Description: 12 Month Fixed-Term Contract / Secondment Opportunity

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 Summary

The role is a pivotal role in marketing team accountable for defining and implementing the marketing strategy and plans that support the UK business strategy across Wealth, Retirement, Protection and Asset Management (business lines), critically ensuring alignment across divisional business plans, the marketing teams to meet the defined business objectives within resource (investment and FTE)

They will be an active leader in the marketing leadership team and broader CEO Office leading the relationship management of business lines with senior stakeholders. Identifying the annual plans and financial targets of those business lines, and designing marketing plans to deliver on annual targets. This includes having a deep understanding of customer and adviser opportunities and challenges and evidencing an understanding of the positioning, competition and distribution routes. They will represent Canada Life with key external stakeholders including adviser partners, leading strategic conversations and influencing relationships. They will lead the adoption of data driven campaigning for B2B audiences to optimise marketing channels and demonstrate ROI.

The role holder will lead the B2B marketing team and have up to 5 direct reports. They will be accountable for developing a diverse high-performing team, and proactively managing the development and performance of the team. Day to day responsibilities will also include supporting strategic business-wide projects and improving deliveries through increasing efficiencies and effectiveness.

What You’ll Do

• To own and deliver the B2B marketing strategy and lead the development and ongoing management of the marketing plan to achieve the UK business objectives. When needed, facilitate timely reprioritisation across the plans.
• To lead the relationship management of business lines to fully understand their business plans, ensuring marketing requirements are understood and clear objectives are defined and set
• To establish and nurture relationships with key external stakeholders, influencing relationships and building Canada Life’s credibility externally
• To drive insight and data led initiatives to deliver business line plans with a focus on digital enablement through deep understanding of intermediary and customer audiences leading to targeting and channel selection for activation.
• To manage the overall impact of marketing investment to deliver acceptable returns on investment and maximise effectiveness of marketing programmes and plans through the use of MI, front line insight and customer/business feedback
• To lead and manage the B2B marketing function, to foster a high-performing team with a focus on engagement and capability development.

Who You Are

Demonstrable knowledge of:

• Working in financial services, understanding of markets, propositions and distribution routes including regulatory requirements such as Consumer Duty
• Working in marketing leadership roles with senior stakeholder management turning business objectives into marketing plans that deliver on KPI’s that connect to business outcomes
• Financial services marketing, creativity channel and performance expertise

** Demonstrable skills in:**

• Able to work within a dynamic change environment, undertaking a breadth of tasks whilst responding to changes in priority and direction
• Extensive marketing skills, including comprehensive knowledge of marketing principles, channel marketing and sales processes
• Highly organised with excellent time management skills, with experience in managing multiple complex projects with a track record of delivery to time and budget across a variety of projects and programmes
• An eye for detail, able to spot trends, problem solve and recommend improvements through rational/logical argument
• A strong communicator, both written and verbal, with the ability to conceptualise thinking into clear communication
• Genuine and demonstrable enthusiasm for working collaboratively across multiple functions, working together to deliver best outcomes and achieve business objectives
• Excellent people skills, with ability to build and maintain positive relationships, with strong influencing skills adept at winning support from a wide range of people who do not report into this role
• Strong leadership skills, able to provide clarity and vision to wider marketing teams as a member of the marketing leadership forum
• Highly professional and proactive work ethic

Practical experience in a marketing communications management role is necessary, demonstrating personal delivery and delivery through teams across all strands of marketing. Demonstrable experience in:

• Marketing strategy, planning and budget management
• Working closely with internal stakeholders including MDs, senior stakeholders, risk, compliance and legal functions, ideally in a regulated industry
• Using data and marketing analytics to improve planning, prioritisation, team performance and campaign performance
• Hands-on experience working with agencies and other suppliers, including marketing agencies and vendors
• Experience working and leading within a shared services background in financial services