At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead change operations and streamline governance for impactful initiatives.
- Company: Join a historic firm with a commitment to innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy 38 days annual leave, a generous pension scheme, and health cover.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and a supportive, diverse culture await you.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in decision-making and project delivery.
- Qualifications: Experience in portfolio management and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Faster decision‑making via simplified governance. Our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. With a heritage dating back more than 175 years, we have a long history of innovation in savings and investments, combining asset management and insurance expertise to offer a wide range of solutions. Our two distinct operating segments, Asset Management and Life, work together to provide access to balanced, long‑term investment and savings solutions.
This role will establish and lead a central control for Advice change, bringing clarity, discipline and pace to a complex portfolio spanning transformation, digital, regulatory and BAU initiatives. Reporting into the Strategy & Transformation Director, the role will ensure that prioritisation, reporting and governance operate as a coherent system, enabling the organisation to focus on fewer, higher‑impact initiatives and deliver them effectively.
M&G Advice is delivering a significant programme of change (e.g. Dynamic Planner, Ignition, Advice Waterfront), alongside ongoing regulatory and BAU demand. Current challenges include:
- Competing priorities and constrained capacity across teams
- Fragmented reporting and limited portfolio visibility
- Governance complexity slowing decision‑making
This role is a critical enabler to:
- Improve delivery pace and decision quality
- Align activity to strategic outcomes
- Reduce inefficiency and cost leakage across change delivery
Key Accountabilities & Deliverables
- Enterprise Change Reporting & Insight
- Own a single, consolidated view of all change activity across Advice
- Deliver monthly EXCO/SteerCo reporting (status, risks, benefits, milestones)
- Establish consistent MI standards and dashboards to support decision‑making
- Portfolio Prioritisation & Demand Management
- Design and operate a clear prioritisation framework aligned to strategy
- Implement a single intake (front door) for all change demand
- Lead regular reprioritisation cycles based on capacity, value and risk
- Provide visibility of forward change runway and resource allocation
- Governance Design & Execution
- Define and embed a streamlined governance model
- Standardise committee packs, decision‑making, and escalation routes
- Maintain a central decision and action log
- Reduce duplication while maintaining strong control and auditability
- Change Control & Standards
- Own and enforce consistent change standards and lifecycle discipline
- Ensure robust scope, cost, risk and benefits tracking
- Maintain audit‑ready governance and documentation
- Align delivery practices to Group PMO and Change Handbook standards
- Cross‑Programme Coordination
- Act as the integration point across Strategy, Change, Proposition and Operations
- Manage dependencies, capacity constraints and delivery risks across programmes
- Establish a clear operating rhythm for planning, reporting and escalation
Value & Impact
This role will deliver measurable benefits, including:
- Improved delivery focus through structured prioritisation
- Faster decision‑making via simplified governance
- Reduced duplication across reporting and PMO activity
- More efficient use of Group project management resource, lowering medium‑term cost through:
- Reduced rework and failed initiatives
- Better defined scope and entry into delivery
- Avoidance of incremental resource demand
Key Capabilities Required
- Strong experience in portfolio / programme management or PMO leadership
- Proven ability to design and implement governance and operating models
- Highly analytical with ability to translate complex portfolios into clear insight
- Credible with senior stakeholders; comfortable operating at EXCO level
- Strong commercial awareness; able to balance governance with pace of delivery
- Collaborative and influential; able to work across multiple functions and agendas
Candidate Profile
We are seeking an individual who is:
- Structured and disciplined, with a strong control mindset
- Pragmatic and delivery‑focused, not overly theoretical
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and complexity
- Able to challenge constructively and drive organisational focus
- Motivated by improving outcomes for both advisers and clients
Location: UK Home‑Based
Work Level: Manager / Expert
Recruiter: Amy Curtis
What we offer
At M&G, we’re committed to helping you thrive and supporting your wellbeing, both at work and beyond. Our benefits are designed to help you balance your professional and personal life, while planning confidently for your future. Our UK benefits include:
- As a savings and Investments firm we are proud to offer a valuable pension scheme of 18%, with 13% made up of Employer Contributions and 5% Employee Contributions.
