Senior Strategy Manager

Job Title: Senior Strategy Manager 

Contract Type: Permanent   

Working style: Hybrid 50% home/office based  

Closing date: 25th April 2025 

We are standing up our newly formed COO Strategy & Innovation team and we are looking for an experienced Senior Strategy Manager. The Senior Strategy Manager will play a pivotal role in driving the development of the COO Strategy and leading strategic planning and innovation activities within the COO function. 

The role is delegate for Head of the COO Strategy & Innovation and it will shape and execute the strategic initiatives of the Chief Operating Office. This role involves collaborating with senior leadership to drive business growth, operational efficiency, and organisational transformation.  

The role requires strong analytical mindset, exceptional communication skills, and a proven track record in strategic planning and execution. 

About the role  

• Strategic Planning and Prioritisation: Develop and implement strategy and strategic plans that align with the company's vision and goals. Create and prioritise roadmaps and strategies across COO functions. 

• Gap Analysis: Conduct thorough gap analysis to assess progress against established priorities. Identify areas for improvement and develop actionable plans to address gaps. 

• Communication and Alignment: Champion and communicate our strategy and strategic progress, demonstrating alignment of initiatives with overall business impact. 

• Process Optimisation: Lead efforts to optimise internal processes through automation and simplification. Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement solutions to enhance operational efficiency. 

• Market knowledge: Maintain strong market knowledge, with key areas of expertise, informing strategic decisions and implications of trends.    

• Emerging Technologies: Assess the potential impact of emerging technologies and support strategic planning and innovation efforts. 

• Innovation: Promote a culture of innovation within the team, driving creative problem-solving and process improvements. 

• Project Management: Lead cross-functional teams to execute strategic initiatives. Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget. 

• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Communicate strategic objectives and progress to senior leadership and other key stakeholders. 

• Performance Monitoring: Establish key results (KRs) and metrics to monitor the success of strategic initiatives. Provide regular updates and reports to the senior leadership. 

• Risk Management: Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure the successful execution of strategic initiatives. 

• Team Leadership: Mentor and develop junior team members. Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture within the strategy team. 

About you  

Experience: Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in strategic planning, management consulting, or a related field. Experience in a senior management role is highly desirable. 

Skills: 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. 

• Strong experience with digital transformation, automation tools, and data analytics.  

• Ability to leverage technology to drive process improvements and strategic initiatives. 

• Proficient in Microsoft 365 products, including SharePoint, PowerApps, and Power BI. 

• Proven project management skills. 

• Strong understanding of strategy development and implementation. 

• A broad knowledge and understanding of the financial services industry, in particular, Life and Pensions. 

• A good understanding of business and commercial operations.   

• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams. 

• Ability to identify, articulate and communicate in an impactful way.  

• Strategic thinker with a proactive approach. 

• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and dynamic environment. 

• High level of integrity and professionalism. 

• Strong leadership, diplomatic and motivational skills including the ability to lead up, across and down multiple business and technology organisations. 

• Self-motivated, decisive, with the ability to adapt to change and competing demands. 

• Research best practices within and outside the organisation to establish benchmark data and use continuous process improvement disciplines to achieve results. 

• Capable of gaining clarity on scope and pushing forward even in the face of incomplete information or ambiguity. 

• Demonstrates curiosity with a thirst for knowledge, understanding and continuous professional development.  

• Strong attention to detail. 

About Royal London  

We’re the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment company, offering protection, long-term savings and asset management products and services.     

Our People Promise to our colleagues is that we will all work somewhere inclusive, responsible, enjoyable and fulfilling. This is underpinned by our Spirit of Royal London values; Empowered, Trustworthy, Collaborate, Achieve.   

We've always been proud to reward employees by offering great workplace benefits such as 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, an up to 14% employer matching pension scheme and private medical insurance. You can see all our benefits here - Our Benefits    

Inclusion, diversity and belonging   

We’re an Inclusive employer. We celebrate and value different backgrounds and cultures across Royal London. Our diverse people and perspectives give us a range of skills which are recognised and respected – whatever their background.