1. What is a Project Manager at AXA?

At AXA, specifically within the AXA XL division, a Project Manager is a pivotal figure in driving the "Change Delivery" and "Global Technology" initiatives that keep one of the world’s largest insurers competitive. Unlike generalist PM roles, this position sits at the intersection of complex risk solutions, legacy transformation, and digital innovation. You are not merely a task tracker; you are a strategic enabler responsible for delivering initiatives that range from small-scale business changes to massive, discretionary transformational programs.

In this role, you will likely operate within a hybrid environment, often blending traditional Waterfall governance with Agile delivery methods depending on the team (e.g., P&C Programs vs. Technical Delivery). You will be expected to bridge the gap between technical teams, business analysts, and high-level stakeholders like underwriters and portfolio heads. Your work directly impacts how AXA XL underwrites property and casualty risks, manages delegated authority partners, and ensures compliance in a highly regulated global market.

Successful Project Managers at AXA are defined by their ability to navigate ambiguity and manage rigorous governance standards simultaneously. Whether you are managing vendor Statements of Work (SOW), overseeing a portfolio of Property programs, or driving a cloud migration, your goal is to deliver value that allows AXA to "invent the new" while maintaining the financial and operational discipline required of a global financial institution.

2. Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparation for AXA requires a shift in mindset from purely "getting things done" to "getting things done with governance and precision." You should approach your preparation by focusing on how you structure chaos into manageable plans while adhering to strict compliance and financial standards.

Project Governance & Methodology – AXA values rigor. You must demonstrate deep knowledge of project lifecycles (SDLC), whether that involves defining a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in a Waterfall context or managing sprint backlogs in an Agile environment. Be prepared to discuss how you define scope, objectives, and success criteria upfront to prevent scope creep.

Financial & Risk Acumen – This is an insurance company; risk management is in the DNA. You will be evaluated on your ability to manage budgets, forecast variances, and maintain detailed risk registers. You need to show that you understand the financial implications of your projects, including vendor cost controls and return on investment.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management – You will often work with external vendors and internal stakeholders who have competing priorities. You must demonstrate the ability to negotiate SOWs, hold vendors accountable for deliverables, and influence decision-making among senior leadership without having direct authority over them.

Communication & Leadership – AXA looks for "Outstanding Communication." This goes beyond clear emails; it means the ability to facilitate steering committees, mentor junior team members, and translate complex technical or underwriting metrics into actionable business insights.

3. Interview Process Overview

The interview process at AXA is thorough and structured, designed to assess both your technical project management competence and your cultural fit within a collaborative, inclusive environment. Generally, the process begins with a recruiter screen to verify your background and interest, followed by a video or phone interview with a Hiring Manager. This stage focuses heavily on your resume and your specific experience with the tools and methodologies relevant to the team (e.g., P&C experience or Technical Delivery).

Following the initial screens, successful candidates move to the "loop" or panel stage. This typically consists of 3–5 separate interviews with cross-functional partners, including other Project Managers, Business Analysts, Technical Leads, and potentially a stakeholder from the business side (such as Underwriting or Claims). Expect a mix of behavioral questions based on the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and situational questions testing your ability to handle project crises, budget overruns, or difficult vendors.

The process is rigorous but professional. AXA places a high value on inclusion and respect, so while the questions may be challenging, the atmosphere is usually supportive. They are looking for consistency in your answers and genuine examples of how you handle the "messy" middle of complex projects.

This timeline visualizes the typical progression from application to offer. Note that the "Onsite / Virtual Loop" is the most intensive phase, where you will meet multiple team members back-to-back. Use the time between the Hiring Manager Screen and the Loop to refine your "war stories"—specific examples of past projects that showcase your leadership and problem-solving skills.

4. Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

To succeed, you must demonstrate competence across several core dimensions. AXA interviews are structured to probe these specific areas deeply.

Project Planning & Execution

This is the core of the role. Interviewers want to see that you can take a vague business request and turn it into a concrete plan. You need to show that you own the project plan, the schedule, and the critical path.

Be ready to go over:

• Methodology selection – When to use Waterfall vs. Agile, and how to manage hybrid projects.
• Scope management – How you define the WBS, handle change requests, and prevent scope creep.
• Dependency tracking – How you identify and manage intra-project and cross-project dependencies.
• Advanced concepts – Critical path analysis, resource leveling, and earned value management (EVM).

