Head of Business Management

Canada Life UK looks after the retirement, investment and protection needs of individuals, families and companies. We help to build better futures for our customers, our intermediaries and our employees by operating as a modern, agile and welcoming organisation. Part of our parent company Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life UK has operated in the United Kingdom since 1903. We have hundreds of respected and supported employees committed to doing the right thing for our customers and colleagues.

Canada Life UK is transforming to create a more customer-focused business by providing our customers with expertise on financial and tax planning, offering home finance and annuities propositions, and providing collective fund solutions to third party customers.

Purpose of the role:

Despite a challenging market, Canada Life UK has shown remarkable resilience. However, in keeping with the company's strategy around continuous improvement, Canada Life remains on a transformation journey which is focused on the modernization of retail distribution platforms, of legacy systems and of the back-office operations. The creation of the Shared Service model has created significant opportunity for the CLUK business, but has yet to fully deliver against its potential and this is a crucial phase for successful embedding and talent acquisition.

The Head of Business Management, CIO's Office will support the CIO in driving the delivery of the above being a culture champion that lives and breathes Canada Life's values surrounding people, integrity, excellence and togetherness. This is an opportunity to be part of a new team, supporting the CIO and the wider team on the delivery of its ambitious transformation, developing a clear growth strategy and be part of developing the customer agenda.

The Head of Business Management will also work closely with the wider European division teams to leverage synergies and learnings, such as agile delivery, innovation and digital.

• Maintain a strong understanding of the CLUK and CIO agenda, objectives and plans, and using this ensure there is a clear strategy and plan aligned to our future state ambition.
• Ensure the smooth running of the UK CIO Office, and effectively oversee CIO led committees (specifically Transformation Committee, Customer & Operational Risk Committee, Conduct Risk Committee), input and messaging into CLUK Boards & coordinate Senior Leadership Governance.
• Ensure the CIO has appropriate and effective MI (financial, commercial, operational, conduct and risk) in order to run the business safely and commercially, enabling COO to become a data-led business.
• Support the CIO in delivery of the target operating model, including the successful embedding of the Shared Service, including oversight of critical success factors.
• Oversee and track strategic, business and high priority initiatives from development through to successful execution under the guidance of the CIO, including the successful delivery of special projects. Identifying potential obstacles and identifying ways to remove those obstacles.
• Support the successful build-out of the Data management strategy, working closely with the CIO SLT.
• Support the successful development of a UK Customer strategy, embracing Digital and Innovation.
• Provide daily strategic, commercial and operational support to the UK CEO.
• Is the key conduit between UK CIO, senior leaders and the wider organisation on key business matters.
• Provide analysis, recommendations and options regarding high impact decisions.
• Represent the CIO at meetings with key stakeholders, senior leaders, internal stakeholders, customers and other external parties.
• Provide advice and insight to the CIO and senior leadership team including troubleshooting, with the flexibility to take on anything asked.

What you'll do:

• To take accountability on behalf of the CIO for partnering with key senior leaders to deliver on strategic outcomes and targets.
• Overseeing strategic business initiatives, tracking progress and providing innovative solution to resolves issues and remove barriers.
• Working with the CIO and Executive Team in the development and agreement of CLUK strategies and priorities through to execution.
• Delivering and tracking effective MI (financial, commercial, operational, conduct and risk) in order to lead the business safely and commercially.
• Reviewing MI along with the Executive team to track effective delivery of CL's strategic agenda.
• Uses knowledge of the organisation and its interrelated constituent parts, industry, context and business strategy to support and provide insight to business decision making about strategic, organisational and investment choices.
• Represent Canada Life UK at meetings with key stakeholders, senior leaders, internal stakeholders, customers and other external parties.
• Support CEO on delivery of public policy, brand and reputation strategy as well as providing daily strategic, commercial and operational support to UK CEO.
• Culture Champion for the organisation, ensuring that ways of working and underpinning governance and structure support CL culture and values.

What you'll bring to the role:

• Experience of working in Financial Services in a central strategic role involving delivering and leading pragmatic and cost-effective strategies.
• Proven experience of the key drivers and issues within Financial Services and how business solutions may be deployed to meet our clients' needs.
• Strong consumer and market awareness.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills and proven relationship builder.
• Excellent communication skills at executive level.
• Strong financial management and change/project management skills.

Benefits of working at Canada Life:

We believe in recognising and rewarding our people, so we offer a competitive salary and benefits package that’s regularly reviewed. As a Canada Life UK colleague, you’ll receive a competitive salary and comprehensive reward package including a generous pension and bonus scheme, along with income protection, private medical insurance and life assurance. We have a fantastic number of other benefits and support services as well as regular personal and professional development.

How we work at Canada Life:

Our culture is unique and incredibly important to us. We care about doing the right thing for our people, customers and community and helping others to build better futures. Our blueprint behaviours shape and influence how we work, and are central to the relationships we have with others. Every day we are encouraged to be more curious, own the outcome, face into things together and find a way forward.

We want colleagues to have rewarding careers with us so we invest in the development of our people, technology and workplaces. That’s why we offer a range of training, flexible working and opportunities to grow and develop.

Diversity and inclusion:

Building an inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce where everyone can feel they belong and achieve their potential regardless of gender, ethnicity or any other characteristic is a key commitment for us. We are proud of the progress we’re making in DEI, and we continue for it to be a significant focus.

“At Canada Life we believe in the power of great people from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives coming together to build better futures. Emerging talent is crucial to our growth and creating an environment that continues to inspire us all.” Nick Harding, Chief People Officer, Canada Life UK

We appreciate that everyone has different work and life responsibilities. We’re happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, including part time, for any of our roles should this be a requirement for you.