Group Head of Reputational Risk and Strategic Planning

Our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. With a heritage dating back more than 175 years, we have a long history of innovation in savings and investments, combining asset management and insurance expertise to offer a wide range of solutions. 

Our two distinct operating segments, Asset Management and Life, work together to provide access to balanced, long-term investment and savings solutions.

Through telling it like it is, owning it now, and moving it forward together with care and integrity; we are creating an exceptional place to work for exceptional talent.

We will consider flexible working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer work place accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role.

Group Head of Reputational Risk and Strategic Planning

The role is responsible for leading M&G plc’s management of reputational risk across the Group and coordinating strategic planning across the Corporate Affairs, Sustainability and Brand function (CASB).

There are two primary responsibilities:

• Reputational Risk: The role holder will lead identify and manage (proactively and reactively) a range of reputational risks that could impact negatively on the perception, held by a range of stakeholder groups of M&G plc and across the portfolio of brands (currently  M&G and Pru, in the UK and M&G Investments, globally).  You will be responsible for providing expert advice to ensure the efficient progression of reputational risk matters from trigger to execution.
• Strategic Planning and Execution: The role holder will lead strategic planning for the CASB function to ensure an effective planning function that supports the delivery of the collective corporate affairs strategy in order to implement consistent, coordinated activity with maximum impact. Specific responsibilities include maintaining a centralised planning system, planning and managing key Corporate events such as CASB’s contribution to Group financial results and the Annual Report and Accounts cycle, overseeing the coordination of issues management, campaigns and thought leadership activity, and by working with other CASB teams, supporting external communications activity for the CEO and Chair.

This role will involve working with all teams in CASB, with a significant focus on external communications and Brand, including digital, media, sustainability and policy and public affairs.

The role will have line management responsibilities for two direct reports:

1) Reputational Risk Manager; and

2) Corporate communications, strategic planning and campaigns manager. 

The Group Head of Reputational Risk and Strategic Planning will report to the Head of External Relations.

What is Reputational Risk?

Reputational risk is the risk of failure to meet stakeholder expectations as a result of any event, behaviour, action or inaction, either by itself, our employees or those with whom we are associated, that may cause stakeholders to form a negative view of M&G.

How do we manage reputational risk?

Our risk appetite encapsulates consideration of reputational risks, and the responsibilities and procedures for identifying, assessing and escalating reputational risks. Our policies ensure reputational risk matters are managed in a consistent manner and align with the Group’s strategic priorities. They also define the control and oversight standards to effectively manage reputational risk and are supported by procedures across our businesses and functions.

Key responsibilities:

Strategic advice

• As a subject matter expert, be the point of authority, influencing, providing strategic advice, challenge and support on reputational matters to senior management, including the GEC and SLT.  Provide direction to others with reputational risk, client selection and customer responsibilities to devise and implement effective strategies for managing reputational risk matters in an ever-changing high-risk environment.
• In conjunction with the business, identify, manage and control reputational risk, in order that issues are swiftly escalated and decisions are taken in full consideration of the impacts on all stakeholder groups.
• Awareness and consideration of Group strategic drivers and business area priorities, how this translates into the proactive management of reputation and Brand and what this means for reputational risk.
• Help drive the delivery of strategic standards and policies to ensure that the Group’s exposure to reputational risk is managed in a commercially sensitive, practical and cost-effective manner.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on industry-accepted best practices in managing reputational risk, including methodology; providing direction, advice and guidance to business units, regional and functional teams in line with M&G’s risk appetite. 
• To provide support and guidance to senior management and committees on key reputational risk trends.
• Run, direct and Chair the Group’s Reputational Risk Forum to ensure effective deliberation on reputational risk matters and also attend relevant business committees to provide a reputational risk lens on issues under discussion. 
• Support the Group Director of Regulatory Affairs, the Group Director of Corporate Affairs and Brand and the Group Head of External Relations to work effectively with regulators, the government, NGOs and industry bodies on reputational matters to ensure the Group’s interests are protected and professional and positive relationships are fostered.

Research and reporting  

• To build an effective monitoring environment that provides oversight of MI, key trends, identifies emerging issues and focus on areas of reputational concern and opportunity. Work with key personnel to decide how they should be addressed and/or escalated.
• To develop key metrics to monitor trends in reputational risks in order to define and assess risk appetite and inform oversight and risk management activity.
• Oversee the production of standardized reports and MI on reputational risk management.
• To conduct forward-looking analyses and assessments of reputational risks/opportunities, and partner with the wider business to develop risk management solutions and plans.
• Draft reports and papers and conduct research related to reputational risk matters.
• Oversee the maintenance of the reputational risk register and use to drive decision making.
• To support the Director of Corporate Affairs to advise the GEC and Board of material reputational risk issues and their potential impact.

Governance and training  

• To lead and manage the Group’s risk management approach to reputational risk, covering all key business decisions, risk appetite, Risk & Control Self Assessments and emerging risk reviews, following the Group risk framework.
• Chair the Group’s Reputational Risk Forum by collaborating with business areas and using this insight to inform the Group’s management and review of reputational risk. 
• Conduct an annual review of the Reputational Risk Policy and Framework for the plc to ensure that it is embedded within key processes, controls and activities.
• Cascade relevant Group policies and procedures, providing guidance and support, and ensuring implementation and embedding.

