Head of Strategy Execution, COO Office EMEA

You desire impactful work.
 

You’re RGA ready

RGA is a purpose-driven organization working to solve today’s challenges through innovation and collaboration. A Fortune 200 Company and listed among its World’s Most Admired Companies, we’re the only global reinsurance company to focus primarily on life- and health-related solutions. Join our multinational team of intelligent, motivated, and collaborative people, and help us make financial protection accessible to all.

A Brief Overview

Reporting to the COO, the Head of Strategy Execution is responsible for establishing and leading the Strategy Execution Office and ensuring the effective delivery of the region’s transformation agenda.

The role translates the strategic vision for EMEA into a prioritised and funded portfolio of initiatives that strengthen the operating model, processes, tools, and culture, creating a sustainable and scalable platform for profitable growth, effective resource deployment, and execution excellence.

This role is accountable for establishing the environment in which successful delivery can occur, including governance frameworks, prioritisation processes, performance tracking, and capability enablement. While accountability for delivery of individual initiatives remains with functional leadership, the effectiveness of this role will be measured by the successful execution of  the region’s prioritised transformation agenda.

The role operates within an enterprise model aligned with Group Strategy Execution, where delivery is business-led and supported by the Strategy Execution Office.  

Success requires strategic acumen, strong program leadership, and the ability to create alignment and momentum across a diverse stakeholder group.

What you will do

Transformation Strategy, Prioritisation & Leadership

• Translate the execution excellence vision for RGA and EMEA into a prioritised portfolio of initiatives with clear scope, sequencing, timelines, and target outcomes.
• Lead the annual and ongoing prioritisation process, including the change roadmap and investment plan, using evidence-based criteria and cross-functional input.

Governance & Operating Model 

• Establish and maintain the end-to-end change governance framework, including standards, templates, tooling, decision rights, escalation paths, and governance forums.
• Lead governance committees and partner with business and technical leaders to ensure clear accountability, robust oversight, and appropriate design authority standards across strategic initiatives.
• Lead the design and evolution of the EMEA operating model, ensuring alignment to Group standards and scalability across functions.

Performance Management & Reporting 

• Own the performance framework for the transformation portfolio, including KPIs, benefits realisation, initiative health, strategic fit, and alignment to the EMEA scorecard.
• Oversee consolidated portfolio reporting for transformation committees and EMEA Leadership, providing a clear single source of truth on progress, risks, and outcomes.

Capability & Change Enablement 

• Ensure sufficient SME capacity exists across the organisation to support delivery of prioritised initiatives, partnering with functional leadership and HR to strengthen change readiness and execution capability.
• Build organisational capability through training, workshops, knowledge-sharing, and the promotion of a culture of empowered ownership and continuous improvement, where business SMEs actively identify, shape and deliver change.

Delivery Enablement & Accountability 

• Drive accountability for delivery of approved initiatives through appropriate sponsorship and clear ownership within the BAU functions, governance, performance tracking and executive challenge.
• Oversee the allocation and reallocation of funding and resources in line with prioritisation decisions, and enable effective delivery through structured support, frameworks, and coordination.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the central connector for transformation across the region, building strong engagement with EMEA functional leaders, initiative sponsors, and Group Strategy Execution counterparts.
• Communicate the transformation strategy, progress, decisions, and delivery expectations clearly and regularly, while supporting and constructively challenging sponsors and leaders on outcomes.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) Finance, Accounting, Economics, Actuarial Science, or a related field required
• Master’s degree in Arts/Sciences (MA/MS) MBA or other advanced degree preferred

Work Experience

• 10+ years of program and portfolio management experience in complex, matrixed, or global organizations preferred
• 7+ years people management experience required
• 5+ years in senior leadership roles required

Skills & Abilities

• Deep expertise in strategy execution, digital transformation, and performance management.
• Strong understanding of governance, prioritisation, and operating model design 
• Excellent stakeholder influence, executive presence, facilitation, and executive communication skills.
• Strong analytical capability, with comfortable use of business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI and MS Excel).
• Ability to drive accountability and challenge constructively at senior levels 
• Proven ability to operate effectively across organisational and geographic boundaries 
• Strong leadership capability, with the ability to lead through influence in a matrixed environment 
• Advanced change management capability, including leading large-scale transformation efforts 

What you can expect from RGA:

• Gain valuable knowledge from and experience with diverse, caring colleagues around the world.

• Enjoy a respectful, welcoming environment that fosters individuality and encourages pioneering thought.

• Join the bright and creative minds of RGA, and experience vast, endless career potential.

We’re excited to get to know you and connect your unique skills with our global opportunities. To create a modern and seamless experience, we use artificial intelligence (AI) in parts of our preliminary screening process. This technology helps us personalize job recommendations, automate interview scheduling, evaluate candidates based solely on experience—without considering name, gender, or other personal details—and provide real-time answers through our chatbot. AI is used only during early screening and never makes hiring decisions. Your RGA recruiter will work closely with you every step of the way to ensure the process feels personal, thoughtful, and focused on you.