Head of Sustainability

We're searching for a Head of Sustainability to join one of the world's largest long term savings and retirement businesses.

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They aim to play an integral role in creating a more secure and sustainable future, by helping people navigate the complex journey on their way to and through retirement and helping them invest in the future in which they want to live.

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They have an ambitious sustainability strategy focused on positive outcomes for customers, colleagues, society and the environment.

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The successful applicant will manage the communication both internally and externally of their sustainability strategy, including managing their sustainability governance, and will play a key role in overseeing the programme plans, risks and opportunities across the Group.

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Key Responsibilities:

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• Report to the Chief Sustainability Officer and lead a team to evolve and support the delivery of their sustainability strategy.

• Creates material for the Board Sustainability Committee.

• Chairs the Sustainability Working Group and creates material for, presents and is a member of the Executive Sustainability Committee.

• Support, challenge and oversee the development of the Group sustainability strategy, pillar plans, budget, targets and KPIs.

• Ensuring the sustainability strategy is integrated into the overall business strategy and planning process.

• Lead and support sustainability delivery across the Group, working closely with each pillar sponsor and business lead, to support the development of plans in line with the strategy and ensure delivery against these. Including the development of customer offers and a responsible investment approach.

• Bring together a Group-wide view of activity and support the prioritisation of functional activity to ensure it is aligned to the Group's sustainability strategy.

• Create an internal and external communication plan to support key activities, ensuring clarity on the strategy and the desired impact.

• Lead thought leadership activities to help inform the development of the market and collaborate with external initiatives.

• Review and measure the impact of the sustainability strategy, measuring outputs and taking accountability for overall delivery against the plan.

• Review and measure the impact against external peer groups, ensuring the strategy is continually reviewed in line with ESG market developments and appropriate action is taken where required.

• Deliver all external sustainability reporting, including annually published reports, website content and external rating agency surveys.

• Leads on external assurance, including approval of audit scope and plans, clearance of points raised and sign off.

• Leads on risk and compliance; including validation of risk assessments, verification of compliance, and ownership of the Group sustainability risk policy.

• Leads a central team and coordinates delivery of team's core activities and plans.

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Key Requirements:

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• Ideally, experience in sustainable finance, or working for a large complex listed organisation.

• Strong leader with an inclusive/collaborative approach, able to engage others on a vision and gain buy-in to achieve results.

• Ability to think strategically and see the big picture, combined with a relentless focus on performance and delivery.

• Deep understanding of and interest in sustainability issues, including integration of sustainability into business strategy.

• High credibility at all levels in the business and confidence/gravitas to influence at all levels.

• Ability to manage complexity and ambiguity to deliver under pressure with sound judgement.

• Ability to deliver complex projects linked to company strategy.

• Maintaining a deep understanding of the Group's strategy (including brand and customer propositions) and recommending how sustainable business can be aligned and integrated.

• Understanding of business plans and financial management.

• Ability to build and manage a high functioning team

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This is a fantastic opportunity to be a key pioneer within the investment industry. The scope for impact in this role is exciting as they have 14mln customers/policyholders to engage on ESG, and to help decarbonise and integrate social factors into their portfolios.

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For more information, please apply directly or contact Georgina Sell at Georgina.Sell@acre.com.