• Help develop and implement/embed Group-wide standards and policies on reputational risk working with key stakeholders across M&G, including the second line risk team.
• Identify training needs, create and deliver a robust education programme to assist employees and key influencers of sustainable and reputational risks in understanding their role in managing these risks.
• Work with the Corporate Affairs team existing risk framework, supporting our Risk & Controls Forum
• Core Agenda setting, and paper preparation, minute taking, onward reporting to the GEC and Board including, recommending actions and considering reputational risk, reviewing emerging reputational risk, reviewing escalated and mandatory reputational risk acceptances.

What is Strategic Planning?

By maintaining an effective planning function that supports the delivery of the collective corporate affairs strategy. Strategic planning is ensuring a centralized planning approach which enables the CASB to deliver consistent, coordinated activity across all CASB communications disciplines (internal, external, sustainability and brand) whether on a proactive or reactive basis to meet the needs of the Group’s strategic business objectives.

How do we manage strategic planning?

By maintaining efficient planning systems for the function to drive operational excellence and sustain high performance. We do this by working closely with all CASB teams to run a centralised planning system that supports monthly and quarterly cycles - giving CASB teams clear visibility of internal and external activities to help protect and promote the Group with maximum impact.

Key responsibilities:

• Centralised planning - Run, oversee and maintain the CASB’s central planning system to ensure a strategic approach in planning all CASB workstreams to achieve fully integrated communications aligned to the Group’s strategic objectives. This will include managing and coordinating CASB’s monthly and quarterly planning meetings.
• Corporate communications reporting - Manage and oversee all significant corporate communications projects e.g. CASB’s contribution to Group financial results, M&A and the Annual Report and Accounts cycle, ensuring all teams are aligned on delivery milestones and communication expectations.
• Issues management - Oversee issues management, including proactive risk identification and response planning working with relevant colleagues across CASB.
• Campaigns/Thought leadership - Working with relevant colleagues across CASB, plan, organise and coordinate integrated campaigns and lead thought leadership initiatives to enhance the organisation’s external profile, ensuring they are linked to the Group’s commercial objectives, demonstrating value for money and running effective post-campaign analysis.
• CEO and Chair communications - Support external communications activity for the CEO and Chair, ensuring alignment with strategic messaging by working closely with lead CASB teams e.g. media, policy and public affairs.

Experience, skills and attributes

Experience

• Proven team leader who can motivate colleagues to execute at pace in a complex environment with competing priorities. 
• Experienced professional with significant experience gained within a FS/international organization.
• Experience of working in a listed environment and managing financial reporting communication requirements e.g. financial results.
• Able to demonstrate expertise in the field of reputational risk management and gain the confidence of senior management and colleagues.
• Significant experience in roles where successfully mitigating reputational risk and managing strategic planning across multi-disciplinary communication teams is evident.
• Proven ability to exercise sound judgement, based on expert knowledge of reputational risk.
• Lateral thinker/problem solver with experience of working in a complex environment dealing with varied issues management.
• Thought leadership and campaigns experience, particularly for creative corporate communications campaigns across media, policy and public affairs and digital. This should include experience of producing high-quality written communications.

Skills

• Excellent communicator with strong inter-personal, influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Proficient in the MS Office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) familiar with working in Microsoft Teams.  
• Strong attention to detail and highly organised with the ability to manage multiple projects. 

Attributes

• A self-starter with the ability to organize/prioritise effectively and a good attention to detail, and work autonomously.
• A positive proactive attitude and ability to foster links between teams.  

• Able to work both individually and in a collegiate and collaborative manner as part of an extremely fast paced team. 

• Flexible approach, with the ability to respond to changing needs. 

• A proactive and "no surprises" approach in communicating issues. 

What we offer:

At M&G, we’re committed to helping you thrive and supporting your wellbeing, both at work and beyond. Our benefits are designed to help you balance your professional and personal life, while planning confidently for your future. Our UK benefits include:

• As a savings and Investments firm we are proud to offer a valuable pension scheme of 18%, with 13% made up of Employer Contributions and 5% Employee Contributions. We also offer Share Save and our Share Incentive Plan, together with access to financial wellbeing and support services - to help give you real confidence to put your money to work.

• Enjoy 38 days annual leave including bank holidays, with the opportunity to purchase up to 5 extra days and additional flexibility through our Time Off When You Need It policy – to balance your work and personal commitments.  

• Our market leading Inspiring Families policy includes comprehensive support and paid parental leave covering maternity, adoption, surrogacy, and paternity leave - as supporting families is a core aspect of our inclusive culture.

• Health & Protection cover including Private Healthcare, Critical Illness cover and Life Assurance for you, with family options - for peace of mind.

To explore more about life at M&G and our full benefits offering, visit Life at M&G

We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G, underpinned by our policies and our employee-led networks who provide networking opportunities, advice and support for the diverse communities our colleagues represent. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability or long term condition, we are looking to attract, promote and retain exceptional people. We also welcome those who take part in military service and those returning from career breaks.

M&G is also proud to be a Disability Confident Leader, and we welcome applications from candidates with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or neuro-divergent conditions. 

If you need assistance or an alternative means of applying for a role due to a disability or additional need, please let us know by contacting us at: careers@mandg.com