National Head: External Distribution (Gemini) - Parktown / Cape Town at PPS

Job Advert Summary    

• Develop and implement comprehensive business development strategies to gain traction and new market growth for Gemini. Embed Gemini value proposition with existing PPS advisors and leading Independent Financial Advisers. Build a Gemini distribution capability that supports all the business areas within the PPS that fall outside of the traditional PPS eligibility criteria.

Minimum Requirements    
Education:

• Relevant tertiary financial/investment qualification essential
• A CFP ® and/or investment related honours with current FPI membership
• Postgraduate business qualification e.g., MBA, CFA

 Systems knowledge:

• Proficient in MS Office Suite, with advanced MS Excel & PPT skills

 Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years business development or sales experience within Life Insurance
• Experience in Insurance product sales industry
• Excellent understanding of the financial services, financial markets and products
• Demonstrated ability to initiate and execute on business development plans.
• Proven track record in building sustained and productive relationships with leading IFA’s and consistently achieving sales targets.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing a marketing strategy.
• Industry profile and accomplished presenter to act as a leading spokesperson with clients, intermediaries, and media.

Knowledge & Skills

•  Knowledge of life insurance products.
• Knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of the insurance.
• Knowledge of best practice in financial advisory services.
• Knowledge and understanding of the financial drivers of a sales and distribution model with specific reference to sales capacity, production margin and acquisition costs and how these drives impact on the value of new business as a contributor to success.
• Working knowledge of TCF and the need for consistency in advice and service delivery across the channels to mitigate against reputational and miss-selling risk.

 Competencies:

• Strategic capability and business awareness
• Knowledge of business and management principles
• People management and leadership skills
• Entrepreneurial and commercial skills
• Exceptional and credible negotiation skills
• Strong networking skills and the ability to build professional relationships with a wide range for external and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to analyse and interpret relevant economic and financial market data.
• Creativity and innovation
• Flexibility and resilience
• Results Focused

Duties and Responsibilities    
Business Development

• Contribute to the development and execution of the Business Development strategy and track implementation of the agreed strategic deliverables.
• Iterate and oversee business development strategies and plans, toward increased market share and sustainable profit growth. The explicit focus will be on accelerating the growth of net new business in all product lines beyond the current trajectories for each of them.
• Participate in and drive distribution forums to build synergies and coordinated business development strategies and initiatives.
• Develop business cases for proposed new initiatives based on sound research and with well-defined relevant metrics of success.
• Provide oversight of competitive intelligence gathering; including analysis of market positioning and trends and anticipate opportunities to ultimately ensure that the Gemini product and service proposition is competitive.
• Providing strategic input and innovative ideas on activities, projects, product activation.

People Management

• Build a Gemini sales team to focus on Gemini products and increasing the number of supporting IFAs.
• Leverage relationships with existing distribution channels within the PPS Group to drive sales activity that ensures the delivery of annual sales profitability and targets.
• Enable and drive a high-performance team culture that supports the achievement of challenging targets and holistic solutioning. The culture should be one that encourages personal development and provides opportunities for individuals to take extreme ownership of outcomes.
• Drive talent development through implementation of learning & knowledge interventions.
• Oversee the development of appropriate incentive structures throughout the division.
• Manage operations, business planning, budget process for business development function to achieve Gemini targets; and manage expenditures toward achievement of objectives.

Stakeholder engagement

• Actively engage with, and build long-term strong relationships with key business partners, associations, stakeholders, intermediaries including high net worth intermediaries to achieve objectives. Maintain relationships Internal Group stakeholders.
• Client report backs and speaking at conferences.