Head of Proposition - Equity Release

Job Title: Head of Proposition – Equity Release

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Edinburgh or Plymouth or London or Alderley Park

Working style: Hybrid office / home (minimum 50% office based)

Closing date: Wednesday 20th February 2025

We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to join our team as Head of Proposition for Equity Release Lending, leading our Proposition strategy and delivery.

We believe Equity Release will become a mainstream solution to help customers to fund their retirement plans during Later Life. The Head of Proposition will drive our innovation, working with colleagues and Lending partners to help grow the market and differentiate from the competition.

Key to the role will be understanding the dynamics of the market, from customer and adviser needs, through to sourcing platforms and portals, and to the requirements of Lenders.

As Head of Proposition, you will be a member of the cross functional Leadership Team that oversees the Equity Release Lending business, as well as looking across propositions to better meet the needs of customers in the Later Life customer lifestage.

With your deep understanding of Equity Release or similar markets (e.g. Protection), you will lead cross-functional initiatives, collaborating effectively to enhance customer solutions and experience, and drive business growth.

If you are ready to make a significant impact at the UK’s largest mutual Life, Pensions and Investments company, we want to hear from you.

About the role

• Responsible for the creation and delivery of the proposition strategy for Equity Release. This includes ensuring resource is secured and managed to deliver agreed outcomes, prioritising and agreeing revised expectations where necessary.
• Responsible for representing the proposition at the cross-functional leadership team, and contributing effectively to the strategy and alignment on priorities for the broader Equity Release Lending business.
• Responsible for overseeing the full proposition lifecycle for Equity Release, from ideation through to delivery, ensuring alignment with customer needs and business objectives.
• Responsible for oversight of existing propositions, ensuring they are compliant and helping customers to achieve good outcomes, and delivering against commercial targets.
• Responsible for relationship and strategy with relevant third parties, including Equity Release Funders and Adviser portal providers.
• Provide expertise on the propositions, understanding the technical requirements and the market dynamics, including anticipating changes, particularly in customer and adviser requirements.
• Maintain an in depth understanding of competitor products/distribution landscape, financial markets, regulatory concerns and pressures.
• Collaborate with the wider business to ensure propositions are being deployed appropriately and consistently for maximum impact.
• Provide strong leadership for a direct team of Proposition experts and be a role model for Royal London values.

About you

• Strong customer focus, and understanding of Consumer Duty.
• Strong knowledge of the Equity Release market, or similar, such as the UK Protection market.
• Strong expertise of proposition development, with experience of leading teams.
• Ability to translate broader business strategy into functional (product) strategy and create clear direction for the team.
• Ability to influence at a senior level.
• Commercially astute, with a sound understanding of customer and financial dynamics.
• Focus on delivery, working with stakeholders to agree priorities, secure and align resource.
• Strong people leadership, inspiring teams to work collaboratively to meet ambition and continuously thrive for high performance.
• Experience working in a regulated industry.
• Expertise and championing the end consumer and an in-depth understanding of customer value, great customer outcomes and all aspects of the value chain.
• Experience in managing product development governance and conduct risk in line with Risk appetite and regulatory requirements.

About Royal London

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

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.