Head: Investment Technical Support

Who are we?

Glacier by Sanlam brings together leading experts and respected financial services companies to meet clients' investment needs.  We deliver focused investment services through specialist teams, partner with acclaimed financial intermediaries and pride ourselves on our superior products and solutions and high quality service. We offer a comprehensive range of investment solutions, designed to assist in the creation and preservation of wealth.  Our offering encompasses local investments, including fixed term investments and investments with guarantees, international investments, retirement saving solutions, and retirement income solutions. While each solution has its own distinct purpose, they all share the world-class quality and commitment that have come to distinguish Glacier.

What will you do?

Job Purpose 

This role is responsible for the strategic positioning and leading of the Glacier Technical Support team.  This senior role will focus on the technical support and competency of the Business Development (BD) team. The support focus on Glacier's solution sets and the successful implementation and maintenance of these. The accountable subject matter includes regulation / industry / financial planning related issues, product support, technical investment solution competencies etc. The role provides support to the Glacier Business Development team, Distribution channel management, Intermediaries, and Industry role players & media. The Head of Technical Support forms part of the Business Development leadership team and reports to the Executive Head of Business Development. 

Key Outcomes

Strategic positioning and delivery on the competency of the Business Development team for the future

• Drive and take accountability for the industry competency and maintenance of the BD team.
• Accountability for the formal training of the BD team.
• Accountability for the resolution of technical queries in and to the BD team by the supporting market.
• Design and implement plans, projects and strategies to develop, enhance and support the competency levels and overall business objectives.
• Explore alternative and innovative solutions to increase the competency of the distribution channels and drive collaboration with business partners/structures both internally and in the Sanlam Group. 

Glacier market interventions and market offering

• Provide guidance, implement, and monitor quality content, consistency, and alignment in delivery of information and strategic messages to market through digital events and interventions.
• Responsible for the technical support to marketing.
• The role is also involved in technical problem solving with client services on behalf of Business Development. 

Communication

• Provide guidance and input on all internal communication of the business division and all external communication to market.
• Responsibility to sign off on all communication of a technical nature on behalf of BD.

Support, manage and implement plans and assess strategic performance against targets and objectives

• Implement, lead and support the teams via competency to deliver the intended outcomes as it relates to the focus areas. 
• Undertake and/or support the development, implementation and monitoring of operational plans to meet the strategic goals of the business area.

Collaborate with various stakeholders

• Represent BD and support problem resolution with various stakeholders (internal and external) around competency& knowledge.
• Support and deliver on industry competency to market.
• Work across functions with peers (in Sanlam Group where applicable) to ensure collaboration for shared goals.

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Support the financial discipline of the division as it relates to budgets, business targets, performance and strategic intent

• Understand and support projects and operations around the financial drivers of the business and assist implementation of focus areas what will speak to the financial drivers.

Provide strategic leadership / people management within Glacier Business Development and broader senior leadership team of Glacier

• Provide guidance and ensure clarity around priorities and goals for the functional area.
• Take full responsibility for performance of all direct reports, motivating, developing, and managing the team in relation to quality standards and agreed benchmarks and objectives, focusing on all aspects of sound people management.
• Foster and cultivate practices that support the Glacier culture and values.

Stay abreast of all regulatory and industry changes relating to all business areas serviced by Business Development

• Represent Glacier BD at forums and seminars.
• Implement and support projects and competency levels in relation to regulatory, legislative and industry changes in BD and on behalf of BD into Glacier. 

Qualifications and Experience

• Related undergraduate degree plus Post Graduate Diploma in financial planning / CFP status and membership of FPI.
• 5 to 7 years of experience in investment financial planning environment.
• A minimum of 3 years' experience in leading and managing at a senior level.
• Sound understanding of financial planning, financial services and investment industry.
• Sound experience in the drivers of platform and investment solutions.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally and/or in partnership models.
• People management experience, with a solid understanding of leadership and culture. 

Competencies

• Financial planning, financial services and investment industry.
• Financial services distribution.
• Financial services investment product offering.
• Communication and marketing skills.

Attributes

• Client focus.
• Cultivates innovation.
• Collaborates.
• Being resilient. 
• Drive results.
• Conceptual and Strategic thinking.
• Negotiation skills and ability to influence.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Problem solving and decision making.
• Task, performance, and solutions driven.
• Ability to write for both the industry and general public around financial education and Glacier's value proposition and authoring of educational guides. 

What will make you successful in this role? Qualification and Experience Degree with 8 to 9 years related experience. Knowledge and Skills Risk Management Compliance and legal projects management Legal advice Legal advice and documentation reviews Coordinates legal action that may require external legal assistance Personal Attributes Business insight - Contributing through others Builds networks - Contributing through others Manages complexity - Contributing through others Persuades - Contributing through others Build a successful career with us

We're all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping  our employees to realise their worth.
Through its five business clusters – Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.

Core Competencies Being resilient - Contributing through others Collaborates - Contributing through others Courage - Contributing through others Cultivates innovation - Contributing through others Customer focus - Contributing through others Turnaround time

The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers. 

Our commitment to transformation

The Sanlam Group is committed to achieving transformation and embraces diversity.  This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace as we believe that these are key components to ensuring a thriving and sustainable business in South Africa.  The Group's Employment Equity plan and targets will be considered as part of the selection process.

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