value, fostering trust and loyalty.
• Oversee cost and indemnity optimisation initiatives to balance financial performance with positive customer outcomes.
• Conduct market and competitor analysis, identify emerging trends, and provide insights to inform strategic decision-making.
• Foster stakeholder collaboration, communicate strategy effectively, and ensure compliance while driving innovation and business growth.

Qualifications:

• 5–7 years of experience in Direct Retail management, underwriting, or insurance operations, along with 2–4 years of relevant experience in business analysis or strategy, demonstrating the ability to apply quantitative methods to real business problems.
• A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required; possession of an advanced or graduate degree is preferred.
• Professional qualifications in direct retail management or insurance (e.g., CIP, ACII), are advantageous.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with proven ability to lead innovation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Understanding of the importance of the strategic cycle and alignment with key outcomes(KPIs)
• Deep understanding of regulatory frameworks specific to Ireland, including insurance regulations and compliance standards.
• Excellent attention to detail, organisation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex insights.
• Demonstrated stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate data insights into actionable recommendations for cross-functional teams and leadership.
• Awareness and exposure to digital transformation, AI initiatives, automation, or financial technology solutions within the insurance sector.
• Understanding of the strategic cycle and its alignment with key performance indicators (KPIs) to support business objectives.
• Excellent attention to detail, organisational skills, and proficiency with MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), alongside a good understanding of core AXA IT systems, ie. Darwin, Genesys, SOLUS.

This role is an allocated Controlled Function under Fitness & Probity Regime, which means the successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced level of background screening requirements. You can find more information on axa.ie/careers.

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

This recruitment campaign will be used to support permanent, temporary and/or extension for any upcoming similar positions.