Job title Chief Specialist: Strategy Planning
Cluster Client and Adviser Experience (CAE)
Business unit CAE Strategy Planning and Effectiveness
Location Johannesburg
Broadband B1
Job purpose • To drive the development of the CAE strategy with regards to market, client, adviser, distribution channels, alternative channels and competitors and support articulation of the strategy across the Group
Key responsibilities and level of work expectations • Drive the development of the strategy to enable end to end delivery of advice, through transformation of existing distribution models and creation of new advice frameworks
• Partners with CAE executive team to identify business opportunities across the value chain, assess relative value and prioritise for delivery accordingly
• Enhance the strategic decision making process by developing financial business and implementation plans
• Build a planning process that blends the best of formal strategic planning methodologies with simple, pragmatic field engagement
• Support strategic and business improvement projects, as well as ensure that any strategy is then translated into meaningful action
• Coordinate strategic planning process milestones and deliverables, including the developing of 3-year strategic plans, annual plans, quarterly/monthly business reviews and other business updates
• Define and develop the client segmentation approach and associated strategy in collaboration with the Retail Solutions team
• Ensure that Liberty is at the forefront of regulatory and industry developments both locally and abroad from a distribution perspective, in order to take advantage of opportunities presented
Key accountabilities Strategy development and implementation
• Scan the external environment, investigate alternative operating plans or models, and offer specialist strategy and planning advice to deliver a competitive advantage
• Gather and use insights on organisational performance to evaluate long-term impact on organisation positioning and realign strategies and objectives
• Identify and develop the strategy planning roadmap, ensuring short term milestones are achieved in the context of a longer term roadmap
• Understand all macro/micro/and sector forces that will impact the sales environment, and build a plan that proactively prepares the team to respond appropriately.
• Ensure that the CAE strategy and planning roadmap is aligned to Liberty Group strategic priorities
• Provide ongoing measurement and tracking of all active strategic initiatives and conduct relevant post-implementation reviews to establish effectiveness


Regulatory and Risk Management
• Plan the Group's RDR strategy from an advisory and distribution perspective, with focus on identifying opportunities
• Identify long term risks associated with decisions and develop plans to handle these by working closely with the Analytics, Insights and Communications teams
• Ensure that all activities and operations are performed in compliance with legislation and organisational policies as they evolve

Stakeholder Management
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
• Drive long term and short term alignment of all stakeholders and build a process to ensure understanding, alignment, and execution on the greatest opportunities
• Be a chief agent for change, connecting across the organisation to drive opportunities through the planning process, anticipating and solving hurdles along the way
People Management
• Oversee, direct, and organise the work of the Strategy Planning team
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality
Qualifications • Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance or a related discipline
• MBA or other post graduate business degree preferred
Experience • 10 years’ plus experience in a business/strategy management role with minimum 5 years at a management level
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in financial services/insurance industry
• Broad experience with the full range of business functions and systems, including strategy development and implementation
• Experience in management consulting, strategic planning or business development
• Demonstrable experience in crafting and articulating compelling presentations with engaging storytelling
• Experience in managing a team of specialists
• Experience in dealing with a matrix of stakeholders
Knowledge • Applied knowledge of the financial services/insurance industry
• Applied knowledge of relevant industry legislation and regulations
• Understanding of business strategy execution tools, processes and business planning cycles
• Applied knowledge of strategic tools and frameworks used to analyse complex strategic problems, develop clear recommendations and present findings
Skills and behavioural attributes • Strategic orientation and leadership
• Business and commercial acumen
• Multifunctional orientation
• Advanced analytical skills
• Accountability and execution
• Customer orientation
• Impact and influence
• Stakeholder management
• People management and empowerment