Business Development Director
Job Introduction
As a Group, Saga is taking to the seas in our brand new, luxury cruise ships, leading the market with innovative insurance products, and creating thousands of unforgettable memories for our loyal holidaymakers who are at the heart of the Saga brand.
As part of this bright future, Saga Personal Finance has been identified as a real opportunity for Saga plc and, as such, has exciting growth plans. These plans include the new role of Business Development Director which will form an important part of the leadership team, to help drive the Saga Personal Finance business forward.
You will be responsible for driving, developing and delivering the Saga Personal Finance (SPF) business development strategy, focusing on identifying, evaluating and introducing new business opportunities for products and services which will maximise the SPF impact within the Saga Group by leading business development initiatives to support membership, customer engagement and cross-sell.
You will also feed into Saga's core strategy of growth as a membership organisation. As such, you'll be working with the SPF leadership team and key Group stakeholders, to deliver SPF member enhancing benefits.
You'll bring strong new business development and partner management experience (from identifying to running the process) gained from financial services. You'll be comfortable working closely with senior management and have strong commercial experience.
This exciting role will give you great exposure at a senior level and access to the different industries we work across. For the right person, this broad role also has a clear path for future progression.
Please note, this role can be based in our Folkestone or London office.
Role Responsibility
- To identify, evaluate and as appropriate introduce to SPF new business opportunities for products and services, consistent with the SPF strategy and our chosen markets
- To maximise SPF impact within the Saga group by leading business development initiatives to support membership, customer engagement and cross-sell
- To develop successful relationships with potential (and existing) SPF strategic partners to facilitate the delivery of the business development strategy
- To head up commercial negotiations for business development and lead the life-cycle through to implementation
- Actively engage in monitoring industry and market trends in financial services and leverage this knowledge to build and implement business development proposals
- Leverage business development opportunities by integrating activities with other Saga plc businesses (Insurance, travel, health, etc)
- Grow market share, expand distribution and formulate business development strategies to ensure the achievement of the financial plan
- Develop successful senior working relationships across SPF potential (and existing) business partners to ensure the delivery of business plans
- To ensure that all programmes and activities relating to them meet all regulatory, compliance and internal audit requirements, having due regard for relevant statutory authorities and requirements – e.g. FSA, OFT, Consumer Credit Act
- Key leader in the Saga Personal Finance Executive
The Ideal Candidate
Capability, Knowledge and Experience:
- Proven experience operating at a senior level in business development in an FS environment - experience in growing market share, expanding distribution and formulating business development strategies
- Customer focused ethos and demonstrates a passion for service and sales excellence, results orientated with highly developed interpersonal skills
- Proven ability of defining strategic direction to develop robust business plans for implementation – has strong commercial acumen
- Excellent knowledge of Financial Services legal, regulatory and compliance dynamics
- Excellent experience of identifying, evaluating and introducing business development strategies specifically as they relate to Saga’s customer demographic
- Strategic understanding of the Commercial, Service, Sales, Marketing and Product relationship
- Demonstrable experience of having a senior role in a company and a proven ability to make a serious contribution to the business future
Education and Qualifications:
- Degree calibre
Personal Characteristics:
- A natural leader, with high impact and self-motivation, able to lead productive relationships with internal and external peers at all levels
- Strong leader with proven interpersonal skills
- Has a broad leadership network and practices excellent stakeholder management
Package Description
The standard benefits when you join Saga include:
- Option to purchase a further 5 days annual leave per year
- Free private medical insurance after 1 years service
- Pension
- AXA Be Supported
- Apples Nursery (Folkestone only and on a waiting list basis)
- Free fruit
- Give as you earn
- Free eye tests
- Honeymoon benefit
- Sharebuy
- Salary finance
- Discounts on Saga holidays and insurance products
- A range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies
- Long service awards
About the Company
When you join Saga you will see that we are committed to treating all employees fairly and to offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement.
We value diversity not just because it is the right thing to do, but because diverse teams perform better. Creating a culture in which everyone feels welcome and offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement is incredibly important to us. Fair consideration is given to applications from all applicants, including those with disabilities. If you need support at any point with your application please let us know as we will be happy to help.
Learn more about the Saga business by watching our Saga plc results for the financial year 2018/2019
To all recruitment agencies: Saga does not accept agency CVs unless specifically engaged on the role by the HR Recruitment Team. Please do not forward CVs to our recruiters, employees or any other company location. Saga is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs.
Saga Group
