Value Stream Lead

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.

Job Purpose

The Value Stream Lead is responsible for leading the shaping, planning & delivery (strategic / complex change & continuous improvement of products) within a designated value stream over a rolling 18 - 24-month roadmap. This role is pivotal in translating business strategy into actionable delivery plans, requires excellent problem-solving capability, strategic storytelling and the ability to manage multiple complex deliveries in parallel. Operating at the intersection of business, technology and change, the Value Stream Lead acts as a key liaison with the Exec Sponsor & their leadership team to drive the vision, strategy, and outcomes whilst championing user needs. They are responsible for a multi-disciplined value stream aligned delivery team and ensuring that product roadmaps and delivery priorities are aligned with strategic objectives and that all parties are kept informed of progress, risks, and opportunities. This role ensures that delivery outcomes are validated and effectively shaped to deliver maximum value, aligning with organisational strategy and agile principles.

Key Duties

• Develop and communicate a clear vision and strategy aligned to value stream objectives, key results and customer needs.
• Own and manage the value streams rolling roadmap, prioritising outcomes based on alignment to OKRs, value, risk, and feedback.
• Build strong senior relationships with stakeholders, ensuring alignment and managing expectations.
• Lead & oversee change delivery to deliver product increments, remove impediments, and ensure high-quality outcomes.
• Define and track key metrics aligned to the Value Stream OKRs, using data and feedback to drive continuous improvement.
• Identify, assess, and manage risks and issues impacting delivery.
• Support and develop value stream team members.
• Lead & communicate Value Stream updates to stakeholders and users.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Deep expertise in product management within a digital environment.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, particularly at senior leadership level.
• Proven ability to prioritise and sequence complex portfolios of work to deliver business value and deliver complex outcomes that meet strategic ambition.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and negotiation skills.
• Experience working in Agile and/or stream-aligned team structures.
• Experience collaborating with business change management functions to ensure successful adoption of new products and processes.
• Customer focussed and commercial aware.

Desirable:

• Experience in financial services or regulated environments.
• Familiarity with Team Topologies or similar organisational models.

Qualifications

• Project Management/Product Management/Agile Management Qualifications.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in Project Management (Desirable).

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.

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.