Chief Operating Officer - Specialty

Welcome to Gallagher – a global leader in insurance, risk management, and consulting services. With a growing team of more than 52,000 professionals worldwide, we empower businesses, communities, and individuals to thrive. At Gallagher, you can build a career whether it’s with our brokerage division, our benefits and HR consulting division, or our corporate team. Experience The Gallagher Way, a culture fueled by shared values and a collective passion for excellence. Join one of our dynamic teams, where you'll play a pivotal role in shaping Gallagher's future and unlocking unparalleled opportunities for both clients and yourself.

We believe that every candidate brings something special to the table, including you! So, even if you feel that you’re close but not an exact match, we encourage you to apply.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) Specialty is a key leadership role focused on driving operational excellence and transformational change within Specialty. Reporting to the UK & EMEA COO, the role oversees operational strategies, resource management, and transformation initiatives, including Novidea implementation and partnerships with Gallagher Centre of Excellence (GCoE).

The COO advises the Specialty CEO, facilitates decision-making, and ensures alignment with the company’s strategic vision, Target Operating Model and regulatory standards. As a Senior Manager under the FCA’s SMCR regime, the role collaborates with senior leaders, stakeholders, and third parties to deliver business plans, achieve financial targets, and support the effective execution of the business strategy.

• Lead high-performing teams, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Align talent with business needs and bridge the gap between sales and delivery.
• Advise senior leadership on operational priorities and represent operations in key initiatives.
• Develop and execute strategies to drive growth, efficiency, and revenue.
• Translate strategic goals into actionable plans and improve systems and processes.
• Partner with leadership to achieve the company’s vision and operational objectives.
• Drive innovation through advanced tools and technology to enhance efficiency and client experience.
• Oversee the implementation of the Novidea platform and associated operational models.
• Lead change management efforts to ensure smooth transitions and measurable results.
• Establish governance frameworks and manage operational risks effectively.
• Ensure compliance with Gallagher policies, FCA regulations, and conduct rules.
• Provide regular updates to leadership on performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders and promote the Gallagher brand.
• Foster an inclusive, high-performing culture focused on employee development and retention.
• Manage budgets and business plans, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Monitor KPIs to track success and identify areas for improvement.
• Chair and participate in key committees and forums as required.

• Educated to degree level or equivalent desired.
• Previously held a Certified role or demonstrates a strong understanding of the requirements.
• Deep understanding and expertise within the insurance industry, including broking or underwriting.
• Knowledge of audit practices.
• Familiarity with FCA regulations.
• Strong business acumen with a proven ability to enhance operational excellence.
• Experience in executive operations, processes, and systems with P&L responsibilities in large, complex organizations.
• Enthusiastic and proactive, contributing to a dynamic and professional operations and sales environment.
• Significant experience in people development and management.
• Commercial awareness and risk management expertise.
• Ability to build rapport, establish credibility, and influence stakeholders at all levels internally and externally.
• Eligible to work in the UK.
• Willingness to travel as required.

#LI-AM4

On top of a competitive salary, great teams and exciting career opportunities, we also offer a wide range of benefits.

Below are the minimum core benefits you’ll get, depending on your job level these benefits may improve:

• Minimum of 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays, and the option to ‘buy’ extra days
• Defined contribution pension scheme, which Gallagher will also contribute to
• Life insurance, which will pay 4x your basic annual salary, which you can top-up to 10x
• Income protection, we’ll cover up to 50% of your annual income, with options to top up
• Health cash plan or Private medical insurance

Other benefits include:

• Three fully paid volunteering days per year
• Employee Stock Purchase plan, offering company shares at a discount
• Share incentive plan, HMRC approved, tax effective, stock purchase plan
• Critical illness cover
• Discounted gym membership, with over 3,000 gyms nationally
• Season ticket loan
• Access to a discounted voucher portal to save money on your weekly shop or next big purchase
• Emergency back-up family care
• And many more…

We value inclusion and diversity

Inclusion and diversity (I&D) is a core part of our business, and it’s embedded into the fabric of our organisation. For more than 95 years, Gallagher has led with a commitment to sustainability and to support the communities where we live and work.

Gallagher embraces our employees’ diverse identities, experiences and talents, allowing us to better serve our clients and communities. We see inclusion as a conscious commitment and diversity as a vital strength. By embracing diversity in all its forms, we live out The Gallagher Way to its fullest.

Gallagher is Disability Confident Committed. We have pledged to make sure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible, in addition to supporting our existing employees with any long-term health conditions or disabilities.

We understand that applicants may have disabilities, if you do, you may find some parts of the recruitment process more challenging than others. Don’t worry, we’re here to help, however, we can only do this if you let us know.

Should you require reasonable adjustments to your application, please get in touch with [email protected] . If you’d prefer to speak on the phone, please request a call back, leaving details, so we get in touch.

Our employing entity, Arthur J. Gallagher Services (UK) Limited, is proud to be accredited as a Living Wage employer with the Living Wage Foundation. We are committed to diversity and opportunity for all and are opposed to any form of less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender or gender identity, marital status, civil partnership status, parental status, race, ethnicity, colour, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, religion/ belief, age and those with caring responsibilities.

Gallagher believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity and prohibits any form of discrimination by its managers, employees, vendors or customers based on race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy status), sexual orientation, gender identity (which includes transgender and other gender non-conforming individuals), gender expression, hair expression, marital status, parental status, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran or military status, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected (herein referred to as “protected characteristics”) by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Equal employment opportunity will be extended in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, demotion, compensation, benefits, layoff, and termination. In addition, Gallagher will make reasonable accommodations to known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified person with a disability, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.