Area Manager: Alternative Distribution (Eastern Cape)

Area Manager: Alternative Distribution (Eastern Cape)

Date: 23 Apr 2025

Location: Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, ZA

Who are we?

Sanlam Developing Markets [SDM] (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sanlam Life Limited) is one of the top financial services providers in the South African entry-level and emerging middle market. It aims to understand the unique requirements of clients and offers a wide range of simple and affordable financial solutions that cover needs such as funeral insurance, savings for education, life cover and personal accident plans.

What will you do?

• Oversee and manage multiple branches within a specific geographic region, ensuring operational efficiency, performance, and strategic alignment with organizational goals through business insurance and lending.
• Contribute to the implementation of geographical Alternative Distribution channel’s retail branch strategy.
• Demonstrate inspirational leadership to support and manage Branch Managers.
• Drive business innovation through partnerships with identified partners within the group.
• Support the implementation of the Area strategic plan for Alternative Distribution Channel.
• Represent the ambassadorial ‘face of the Area’ in terms of community events and sales campaigns.
• Embrace collaboration and synergy between all channels across segments in the designated geographical area to drive sales and market share growth.
• Accountable for achievement of the Area’s profitability (VNB and expense management) for the province.
• Ensure adherence to compliance and risk management for the designated area.
• Ensure operational excellence within the designated area.
• Support the development of talent, and drive transformation agenda.

Strategic Leadership:

• Form part of the Provincial Mancom that takes collective accountability for the decision making and leadership of the Area.
• Analyse market changes, competitors, risks, opportunities and threats and create contingency plans for these in order to protect and grow market share.
• Be overall accountable for the profitability and success of the designated area with respect to strategic attainment of business plans, decision making, operations, sales, compliance and customer service.
• Understand the overarching Alternative Distribution channel’s retail branch strategy and vision in order to co-create (with the Branch Managers and Area Manco) and aligned national distribution strategy that incorporates all channels across the different segments.

Operational Leadership:

• Provide feedback to the Provincial General Manager on the implementation of the strategic direction for the geographical area of the business unit.
• Provide regular operational direction to align with strategic objectives of the Channel.
• Monitor and track branches’ operational plans.
• Ensure the effective implementation of all company policies.
• Follow through and provide feedback on adverse audit findings and the implementation thereof.
• Be the face of the Area (Cross Channel), an ambassador for clients, stakeholders and intermediaries in the province.
• Positioning of Sanlam as a brand and business on provincial level in the market with key public and private market stakeholders.
• Engage with industry bodies (i.e. business and community forums).
• Develop and maintain provincial business partnerships within the financial services community.
• Host events and functions that drive recognition.
• Forge close relationships and influence with Product Houses and key HO functions on behalf of the province.

What will make you successful in this role?

• Drive change and business innovation within the province.
• Drive and support the Alternative Distribution retail branch strategy.
• Act as sponsor for all major internal change initiatives.
• Identify areas within the provincial operation that need to be made more effective, cost efficient or client centred; and create actions and projects to improve these through innovation.
• Create a culture of innovation within the province.
• Encourage and reward staff for business innovation ideas that save costs, increase value add or make processes more effective.

Build and Develop Relationships, Networks and New Markets:

• Partner with the Provincial General Manager to attend and host selected client engagement opportunities.
• Engage with and contact/network with high value clients/companies in support of marketing initiatives.
• Look for opportunities to penetrate less utilized market segments within the region.
• Network, build partnerships and contract internally with different Product Providers, SPF Distribution and other key stakeholders.
• Provide support to the Branches in implementing the service and sales strategy for all walk-in clients.
• Provide regular feedback to the Provincial General Manager.
• Play an active role in providing input to the development and implementation of Client Satisfaction tools/indices.

People Management:

• Ensure that high potential talent is sourced and selected into the area.
• Retention of staff as a business imperative.

Diversity and Transformation:

• Embrace transformation in the area and support initiatives to achieve DTI targets and EE Targets.
• Align HR practices and decisions within the area, with respect to recruitment and promotion of staff, to support transformation targets.
• Recruit, groom and develop branch consultants and Management into the business for future succession planning.

Train, Coach and Mentor Staff:

• Ensure all direct reports have development plans, discussions and are suitably trained for their positions.
• Ensure ongoing and robust development of branch consultants within the designated area.
• Ensure that direct reports are coached, developed and motivated to become productive.
• Act as mentor to key staff within the area.

Performance Contracting and Management:

• Undertake effective performance contracting with all direct reports.
• Ensure updated job profiles, competency models and KPA documents for all staff.
• Update and manage annual and sick leave.
• Undertake staff career development and talent retention strategies.

Qualification and Experience:

• Grade 12 / Matric.
• A business-related degree or diploma qualification or related field (an advantage).
• FAIS Accredited Long-term Insurance (Funeral) and Lending.
• Passed FAIS Regulatory Examination (RE1).
• Continuous Professional Development (CDP) compliant.
• Meet all Fit and Proper requirements.
• At least 5 years related experience in Long-term and/or Lending experience in a sales and servicing capacity.
• A strong track record of success with prior experience in a retail branch distribution role.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Sound Financial Services experience at a middle management level.
• At least 3 years Sales and Distribution exposure.
• At least 3 years sound management and leadership experience.
• Comprehensive Long-term and Lending Product Knowledge.
• Knowledge of FSCA and Prudential Authority Framework and Requirements.
• Familiarity with FAIS and Consumer Acts.
• Basic understanding of underwriting discipline.
• Knowledge of Insurance and Financial Sector Regulatory bodies.
• Understanding of the National Credit Act and Regulatory Authority.

Personal Attributes

• Communicates effectively.
• Tech savvy.
• Action orientated.
• Interpersonal savvy.
• Persuades effectively.

Build a successful career with us

We’re all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We pride ourselves in helping our employees to realise their worth.

Core Competencies

• Collaborates.
• Being resilient.
• Drives results.
• Cultivates innovation.
• Customer focus.

Turnaround time

The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The Sanlam Group is committed to achieving transformation and embraces diversity.