Head: Key Strategic Partnerships (Franchise Development)

Job Advert Summary

Reporting to the Group Executive: Advice and Distribution, this role is responsible for leading the development and execution of a scalable franchise and strategic partner ecosystem that drives sustainable business growth, revenue expansion, and increased market penetration.

The role holds accountability for sourcing and onboarding high-quality franchise and strategic partners, establishing a robust and fit-for-purpose franchise framework, and embedding effective partner vesting and performance management practices.

In addition, the role will leverage Life Risk and Investment-enabled integrations and digital partnerships to expand distribution channels, ensuring consistent delivery against business targets while creating long-term enterprise value.

Minimum Requirements

Education:

? Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field

? Postgraduate qualification (e.g. MBA, Honours)

? Relevant professional certifications in strategy, partnerships, or financial services (advantageous)

Experience:

? 8–12+ years’ experience in franchise management, partnerships and business development

? Proven track record of meeting and exceeding revenue and growth targets

? Demonstrated success in building and scaling franchise or partner ecosystems

? Strong experience in commercial negotiation and strategic partnership management

? Exposure to Life Risk and Investments -enabled ecosystems, digital platforms, and platform-based business models

? Experience within financial services or a regulated environment (advantageous)

? Leadership experience with accountability for team performance, revenue delivery, and partner outcomes

Knowledge & Skills

? Deep understanding of franchise models, partnership ecosystems, and distribution strategies

? Strong knowledge of commercial models, revenue drivers, and profitability optimisation

? Expertise in Life Rist and Investments ecosystems, digital platforms, and integration frameworks

? Understanding of platform-based business models and ecosystem economics

? Sound knowledge of regulatory, risk, and compliance frameworks

? Advanced financial acumen, including business case development and ROI analysis

? Strong analytical capability and data-driven decision-making

? Excellent negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder management skills

? Ability to translate strategy into scalable and executable operating models

Competencies:

? Strategic & Commercial Leadership: Drives partner-led growth strategies and revenue expansion

? Results & Execution Orientation: Consistently delivers against aggressive performance targets

? Ecosystem & Partnership Building: Builds and scales high-value partner networks

? Innovation & Digital Enablement: Leverages Life Risk and Investments and digital ecosystems to unlock growth

? Financial Acumen: Drives profitability and sustainable commercial outcomes

? Stakeholder Influence & Negotiation: Engages and influences at executive and partner level

? Governance & Risk Management: Ensures compliant, ethical, and sustainable growth

? Change & Transformation Leadership: Leads innovation and business transformation

? Decision-Making & Problem Solving: Navigates complexity with data-driven decisions

? Market Insight & Opportunity Identification: Anticipates trends to drive competitive advantage

Duties and Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for the financial management of the business. This includes but is not limited to:

Franchise Strategy & Architecture

• Design and scale a commercially viable franchise model aligned to growth and revenue targets
• Establish operating models, governance frameworks, and performance standards
• Drive market expansion and footprint growth through franchise-led distribution

Partner Sourcing & Acquisition

• Identify, evaluate, and onboard high-calibre franchise and strategic partners
• Conduct rigorous due diligence to ensure alignment with commercial and performance objectives
• Build and maintain a sustainable pipeline of partners to support ongoing growth

Partner Vesting & Enablement

• Implement structured partner vesting frameworks to accelerate time-to-productivity
• Enable partners through training, tools, and capability building
• Embed clear performance accountability models to drive delivery against targets

Strategic Partnership Management

• Build and sustain high-value executive-level partner relationships
• Negotiate and manage commercial agreements and performance frameworks
• Drive partner engagement, retention, and optimisation

Life Risk and Investments Digital Ecosystem Growth

• Lead the development of Life Risk and Investment-enabled partnerships and integrations
• Expand digital distribution channels and ecosystem reach
• Drive adoption, utilisation, and monetisation of Lift Risk and Investments capabilities

Performance, Revenue & Growth Delivery

• Own and deliver on revenue, sales, and growth targets across all partner channels
• Assume accountability for financial performance (revenue and profitability) of the partner ecosystem
• Monitor performance against KPIs and implement data-driven optimisation strategies
• Identify and unlock new revenue streams and growth opportunities

Customer & Market Enablement

• Ensure partner strategies deliver a compelling customer value proposition and experience
• Leverage partnerships to improve customer access, reach, and engagement

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to regulatory, risk, and compliance requirements
• Maintain strong governance and ethical standards across all partner relationships
• Balance aggressive growth with sustainable and compliant practices