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk me through how you create a project plan from scratch. What are the first three things you do?"
• "Describe a time when a project was slipping on the critical path. How did you identify it and what actions did you take to recover?"
• "How do you handle a stakeholder requesting a major scope change halfway through execution?"

Risk & Financial Management

Because AXA is a risk management firm, they expect their PMs to be risk-aware. This involves both project risks (delivery) and financial risks (budget).

Be ready to go over:

• Risk Registers – How you identify, assess (probability/impact), and mitigate risks.
• Budgeting – Experience with forecasting, tracking actuals vs. plan, and explaining variances.
• Vendor Management – Participating in SOW creation, invoice validation, and ensuring vendor delivery aligns with the contract.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you identified a critical risk that others missed. How did you mitigate it?"
• "How do you manage a project budget? What do you do if you realize you are going to overspend?"
• "Describe a situation where a vendor was not meeting their contractual obligations. How did you handle it?"

Stakeholder Communication & Leadership

You will need to influence people who do not report to you. This requires high emotional intelligence and strong communication skills.

Be ready to go over:

• Reporting – Tailoring status reports for different audiences (e.g., detailed for the team, high-level for Execs).
• Conflict Resolution – Managing disagreements between business requirements and technical feasibility.
• Meeting Facilitation – Running effective kickoffs, retrospectives, and steering committee meetings.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Describe a time you had to deliver bad news to a senior stakeholder. How did you approach it?"
• "How do you ensure alignment between the business side and the technical delivery team?"
• "Give an example of how you motivated a team that was suffering from burnout or low morale."

5. Key Responsibilities

As a Project Manager at AXA, your day-to-day work is a blend of strategic planning and tactical firefighting. You are the "conductor" of the orchestra, ensuring that business initiatives—whether they are new insurance product launches, IT system upgrades, or regulatory compliance updates—are delivered on time and within budget.

Your primary responsibility is to define and drive the project lifecycle. This involves collaborating with Business Analysts to clarify requirements and working with Technical Leads to estimate effort. You will be responsible for building detailed schedules, identifying dependencies, and maintaining the "source of truth" regarding project status. You will actively manage the project budget, which includes tracking hours, approving invoices, and forecasting future spend.

Collaboration is central to the role. You will frequently interface with "App Managers," Underwriters, and external vendors. For roles like the Sr. Program Manager, your scope extends to managing relationships with Delegated Authority partners and auditing their performance against underwriting guidelines. For Technical Delivery Managers, the focus shifts slightly to overseeing the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), ensuring CI/CD pipelines are efficient, and maintaining security compliance. In all cases, you are responsible for organizing and leading the meetings that drive decision-making, from daily stand-ups to executive steering committees.

6. Role Requirements & Qualifications

AXA seeks candidates who bring a mix of formal project management discipline and industry-relevant adaptability.

Must-have skills:

• Proven Project Management Experience: A track record of delivering projects on time and within budget is non-negotiable. You need to show experience with the full project lifecycle.
• Methodology Fluency: Proficiency in both Waterfall (PMP style) and Agile (Scrum/Kanban) methodologies. You must be comfortable working in a hybrid environment.
• Financial Literacy: Experience managing project budgets, forecasting, and handling vendor contracts (SOWs).
• Risk Management: The ability to create and maintain risk registers and drive mitigation plans.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written skills, specifically the ability to translate technical issues for business stakeholders.

Nice-to-have skills:

• Industry Background: Experience in Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance, Reinsurance, or Financial Services is a significant advantage.
• Certifications: PMP, PRINCE2, or Agile certifications (CSM, SAFe, PMI-ACP) are highly preferred and often listed as desired.
• Technical Familiarity: For technical roles, understanding of SDLC, CI/CD, and security protocols.
• Tooling: Experience with project management software (e.g., MS Project, Jira, ServiceNow).

7. Common Interview Questions

The following questions are representative of what you can expect at AXA. They are designed to test your experience against the core competencies of the role. Do not memorize answers; instead, use these to practice your STAR stories.

Behavioral & Leadership

These questions assess how you interact with others and handle pressure.

