Head of Programs

AXA • Boston, MA

1d

About The Position

The Head of Programs leads AXA XL’s Programs business, which encompasses Property, Casualty, and Professional Liability risks. The role sets strategy and direction in support of regional and organizational goals and has full P&L accountability for financial and operational plans, profitable growth, underwriting excellence, and performance management. It directly reports to the Head of Wholesale Solutions, who is responsible for enterprise-wide programs strategy.

The leader oversees underwriting operations across the Americas, works with colleagues to bring Programs products to market, manages portfolio performance and risk appetite, and develops new business opportunities. As a member of the Wholesale Solutions Leadership team, the Head of Programs leads a regional business toward sustained top-quartile underwriting performance through innovation, new offerings, pricing, risk appetite, and capital allocation. The position is located at a current AXA XL office in NY, PA, CT, MA, AZ, or CA; the work arrangement and primary office location will be confirmed for the selected hiring market. The role requires travel over 30% as business needs require and standard business hours with flexibility to support business and market needs across the Americas.

Requirements

• Extensive, progressively responsible experience in Programs and Delegated Authority.
• Experience leading complex underwriting portfolios with full P&L accountability.
• Experience in portfolio and risk-appetite management and delegated underwriting governance.
• Experience building strategic relationships with MGAs and program administrators.
• Ability to set and communicate a clear, multi-year business direction and integrate portfolio data, market dynamics, customer insights, and financial implications into strategic decisions.
• Ability to balance customer needs, underwriting discipline, and sustainable profitability while delivering a responsive and differentiated experience.
• Ability to anticipate changing customer, partner, and market needs and adapt strategy and execution; encourage experimentation, continuous learning, and responsible innovation.
• Ability to influence senior leaders, underwriting teams, and external partners through credible judgment and compelling communication.
• Extensive insurance and reinsurance acumen, including knowledge of the value chain, delegated arrangements, market cycles, financial drivers, and competitive dynamics.
• Strong relationship-management skills, including the ability to establish trust, clarify expectations, resolve complex issues, and create profitable-growth opportunities.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly and persuasively, tailoring presentations to the audience and using data and insights to influence decisions.
• Knowledge of portfolio strategy across Property, Casualty, and Professional Liability Programs, including performance, concentrations, exposures, pricing, terms, and diversification.
• Deep knowledge of relevant insurance products, coverages, exposures, policy structures, and market practices.
• Knowledge of natural hazards, catastrophe risk, exposure data, and relevant modeling and assessment techniques.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management, Insurance, Business, Finance, or a related field is preferred.
• An advanced degree or relevant insurance designation, such as CPCU, is valued.

Responsibilities

• Lead underwriting operations across an integrated insurance company and collaborate across the Americas to bring Programs products to market and support sustained profitability and growth.
• Maintain full P&L responsibility for the Programs portfolio and continuously monitor each program’s performance.
• Manage the Programs business’s overall risk appetite with the Americas leadership team, including gross and net strategy and property catastrophe exposure across the portfolio.
• Develop and manage a robust new-business pipeline, onboarding opportunities aligned with profitability goals.
• Regularly present to the Americas CUO and CEO on performance against plan, underwriting strategy updates, and new-business initiatives.
• Create and execute the Americas Programs annual business plan and strategy, ensuring consistency with agreed risk appetites.
• Manage underwriting profit and loss within Americas Programs, including gross and net revenue management and business acquisition expenses.
• Oversee recruitment and retention of Programs underwriting staff, providing leadership, guidance, and motivation while maintaining an effective workforce.
• Maintain underwriting governance through policies, procedures, reviews, audits, and training.
• Promote professional growth in a diverse and engaged underwriting community and plan to maintain business continuity.
• As a member of the Wholesale Solutions Leadership team, drive sustained top-quartile underwriting performance, innovation and new offerings, pricing, risk appetite, and capital allocation within the product portfolio.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with MGAs, program administrators, brokers, clients, regulators, and colleagues.
• Travel over 30% as business needs require.

Benefits

• Enhanced family-friendly leave benefits.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Health and wellness programs.
• Learning opportunities and professional development support.
• Matching gifts, volunteering leave, and participation in the Global Day of Giving through AXA Hearts in Action.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive