Third Party Products and Services Divisional Director

The role

The role of Group Products (“the Division”) is to develop and coordinate the suite of products and services available to clients of St. James's Place. It ensures they are fairly priced, support business growth, and deliver good client outcomes.

The Divisional Director for Third-Party Products and Services guides the team responsible for these areas. They focus on strategy, development, and governance of St. James’s Place’s non-investment* third-party offerings. The role makes sure these offerings deliver strong client outcomes, assist Partner advice propositions, meet regulatory criteria, and help meet the Group’s strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities of the Job

Product Management & Development

Set and guide the strategic direction for the non-investment panel of third-party products and services that advisers may distribute. Ensure it aligns with Group strategy, client needs, and regulatory requirements.

Conduct regular tender assessments of products, services, and providers on the non-investment panel, making recommendations regarding their improvement, addition to, or removal from the panel.

Monitor industry, regulatory and competitor developments, finding opportunities to improve the non-investment panel.

Serve as the Consumer Duty Outcome Owner for the ‘Chooses Products and Services’ outcome within SJPWM. Provide oversight and challenge to make sure all products and services distributed by SJPWM deliver good client outcomes and fair value.

Coordinate governance, due diligence, maintenance, and development of various non-investment third-party products and services distributed by each entity. Make sure they align with target market needs, produce good client results, offer fair value, benefit both Partners and SJP commercially, and adhere to relevant regulatory requirements.

Work closely with AME or equivalent experience proposition leads to ensure alignment of proposition strategy, governance standards and client outcomes across markets.

Partner and Business Engagement

Act as an advocate for the panel, building understanding and confidence in panel solutions to support Partner adoption and delivery of complete advice outcomes.

Lead engagement with providers to deliver thought leadership, training, and educational events to advisers that promote the delivery of complete advice outcomes.

Work collaboratively with collaborators across SJP to provide specialist product expertise, mentorship, and support, including to the St. James's Place Protection Planning Service.

Where required, support SJP responses to key regulatory consultations.

Represent SJP externally with providers, industry bodies and market participants, serving as a senior ambassador for the Group's third-party proposition.

Provide support for developments and projects affecting the third-party panel of products and services as needed.

What you will bring

• Extensive experience in developing and implementing propositional strategies across regulated financial services markets.
• Strong understanding of regulatory and legislative rules governing products and services distribution.
• Strong understanding of the governance processes, and risk mitigation requirements of the business in dealing with third parties.
• Strong technical and commercial understanding of a broad range of retail financial products and services, particularly protection, retirement, estate planning and comprehensive advice solutions.
• Bring strategic leadership experience gained in a complex financial services, products, or regulated environment. Translate business objectives into clear team priorities and measurable outcomes.
• Demonstrate a strong track record of leading leaders and scaling high-performing teams through effective talent development, succession planning and organisational building.
• Act as a trusted senior leader, influencing executive collaborators and contributing to broader business strategy while championing the interests of customers, colleagues and commercial objectives.
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