Retail Strategic Lead ROI

AXA; Derry/Londonderry; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance provider is seeking a Retail Strategic Lead to develop and implement innovative retail strategies in Ireland. This role involves driving performance improvement, managing stakeholder collaboration, and enhancing customer experiences across all product lines. The ideal candidate will have 5–7 years in retail management, strong analytical skills, and a relevant bachelor’s degree. Knowledge of regulatory compliance in the insurance sector is crucial. This position offers a hybrid work model, balancing time between home and office.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years in Direct Retail management, underwriting, or insurance operations.
• Experience in business analysis or strategy (2–4 years).
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Deep understanding of regulatory frameworks in Ireland.

Responsibilities

• Support development and execution of strategic plans.
• Drive retail performance through innovation and engagement.
• Create long-term growth and digital transformation roadmaps.
• Monitor performance metrics and identify improvement opportunities.
• Lead customer experience initiatives to align retail propositions.

Skills

Direct Retail management

Business analysis

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Professional qualifications in retail management or insurance

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.