Project Manager Strategy

Job description

*

Whatever their stage of life, we provide over 108 million customers with the products and services they need to progress. From insurance to personal protection, and savings to wealth management, no matter the need we’re always there for them. And we’re always there for our employees. In 50 countries, we work hard to inspire pride and a sense of belonging in our people. To provide opportunities that challenge them, inspire them, and reward them. And to create a culture that’s open, supportive, and empowering. Because we know that’s the real secret to success – and the best way for us to keep building a better world for both our customers and the talented people who put them first.

Your work environment:

The headquarters of the AXA Group (GIE AXA) brings together our corporate activities. It provides guidance and support to subsidiaries around the world, to ensure the coordination and monitoring of the Group's global strategy, the application of its standards, the consistency of commercial approaches and the sharing of best practices. The headquarters gathers approximately 1000 employees and is distinguished by its strong international culture (45 nationalities), which makes it a rich and stimulating place to work.

Job Purpose

Group Corporate Development (GCD) is responsible for supporting AXA senior management (Group Management Committee level) in defining AXA’s strategy, monitoring and facilitating its execution through various forums and processes as well as exploring, assessing and executing any ad-hoc business development initiative as deemed appropriate by the senior management.

In this context, the role of the Strategic Project Manager is to support the Head of Strategy Execution and Head of Strategy Definition in defining and reporting to the Group Management Committee on the implementation of such strategy through ad hoc strategic reviews to facilitate decision-making.

In particular, the Project Manager is responsible for supporting the team in:

• Preparing annual Strategic Board of AXA Board of Directors
• Reviewing the Strategic Plan of Operating Entities and monitoring the implementation of the Group strategy
• Managing ad hoc strategic reviews or studies as requested by the senior management
• Monitoring the evolution of key insurance trends and competitors’ strategy
• Assessing the interest of inorganic growth opportunities, including M&A transactions and corporate development projects/ partnerships

Context & Major Challenge

The Project Manager Strategy is involved in a complex managerial environment and must ensure an effective and smooth communication with many high-profile stakeholders. As such, she/ he must demonstrate strong technical command, business acumen and interpersonal skills to build trust within the organization and deliver on GCD mission. His/ her main challenges notably include the following:

• Lead transversal processes in high autonomy o Interact frequently with key executives in the Group (corporate center or entities) and occasionally with senior leaders (Management Committee members, Partners) to ensure successful delivery of strategic projects, often in a limited timeframe
• Review and/ or prepare documentation to the Group Management Committee and Board of Directors with the highest standard of quality and integrity
• Provide critical review of the business objectives of Operating Entities and identify main strategic challenges that could materially impact the Group
• Contribute to building storyline flows and clear messages/ recommendations to senior management to facilitate decision making

Key accountabilities

• Preparing annual Strategic Board of AXA Board of Directors
  • Expected output/ contribution: Documentation to the Board of Directors
  • Major tasks:
    • Agenda definition
    • Preparation and review of the documentation
    • Coordination of the process with relevant senior stakeholders
    • For each strategic plan cycle, coordination of the overall process to define and design next strategic cycle of the Group including definition of Group objectives, definition of quantitative and qualitative ambition, support to external communication, proposals for governance and monitoring tools adjustments
• Reviewing the Strategic Plan of Operating Entities and monitoring the implementation of the Group strategy
  • Expected contribution: Strategic business reviews (CEO Dialogue), reports to the Management Committee (strategic dashboard, strategic plan assessment), annual performance assessment (STIC process)
  • Major tasks:
    • Definition of annual agenda, guidelines and timetable
    • Preparation of annual Target Letters of Operating Entities, in coordination with Group HR and Group Finance
    • Organisation of strategic business reviews with the Group Management Committee
    • Critical review of annual strategic plan and budget prepared by Operating Entities
    • Critical review of Operating Entities performance, in coordination with Group HR and Group Finance
• Managing ad hoc strategic reviews or studies as requested by the senior management
  • Expected contribution: Strategic memo or report
  • Major tasks:
    • Contribute to the framing of the project (list of analyses to perform, etc.)
    • Review internal public information and build business intelligence through internal/ external interviews as relevant to support the analysis
    • Contribute to the list of recommendations for the management
    • Ensure implementation of approved recommendations in coordination with Operating Entities
• Monitoring the evolution of key insurance trends and competitors' strategy
  • Expected contribution: Annual competitive review, portfolio management review, market share review
  • Major tasks:
    • In coordination with Group Finance, prepare documentation for the Group Management Committee or Board of Directors presenting our current footprint and recommendations with respect to our portfolio management strategy
• Assessing the interest of inorganic growth opportunities, including M&A transactions and corporate development projects/ partnerships
  • Expected contribution: Quickscreen, discussions with external parties
  • Major tasks:
    • Review potential inorganic opportunities and provide recommendations to senior management, in coordination with Group Finance
    • Participate and lead corporate development initiatives involving external parties, as relevant

Desired profile

Qualifications :

Technical skills

·  Good understanding of the insurance industry (Life, Protection, Health P&C, assets & liabilities, reinsurance)
·  Strong business and strategic sense
·  Strong project management skills
·  Analytical skills and problem-solving skills
·  Ability to break down complex problems to essential element (MECE principle)
·  Strong proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint
·  Fluent in English

Soft and interpersonal skills

·  Strong interpersonal and communication skills (writing/ speaking/ listening). Notably, ability to communicate effectively with senior management
·  Ability to organize effectively and work under pressure, remaining effective at all times whilst maintaining excellent attention to quality
·  Ability to take initiatives and challenge status quo to provide independent and clear conclusions and recommendations to senior management
·  Ability to a work in a multicultural environment with people with diverse backgrounds and cultures
·  Ability to navigate AXA’s internal environment and build a network among senior executives and Corporate Center colleagues in order to build intelligence, influence and manage complex situations