Title:  Lead Project Manager - Investments

Canada Life UK looks after the retirement, investment and protection needs of individuals, families and companies. We help to build better futures for our customers, our intermediaries and our employees by operating as a modern, agile and welcoming organisation.

Part of our parent company Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life UK has operated in the United Kingdom since 1903. We have hundreds of respected and supported employees committed to doing the right thing for our customers and colleagues.

Canada Life UK is transforming to create a more customer-focused business by providing our customers with expertise on financial and tax planning, offering home finance and annuities propositions, and providing collective fund solutions to third party customers.

Job Summary 

Manages and controls all aspects of change portfolio delivery governance in relation to the CLAM’s Change Portfolio, ensuring that project delivery is in accordance with agreed methodologies and standards, and that all projects are appropriately supported, governed and controlled via the delivery of outstanding PMO and operational support to the portfolio projects and associated Governance bodies.

Drives the delivery of business outcomes aligned to our overall strategy via management of our core portfolio governance forums (SLT, Governance Committees and Boards), ensuring that agreed business cases and specific outcomes are fully owned by Senior Management, with Operational Sponsors accountable for P&L, ROI and other key benefit realisation metrics

What You'll Do 

To Manage Methodology adherence through the definition and a robust and understood methodology with clear processes and controls to ensure that all aspects of delivery are managed in a controlled and consistent manner which is fully understood by all key stakeholders. 

To control the delivery of our Change Portfolio through the management and development of our change forums (Transformation Committee, Change Delivery Governance Board), ensuring that the portfolio is at all times in control, with decision quality information used to drive data-led decisions which are documented appropriately. Is responsible and accountable as the main point of escalation for project deliverables throughout the project lifecycle managing all aspects of the day to day administration and control of project activities, removing blockages from delivery team or scrum master

To create a rolling 3-year strategic delivery roadmap, aligned with client strategies and business plans through working with key stakeholders and IT & Change team colleagues to gather, document, evaluate and prioritise initiatives to create an agreed portfolio with a rolling 3-year outlook and an in-focus view of the next rolling 12 months, both fully aligned with our strategic aims

To manage portfolio resources through working with CLAM & CLFIS colleagues to identify, assess and plan to deliver the skills required to support delivery ensuring that the skills required are predominantly internally sourced in a cost-effective manner, and part of ongoing internal development plans

To manage portfolio challenges, risks and issues through developing and maintaining key relationships with stakeholders across the business such that core business outcomes are consistently delivered irrespective of complexity or challenge.  

To manage all aspects of regular and accurate reporting of projects including prioritisation, delivery status, risks and actions & financial information. Ensure that the operational and financial performance within each project is maximised

Who You Are

•    Extensive knowledge of portfolio creation and delivery within Financial Services
•    Extensive knowledge of delivery methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, Safe Agile) and their specific pros and cons within a Financial Services environment
•    Extensive knowledge of PMO function operations (Governance, budgeting, controls, benefit realisation) within a Financial Services organisation
•    Extensive knowledge of key controls within a delivery environment and how they should be implemented
•    Knowledge of all aspects of governance within a Finance & Business Change function and associated key control processes required
•    Strong negotiation and influencing skills and proven relationship builder 
•    Excellent communication skills at executive level  
•    Excellent financial management and change/project management skills 
•    Excellent stakeholder management skills to ensure collaboration and engagement with key functions across the business
•    Excellent analytical skills with a strong focus on detail and the ability to aggregate for Executive audiences 
•    Confident in oral communication and can adapt to the audience, coupled with confident presentation skills 
•    Confident influencer at all levels
•    Highly organised and methodical
•    Proven experience and skill in acting independently with initiative and decisiveness, coupled with a keen awareness of when to escalate issues 
•    Proven team player 
•    Extensive leadership experience within Financial Services in a central Portfolio management role involving delivering and leading change 
•    Proven experience of the key drivers and issues within Financial Services and how portfolio solutions may be deployed to meet business requirements 
•    Proven experience in developing PMO functions within Financial Services 

Qualifications

•    Prince II or PMP qualification required

Benefits of working at Canada Life

We believe in recognising and rewarding our people, so we offer a competitive salary and benefits package that’s regularly reviewed. As a Canada Life UK colleague, you’ll receive a competitive salary and comprehensive reward package including a generous pension and bonus scheme, along with, income protection, private medical insurance and life assurance.  We have a fantastic number of other benefits and support services as well as regular personal and professional development.

How we work at Canada Life

Our culture is unique and incredibly important to us.  We care about doing the right thing for our people, customers and community and helping others to build better futures.  Our blueprint behaviours shape and influence how we work, and are central to the relationships we have with others.  Every day we are encouraged to be more curious, own the outcome, face into things together and find a way forward. 

We want colleagues to have rewarding careers with us so we invest in the development of our people, technology and workplaces. That’s why we offer a range of training, flexible working and opportunities to grow and develop.

Diversity and inclusion

Building an inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce where everyone can feel they belong and achieve their potential regardless of gender, ethnicity or any other characteristic is a key commitment for us.  We are proud of the progress we’re making in DEI, and we continue for it to be a significant focus. 

“At Canada Life we believe in the power of great people from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives coming together to build better futures. Emerging talent is crucial to our growth and creating an environment that continues to inspire us all.”  Nick Harding, Chief People Officer, Canada Life UK

We appreciate that everyone has different work and life responsibilities. We’re happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, including part time, for any of our roles should this be a requirement for you.