- We also offer Share Save and our Share Incentive Plan, together with access to financial wellbeing and support services - to help give you real confidence to put your money to work.
- Enjoy 38 days annual leave including bank holidays, with the opportunity to purchase up to 5 extra days and additional flexibility through our Time Off When You Need It policy – to balance your work and personal commitments.
- Our market leading Inspiring Families policy includes comprehensive support and paid parental leave covering maternity, adoption, surrogacy, and paternity leave - as supporting families is a core aspect of our inclusive culture.
- Health & Protection cover including Private Healthcare, Critical Illness cover and Life Assurance for you, with family options - for peace of mind.
We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G, 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.
To explore more about life at M&G and our full benefits offering, visit Life at M&G. 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: careers@mandg.com
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Change Operations Manager (6 mth FTC)
✨Tap into Consulting Networks
Get active in local management consulting networks and organisations. Attend meetups, workshops, or webinars specific to consulting where you can connect with professionals who may know of temporary roles opening up at places like M&G. Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth – it’s massive in our field!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Real-Time
As a temporary hire, you need to demonstrate your value quickly. Consider creating a mini-case study or analysis relevant to the industry and share it on platforms like LinkedIn or even during networking events. This can be an impressive way to showcase your analytical skills and problem-solving prowess – just what consulting firms are looking for!
✨Check for Temporary Roles on Niche Job Boards
Look for temporary roles on specialised job boards for consulting gigs rather than just generic platforms. Websites like Consultancy.uk or even the Careers pages of major firms could have short-term projects or roles that are perfect for you to jump in at M&G.
✨Leverage University and Alumni Resources
If you’re fresh out of uni or connected with a local institution, take advantage of their career services and alumni networks. Many universities have exclusive connections to consulting firms seeking temporary help. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other aspiring consultants who might share leads about opportunities at M&G.
We think you need these skills to ace Change Operations Manager (6 mth FTC)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In management consulting, employers love to see your problem-solving abilities right from the get-go. Be sure to highlight any relevant analytical projects you've worked on, particularly those that show how you tackled complex problems. If you’ve done any case studies or analysis during your studies, throw those in your CV!
Tailor Your Experience for the Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should reflect your adaptability and relevant experience quite clearly. Focus on showcasing experiences that demonstrate your ability to hit the ground running, like previous projects, internships, or freelance gigs in consulting or project management.
Craft a Targeted Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to sparkle! Use it to explain why you're interested in this temporary role at M&G and how your skills suit the specific project needs. Remember to mention how you can provide immediate value based on your past experiences.
Include Certifications or Relevant Training:If you've got any certifications like PMP, Six Sigma, or even coursework that’s super relevant, make sure to list those in your application. Management consulting can be competitive, and these extra qualifications can help you stand out in the recruitment process.
How to prepare for a job interview at M&G
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In management consulting, case study interviews are a big deal. Expect to tackle real-world business problems on the spot. We should practise structuring our thoughts, developing hypotheses, and presenting our solutions clearly, as this is what firms like M&G will want to see.
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
You’ll need to demonstrate strong analytical skills and logical reasoning. Brush up on frameworks like SWOT or Porter's Five Forces, as these can come in handy. Think of instances from your experience where you tackled a complex issue—this could set you apart when speaking to M&G.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, it's crucial we showcase our ability to hit the ground running. Have examples ready that illustrate how we've adapted quickly in past positions or projects. This shows that we can contribute effectively from day one at M&G.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Cultural Fit
Temporary roles often come with a focus on team dynamics. Prepare to discuss how we align with the values and culture at M&G. We want to highlight our teamwork experiences and how we can mesh with their consulting teams, making it clear that we're not just looking to fill a spot but to add value.
