Title:  People Strategy (PS) Risk Manager

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.

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Job Summary:
The People Strategy function of Canada Life UK is a key part of the business, supporting colleagues across all UK divisions as well as managing major people change programmes. 
 

The first line PS Manager will be responsible for managing the PS 1st line risk, oversight, and management of controls on a day-to-day basis to deliver support to the execution of the business strategy and ensure that all people risks are managed effectively – within the function and across CLUK.
 

The role of the PS Risk Manager is to lead the drive for ensuring that the Enterprise Risk Management Framework facilitates effective and appropriate risk management across the PS division and develops effective risk management reporting for all people risk across CLUK. The role will foster an appropriate risk culture and meets the needs of the full range of stakeholders (including Board, executive and regulators). 

In addition, the role will also lead on the development of clear and consistent metrics in relation to the measurement of operational risk across all PS risk categories, within PS and across the organisation, ensuring consistency across CLUK.  This will also include the development of clear operational risk measurement for relevant committees, boards and working groups, including supporting the development and embedding of operational risk appetite measures, key risk indicators and RCSA processes. 

Responsibilities: 

1.    Risk Reporting, Measuring and Monitoring

Supporting the implementation of processes for measuring risks across the PS risk categories within PS and across all divisions. Ensure the accurate and timely reporting of risks within the required working groups, executive committees, risk committees and board where appropriate.  In addition, be able to write succinctly in board and committee reporting packs in relation to operational risk, be it trends, themes exceptions and future developments. To proactively ensure that emerging risks are also highlighted, quantified and reported on across the business lines.

To be the SME support for other areas of the business within PS and beyond, as required.  This will be in relation to the on-going maturity of the operational risk framework implementation across the PS function, together with supporting change projects as needed, ensuring that the impact on the risk framework is understood, monitored and mitigated.  
2    Risk and Control Management

Ensuring that all material risks & key controls are recorded and assessed using a Risk System provided by the 2nd Line Risk Function. This should cover all risk categories (within CL UK’s Risk Universe), as well as emerging and reputational risks, and risks arising from change activities or key initiatives. Ensure risks outside tolerance and weak or deficient controls are managed appropriately, have documented action plans in place and appropriate governance as defined within supporting Standards.  

Develop and implement plans and initiatives to mitigate poor controls, improving the overall PS control environment and reducing risk events across the function.
 
Manage the implementation of risk indicators (Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) and Risk Indicators (RIs)) and associated tolerances within PS teams as well as across CLUK working with 2nd Line Risk Function ensuring timely escalation and reporting.
 
Support a culture of awareness, openness, and accountability, to ensure the Risk Event Reporting process is managed in line with the Risk Event Standard. 
 
Support coaching and support to colleagues in support of risk and control reporting to Boards and Management Committees.
3.    Business Continuity Management

Develop and run effective Business Continuity plans for People Strategy across all key processes – run regular testing protocols for Business Continuity Management. These plans will include testing of all third-party providers and colleagues across the organisation.
4.    Policy Management & Attestation

Manage the PS annual attestation to applicable policy requirements by reviewing and challenging their responses and ensuring that policy gaps are communicated to the Policy Owner. 

Provide the Risk Business Partner with feedback/issues on compliance with any requirements, and formerly report any known policy exceptions to the Policy Owner and Risk.

Experience Required: 
•    Good interpersonal/networking skills, with the ability to maintain a variety of relationships with multiple stakeholders
•    Strong communication skills, demonstrating a clear and articulate standard of written and verbal communication in a complex environment, tailored for all levels of management. 
•    Experience in the life insurance industry
•    knowledge of enterprise risk management and the relevant regulations, including the technical aspects relating to the quantification and analysis of a wide range of risks
•    Experience of embedding and maintaining an enterprise risk management framework
•    Knowledge of second line of defence risk oversight activities
•    Proven track record at delivering reporting requirements under time pressure with attention to detail.
•    Strong time management and organisational skills

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.