• "Tell me about a time you had to influence a stakeholder who was resistant to a change."
• "Describe a conflict you had with a team member. How did you resolve it?"
• "Give me an example of a time you failed to meet a deadline. How did you communicate it and what did you learn?"
• "How do you keep a cross-functional team motivated during a long, difficult project?"
• "Describe a time you had to step up and lead when there was no clear direction."

Project Management Technicals

These questions test your hard skills and knowledge of frameworks.

• "How do you determine the critical path of a project?"
• "What is your approach to estimating project costs and resources?"
• "How do you handle 'gold-plating' or scope creep from the business side?"
• "Explain the difference between a risk and an issue. How do you manage each?"
• "How do you decide whether to run a project using Agile or Waterfall methodologies?"

Situational & Scenario-Based

These questions place you in a hypothetical situation relevant to AXA's environment.

• "You are managing a project with a strict regulatory deadline, but your lead developer just resigned. What do you do?"
• "Your project is running over budget due to vendor delays. How do you present this to the Steering Committee?"
• "You notice that a Delegated Authority partner is consistently failing their underwriting audits. As a Program Manager, how do you address this?"
• "A key stakeholder wants to add a new feature two weeks before go-live. How do you handle this request?"

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How technical do I need to be for this role? It depends on the specific title. For a "Technical Delivery Manager," you need a strong grasp of SDLC and IT infrastructure. For a general "Project Manager" or "Program Manager," you need enough technical literacy to understand dependencies and risks, but you do not need to be a coder. The focus is on management and delivery.

Q: What is the work culture like at AXA XL? AXA XL is described as professional, inclusive, and collaborative. There is a strong emphasis on "moving the world forward" and solving complex risks. However, as a large financial institution, it can also be hierarchical and process-heavy. Patience and the ability to navigate bureaucracy are important.

Q: Does AXA support remote work? AXA XL generally operates on a "Smart Working" or hybrid model. Most roles expect you to be in the office (e.g., Stamford, Hartford, or NY) a few days a week for collaboration, with flexibility for remote work on other days. Check the specific job posting for details.

Q: How long does the interview process take? The process can be slower than at tech startups. It is not uncommon for the timeline to stretch over several weeks due to the scheduling of panels involving senior stakeholders. Patience is key.

Q: What differentiates a successful candidate? Beyond the certifications (PMP/Agile), successful candidates show "ownership." They don't just report on the weather; they fly the plane. They can demonstrate how they proactively solve problems rather than just escalating them.

9. Other General Tips

Understand the "P&C" Context: Even if you are applying for a technical role, understanding the basics of Property & Casualty insurance (e.g., what an underwriter does, what a "combined ratio" is) will set you apart. It shows you care about the business outcomes, not just the project outputs.

Emphasize "Hybrid" Fluency: AXA is often in a state of transformation. You will likely encounter teams that are "Agile-ish" or transitioning from Waterfall. Don't be dogmatic about one methodology. Show that you can adapt your toolkit to fit the team's maturity and the project's needs.

Prepare for Vendor Management Questions: Many projects at AXA involve external partners or delegated authorities. Have a strong example ready about holding a third party accountable to a contract or SOW.

Focus on "Value Realization": When discussing past projects, don't just say "I delivered on time." Explain the business benefit—did it save money? Did it reduce risk? Did it improve the customer experience? AXA cares about the impact of the work.

10. Summary & Next Steps

Becoming a Project Manager at AXA is an opportunity to work at the heart of a global leader in risk solutions. The role offers a blend of stability and challenge, requiring you to manage complex initiatives that protect businesses and individuals worldwide. It is a position that rewards structure, financial discipline, and the ability to lead through influence.

To succeed, focus your preparation on demonstrating your ability to manage rigorous project governance, handle complex stakeholder relationships, and navigate the financial realities of large-scale programs. Review your PMP or Agile principles, brush up on insurance terminology, and prepare your STAR stories to highlight your leadership in difficult situations.

This salary data represents the base pay range for Project Manager roles at AXA XL in the US. Actual offers will depend heavily on your location (e.g., NY vs. CT), your specific experience level, and whether the role is categorized as a Senior Program Manager or a standard Project Manager.

You have the skills to navigate this process. Approach the interviews with confidence, showing them that you are the steady hand capable of delivering their most critical initiatives. Good luck!