Head of SME Direct Sales

About AXA: AXA is a global leader in insurance and financial services, dedicated to helping customers protect what matters most to them. As the sixth-largest insurance company in the world, we provide a wide range of services, including health, car, home, and business insurance. We support millions of customers worldwide, helping them navigate life's uncertainties with confidence. AXA Health supports members to put their health first, from individuals to huge corporates, with fast access to diagnosis and treatment when they need it. Job overview: We’re looking for an inspiring and strategic leader to head up AXA Health’s SME direct sales channel. This pivotal role is responsible for driving growth, building a high-performing sales team, and delivering exceptional customer experiences across our SME segment. Reporting to the SME Distribution Director, you’ll develop and execute innovative sales strategies, oversee pipeline management, and ensure that revenue and profit targets are achieved. Leading teams across our Leicester and Bournemouth offices, you’ll be highly visible, leading by example and fostering a culture of excellence, ambition, and customer focus. You’ll be instrumental in shaping the future of our SME direct sales operations, ensuring we meet and exceed our growth objectives. Key responsibilities:

• Develop and implement the SME direct sales strategy aligned with business objectives, focusing on lead generation, pipeline development, and customer conversion.
• Lead initiatives to achieve sales targets, setting clear KPIs and performance metrics, and monitoring team progress regularly.
• Collaborate closely with marketing and product teams to optimise customer journeys, improve lead quality, and maximise sales effectiveness.
• Build, motivate, and lead a high-performing sales team—recruit, develop, and retain talented professionals, and foster a culture of success.
• Oversee end-to-end pipeline management, using CRM and analytics tools to track progress, identify bottlenecks, and implement continuous improvements.
• Drive innovative lead generation approaches, including digital campaigns, outbound outreach, and strategic prospecting.
• Own the sales P&L, managing budgets, forecasts, and performance reporting to ensure revenue and profit targets are met.
• Ensure all sales activities comply with FCA regulations and internal governance, maintaining high standards of data security, confidentiality, and ethical conduct.

Work arrangements: At AXA we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team and our customers. You'll work at least two days a week (40%) away from home, moving to three days a week (60%) in the future. Away from home means attending the office, visiting clients or attending industry events. Your skills & experience:

• Proven experience in leading direct sales teams, ideally within insurance, financial services, or a comparable sector.
• Strong strategic mindset with a track record of delivering growth targets and managing pipeline performance.
• Excellent leadership skills, with the ability to motivate, coach, and develop sales professionals.
• Sound understanding of customer journey optimisation, lead generation, and CRM analytics.
• Ability to build a high-performance sales culture aligned with company values.
• Experience managing budgets, forecasts, and P&L performance.
• Knowledge of FCA regulations and sales governance standards.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.

How to apply: To apply, click on the ‘apply now’ button, you’ll then need to log in or create a profile to submit your CV. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and don’t discriminate against employees or potential employees based on protected characteristics. If you have a long-term condition or disability and require adjustments during the application or interview process, we’re proud to offer access to the AXA Accessibility Concierge. For our support, please send an email to bayley.colbran@axa-uk.co.uk. We encourage you to apply for this opportunity as soon as possible, as we may close this advert earlier than the listed closing date. #Health