Head: Business Development

-Introduction

Through our client-facing brands Metropolitan and Momentum, with Multiply (wellness and rewards programme), and our other specialist brands, including Guardrisk and Eris Property Group, the group enables business and people from all walks of life to achieve their financial goals and life aspirations.

We help people grow their savings, protect what matters to them and invest for the future. We help companies and organisations care for and reward their employees and members. Through our own network of advisers or via independent brokers and utilising new platforms Momentum Metropolitan provides practical financial solutions for people, communities and businesses.
Role Purpose

The Head: Business Development is holistically responsible for the development and the implementation of Guardrisk Life’s new business initiatives and processes while taking responsibility for Guardrisk Life meeting its new business budget.
Requirements
- Relevant tertiary qualification: BCom; BSc; LLB (or similar)
- Relevant professional qualification: Actuary, accountant, attorney, CFA, etc.
- FAIS Compliant
- Minimum 5 to 10 years’ experience in the financial services industry.
- Strong Life insurance technical knowledge and understanding would be preferred
- Client facing experience would be preferred
- Strong accounting and/or actuarial skills would be preferred
- Deal making experience would be preferred
Duties & Responsibilities
- Overseeing the Guardrisk Life new business process and taking responsibility for managing the flow of opportunities from prospect to Product Management Committee for approval which includes sitting as chair of the Guardrisk Life New Business Forum.
- Development and implementation of Guardrisk Life’s strategic initiatives, including but not limited to new business.
- Consult with prospective clients on their business goals to position insurance as a commercial opportunity that can assist the target company to grow its revenue. This engagement encompasses the full insurance value chain and includes the strategic objectives of the target company.
- Take overall responsibility for Guardrisk Life’s new business initiatives. This includes among others:

- Strategic market positioning.
- Refinement of the value proposition offered to the market.
- Analysing the South African life insurance market to identify opportunities.
- Take responsibility for Guardrisk Life meeting its new business budget.
- Manage the portfolio managers that form part of the Guardrisk Life Business Development team.
- Build relationships with industry stakeholders and cultivate distribution channels for new opportunities. Such interactions should encompass engagements with the greater Momentum Metropolitan group, broker relationships, direct client interaction, administrators, asset managers, retirement funds, labour organisations, affinity opportunities, etc.
- Collaborate with other business units, channels and segments in the Momentum Metropolitan group to unlock synergies and create joint new business opportunities.
- Build strategic relationships with business partners and stakeholders in order to understand their business priorities and requirements.
- Identify opportunities for improvement and/or identify potential challenges and implement mitigating tactics in the Guardrisk Life business with a specific focus on the new business process.
- Develop an ongoing prospect list of opportunities to be pursued by Guardrisk Life.
- Drafting and issuing of relevant promotional documentation on Guardrisk Life’s products and services. Drafting of proposals and building of business cases in response to new business opportunities.
- Project management in respect of new business analysis, review and implementation of Guardrisk Life’s standards regarding profitability levels, underwriting standards, risk management and compliance regulations; etc.

Participate and contribute to a culture which builds rewarding relationships, facilitates feedback and provides exceptional client service in Guardrisk Life.
Competencies
- Good leadership skills
- Well-developed people skills
- Ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders
- Results oriented
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Negotiation skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Business acumen
- Self-starter with the ability to work independently

Ability to manage engagement with various stakeholders concurrently

Policy

We are committed to Employment Equity, diversity and inclusion when recruiting internally and externally. All appointments are made in alignment to our Employment Equity goals and we encourage people with disabilities to apply.