Head of Partnerships: Santam Partnership Solutions at Santam Insurance

What will you do?

Santam Partnership Solutions is focused on growing and developing client base from segments that are not traditional to the Santam base. The strategic direction is financial inclusion and developing new operating income streams.

The role of Head of Partnership is responsible for the strategic and operational direction of the Santam Partnership Solutions business by translating the overall business vision and strategy into executable long, medium- and short-term operational plans, business objectives with set outcomes as well as operational programmes and delivery projects. 

The role is also responsible for strategic business development, unlocking existing and new partnerships, and overall operations of the business.

The Head of Partnership is a member of the Santam Partnership Solutions and reports to the CEO, Partner Solutions.

The role includes the leadership of:

• Product and Customer Value Development
• Operations and Affinity business
• Strategic Business Development
• Operational support to the face-to-face channels within Client Solutions
• Coordinating Partnership business requirements with the Group Shared Services including IT Operations, HR, Claims and Strategic Projects Delivery

What will make you successful in this role?

Lead the operational execution of the Partnership Solutions strategy which includes but are not limited to delivering the growth and profitability objectives of Client Solutions by developing, implementing, maintaining and managing the overall operational plan for Client Solutions.

• Strategy and Leadership, develop, manage and implement the overall operational plan for Client Solutions that is aligned to the broader company strategy
• Operationalise and oversee unlocking of new and existing partnerships
• Manage group strategic business development and potential acquisition
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to deliver an integrated partnership solution and servicing operating model through optimised efficiencies, innovation, process improvements, technology enablement, human capital and data utilisation
• Develop the divisional performance and people management strategies
• Manage the divisional budgets and administration
• Develop and Manage the Governance, Monitoring and Reporting policies of the business
• A member of partnership governance committees

Qualification and Experience

• Degree in Finance, Economics or Commerce or Engineer
• FAIS Compliant including RE 1 
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in a similar environment of which 1 to 3 years ideally at executive management level 
• Insurance industry experience, and Developing Partnership in insurance industry especially in Mass Markets

Knowledge and Skills

• Proven business acumen and experience in creating systems, processes, and procedures to establish a scalable operational framework
• Ability to develop operational strategies and the applied learnings to execute tactically with a hands-on approach
• Ability to improve productivity and reduce costs by maximizing operational capabilities.
• Must be a good communicator and motivator with outstanding interpersonal skills
• Must have a thorough understanding of financial statements, ratios and key indicators
• Must be a strategic thinker as well as analytical and able to comprehend / react to the key statistical drivers / metrics of the business unit
• Must be self-motivated and target driven
• Success in working with cross-functional groups both internal and external to the organization
• Strong capability in managing Senior Managers/ Executives and large teams
• Good negotiation skills
• Building networks and good relationships
• Producing creative solutions