Senior Strategy Manager

Royal London; Alderley Edge; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Job summary

Royal London seeks a Senior Strategy Manager to act as a strategic partner to the COO SLT. You will shape and report on priorities, turning evidence into actionable insight across operations, technology, data and digital functions.

You will lead horizon scanning with external partners and embed outcome-led practices, ensuring alignment with Royal London strategy and driving practical, prioritized actions.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in strategic planning and technology-enabled roles.
• Proven track record turning enterprise strategy into functional priorities and roadmaps.
• Experience reporting to executives with data-driven insights.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end process for shaping COO/SLT priorities.
• Provide reporting with insight on progress, risks and decisions.
• Partner with SLT to create and connect functional strategies and roadmaps.
• Connect strategic thinking across operations, technology, data and security.
• Embed outcome-led practices across COO and Royal London.
• Lead the COO Strategy Community and engage external partners.

Skills

Strategic planning

Technology

Management consulting

Executive reporting

Stakeholder influence

Data analytics

AI tools

Job description

"It feels good to have a career with real purpose."

This is an exciting opportunity to join Royal London as a Senior Strategy Manager, working as a senior strategic partner to the Chief Operating Office Senior Leadership Team.

The role will help leaders create, shape and connect their strategies so that the COO function operates with greater clarity, alignment and shared purpose. You will own the end-to-end approach to shaping, reporting and reviewing COO and SLT priorities, turning evidence into insight, constructive challenge and action.

Working across operations, technology, data, security, digital, change and shared capabilities, you will connect strategic thinking, identify dependencies and help leaders focus on the choices and outcomes that matter most.

You will also bring an innovation lens as part of the role by scanning emerging market and technology developments, connecting them to Royal London's strategic priorities and turning relevant opportunities into focused discovery, experimentation and practical recommendations. You will lead the COO Strategy Community and build purposeful relationships with FinTech Scotland, start-ups and other external partners to bring relevant insight and fresh thinking into Royal London. You'll help translate promising ideas into focused opportunities, supporting them to move from insight through to practical action.

About the role

• Own the end-to-end process for shaping, agreeing, maintaining and evolving COO and SLT priorities, ensuring they are outcome-led, measurable and aligned to Royal London strategy.
• Own priority reporting and strategic review, turning quantitative and qualitative evidence into clear insight on progress, risks, dependencies, trade-offs and decisions required.
• Partner with SLT members and their teams to create, refresh and connect functional strategies and roadmaps, providing constructive challenge and clarifying strategic choices.
• Join up strategic thinking across operations, technology, data, security, digital, change and shared capabilities, identifying overlaps, gaps and competing demands.
• Embed outcome-led strategic practices across COO and wider Royal London, improving how priorities are set, decisions are made and progress is reviewed.
• Lead the COO Strategy Community, horizon scanning and engagement with FinTech Scotland, relevant start-ups and external partners to identify opportunities for learning, collaboration and experimentation.

About you

• Extensive experience in strategic planning, technology, management consulting or a related field, working directly with senior leaders in a complex organisation.
• A strong track record of turning enterprise strategy into clear functional priorities, roadmaps, measurable outcomes and practical choices.
• Experienced in executive priority reporting and review, combining quantitative and qualitative evidence to give insight, constructive challenge and clear recommendations.
• A credible senior stakeholder influencer who can facilitate leadership discussions, navigate differing perspectives and influence decisions without relying on formal authority.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to make sense of complex information, see connections and reach clear conclusions even when the evidence is incomplete.
• An excellent communicator who can produce concise, evidence-based strategic narratives, papers and presentations for executive and Board audiences.
• A strong understanding of technology, data, analytics and automation, with the confidence to use AI-enabled tools, including agentic AI, to improve insight, productivity and decision-making.
• Financial services experience is strongly preferred, with exposure to life, pensions or asset management beneficial.
• A strong sense of curiosity and a growth mindset, with the willingness to experiment, learn quickly and continually explore better ways of working.

About Royal London

We're the UK's largest mutual life, pensions and investment company, offering protection, long-term savings and asset management products and services.

Our People Promise to our colleagues is that we will all work somewhere inclusive, responsible, enjoyable and fulfilling. This is underpinned by our Spirit of Royal London values; Empowered, Trustworthy, Collaborate, Achieve.

• We've always been proud to reward employees by offering great workplace benefits such as 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, an up to 14% employer matching pension scheme and private medical insurance. You can see all our benefits here - Our Benefits.

Inclusion, diversity and belonging

We're an Inclusive employer. We celebrate and value different backgrounds and cultures across Royal London. Our diverse people and perspectives give us a range of skills which are recognised and respected - whatever their background.

Only candidates who have the legal right to work in the UK or Ireland can undertake this role.
Unfortunately, Royal London is unable to provide visa or work permit sponsorship.