Head of Sustainability Strategy (12 month fixed term)

At M&G our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. As an international savings and investments business with roots stretching back more than 170 years, we offer a range of financial products and services through Asset Management, Life and Wealth. All three operating segments work together to deliver attractive financial outcomes for our clients, and superior shareholder returns.

Through our behaviours of telling it like it is, owning it now, and moving it forward together with care and integrity; we are creating an exceptional place to work for exceptional talent.

We will consider flexible working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer workplace accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role.

Head of Sustainability Strategy – Maternity Cover

The role:

This interim role sits within the Central Sustainability Office at M&G plc, run by the Chief Sustainability Officer (“CSO”), which defines, implements and oversees the Group’s sustainability vision, ambition and strategy whilst aligning the Board, the Executive and all business functions to the required strategic sustainability outcomes and monitoring the implementation.

The interim role includes being the accountable custodian to oversee and track the delivery and impact outcomes of all M&G’s sustainability commitments, group strategy and engagement with stakeholders. The role holder is accountable for providing depth to M&G’s sustainability thought leadership and strategic direction.

This interim role works with the Chief Sustainability Officer to influence across appropriate external stakeholders and drives M&G’s sustainability ESG ratings strategy and delivery.

The interim role-holder will demonstrate the gravitas and experience of implementing strategic direction, oversee greenwashing risk, ownership of ESG ratings, whilst also being able to delve into the detail to develop Group positions on key topics to support the strategy. The interim role-holder must be highly resilient and able to operate within ambiguity, balancing multiple tactical and strategic goals at once, and always with a client and reputation first focus.

The interim role is for 12 months and is a Group level position.

Key duties:

• Managing the Group’s sustainability narrative, aligned with the group sustainability strategy – including reports, publications, website, ESG ratings, investor relations and stakeholder engagement.
• Engaging and educating employees on sustainability and the group sustainability strategy – including internal communications, engagement campaigns covering responsible business and sustainability education.
• Establishing and managing group sustainability internal management information – including governance, reporting to various internal stakeholders, and tracking progress against commitments.
• Ensuring the effective delivery of the group sustainability strategy – ensuring delivery of key milestones, progress by internal stakeholders and assessing and raising delivery risks.
• Driving responsible business practices – working with internal stakeholders to drive sustainable operations, CSR, diversity and inclusion and sustainable operations to ensure M&G is aligned with industry best practices and the group sustainability strategy.

Key Skills and Experience:

• Experience working in a senior sustainability role with an in-depth understanding of sustainability.
• Desired experience working within financial services sector/asset management/life insurance senior leadership operating environments with a demonstrable track record of strategy management and execution.
• Practical understanding of sustainability communication, engagement and reporting.
• Understanding of and ideally relationships with key industry sustainability rating agencies and NGOs.
• Ability to work across and with a variety of key senior leadership stakeholder groups and at multiple levels of seniority up to Executive, Board and Regulator (UK & Global) levels.
• Proven experience of working in a complex multi-channel, multi-location and multi-regulator business.
• Extensive experience of working across a multitude of external stakeholders and organisations, providing thought leadership, which is credible, with gravitas and aligned to the strategic direction and delivery of the company.
• Proven track record in designing, leading and coaching high performing and diverse teams in a complex work environment.

Work Level: Integration Leader

Recruiter: Matt Campbell

Close Date: 5th February 2025

We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G plc, underpinned by our policies and our employee-led networks who provide networking opportunities, advice and support for the diverse communities our colleagues represent. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability or long-term condition, we are looking to attract, promote and retain exceptional people. We also welcome those who take part in military service and those returning from career breaks.

M&G is also proud to be a Disability Confident Leader, and we welcome applications from candidates with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or neuro-divergent conditions. Being a Disability Confident Leader means that candidates who meet the minimum criteria of a job, will be offered an interview if they ‘opt in’ to the scheme when applying.

If you need assistance or an alternative means of applying for a role due to a disability or additional need, please let us know by contacting us at: #J-18808-Ljbffr