Area Manager: Alternative Distribution (Western Cape)

Area Manager: Alternative Distribution (Western Cape)

Date: 23 Apr 2025

Location: Cape Town, Western 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.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee and manage multiple branches within a specific geographic region, ensuring operational efficiency, performance, and strategic alignment with organizational goals.
• 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.
• Understand the overarching Alternative Distribution channel’s retail branch strategy and vision to co-create a national distribution strategy.

Operational Leadership:

• Provide feedback to the Provincial General Manager on the implementation of the strategic direction for the geographical area.
• Monitor and track branches’ operational plans.
• Ensure the effective implementation of all company policies.
• Engage with industry bodies and develop provincial business partnerships.

What will make you successful in this role?

• Drive change and business innovation within the province.
• Create a culture of innovation within the province.
• Encourage and reward staff for business innovation ideas.

People Management:

• Ensure high potential talent is sourced and selected.
• Embrace transformation and support initiatives to achieve targets.
• Train, coach and mentor staff.

Qualification and Experience:

• Grade 12 / Matric.
• A business-related degree or diploma qualification (an advantage).
• FAIS Accredited Long-term Insurance and Lending.
• At least 5 years related experience in Long-term and/or Lending experience in a sales and servicing capacity.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Sound Financial Services experience at a middle management level.
• At least 3 years Sales and Distribution exposure.
• Comprehensive Long-term and Lending Product Knowledge.

Personal Attributes:

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

Core Competencies:

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

The Sanlam Group is committed to achieving transformation and embraces diversity. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace.