Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.
People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.
Associate Product Owner - Product Configuration
Location: London (Hybrid)
About the Role:
We're seeking an Associate Product Owner to join our product and platform team, working at the intersection of insurance expertise, system configuration, and software development. You'll partner with broking and underwriting teams to translate their product requirements into practical system configurations, whilst also collaborating with software engineering teams to build the underlying platform capabilities that enable revenue generation. This role spans both the product configuration layer and the underlying platform that configurations are built upon, ensuring our systems empower users to capture market-derived income efficiently. As we transition towards API-first and headless architecture, you'll help shape how our products are consumed through both traditional UI and programmatic integrations.
Key Responsibilities:
Requirements Translation & Analysis:
Work directly with brokers and underwriting teams to understand product requirements and trading appetite
Translate insurance product specifications (wordings, coverages, clauses, endorsements) into system requirements
Break down complex insurance products into configurable data points, fields, and attributes
Analyse existing products and identify opportunities for standardisation and efficiency
Document business rules, rating logic, and underwriting guidelines
Identify where business processes can be automated or enhanced through software
Identify when configuration limitations require platform enhancements
Define data structures and schemas that support both UI and API consumption
Leverage AI tools to streamline analysis, documentation, and process improvement
Platform Development Collaboration:
Partner with software engineering teams to turn complex business processes into software solutions
Define technical requirements for platform enhancements and new capabilities
Bridge the gap between business needs and technical implementation
Participate in technical design discussions and solution architecture
Help engineers understand the insurance context and revenue drivers
Validate that developed features enable efficient revenue generation through market-derived income
Create user stories and acceptance criteria for platform development
Support agile ceremonies (sprint planning, refinement, retrospectives)
Contribute to platform roadmap by identifying common needs across products
Balance quick configuration solutions with longer-term platform development
Understand the technical architecture to make informed configuration decisions
Work with API schemas, reviewing and validating Swagger/OpenAPI specifications
Ensure business logic is accessible through both UI and headless/API channels
Use AI-powered development tools to accelerate workflows and solution design
Product Configuration:
Configure product parameters, fields, and data structures in our digital tranding application
Create and configure document templates (quotes and policy documents, endorsements, certificates, covering letters etc)
Configure rating algorithms and premium calculation logic
Maintain configuration documentation and version control
Leverage and optimise platform capabilities to deliver product configurations efficiently
Ensure configurations support API-driven transactions and headless integrations
Stakeholder Collaboration:
Facilitate workshops with broking and underwriting teams to gather requirements
Partner with configuration teams to implement product changes
Work with Product Owners to understand roadmap priorities
Collaborate with software engineers on platform features and technical solutions
Work with compliance teams to ensure regulatory requirements are met
Support distribution and broking teams with product training and documentation
Act as liaison between business, configuration, and engineering teams
Help stakeholders understand the shift towards API-first architecture
Testing & Quality Assurance:
Develop test scenarios for both configurations and platform features
Conduct UAT with brokers and underwriting teams to validate configurations
Test premium calculations, document generation, and workflow logic
Participate in testing of platform releases and new capabilities
Test API endpoints and validate responses against business requirements
Troubleshoot configuration issues and identify root causes
Support product launches and go-live activities
Documentation & Knowledge Management:
Document business rules, rating structures, and underwriting guidelines
Write technical specifications for platform development
Maintain library of product wordings and clause templates
Develop user guides for broking and underwriting teams
Build knowledge base for common product configurations and platform features
Document API specifications and integration patterns
Essential Skills & Experience:
Must Have:
Understanding of insurance products and concepts (premiums, wordings, coverage, endorsements)
Strong analytical skills with ability to break down complex processes into logical components
Experience working with or close to technical/development teams
Ability to communicate effectively with both business stakeholders and engineers
Experience gathering requirements from subject matter experts
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
Detail-oriented with strong documentation abilities
Strong data analysis skills and comfort working with structured data
Ability to translate business language into technical specifications
Demonstrated ability to leverage AI tools to improve productivity and workflow efficiency
Highly Desirable:
Previous work with Lloyd's, London Market, or speciality insurance products
Understanding of product configuration or system administration
Experience writing user stories and working in agile environments
Background in broking, underwriting, or insurance operations
Understanding of how insurance businesses generate revenue
Exposure to API documentation (Swagger, OpenAPI, YAML)
Understanding of RESTful APIs and JSON data structures
Experience with AI coding assistants (Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, etc.)
Nice to Have:
Cert CII or working towards insurance qualifications
Technical background or basic understanding of software development
Understanding of APIs, data integration, or system architecture
Knowledge of rating methodologies and actuarial principles
Experience with JIRA, Confluence, or similar agile tools
Familiarity with process mapping tools (BPMN, Visio)
Experience reviewing or working with API specifications and schemas
Understanding of headless architecture concepts
What We Offer:
Competitive salary and benefits package
Opportunity to work with cutting-edge integration technologies
Professional development and training opportunities
Collaborative team environment
A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:
Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new
We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges
We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond
We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.
If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.
*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.
Permanent