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Job Description

The Purpose of the Head of Climate Action  is to work with OML Executives across a range of stakeholders both internal and external to orchestrate the enterprise’s strategic approach to Environmental risk/ opportunities, with the goal to maximise the organization’s shared value outcomes and lead in the industry over the long term. The Head of Climate Action will:

On Climate, require taking the lead on developing and operationalizing OML’s Climate Action strategy ambitions within the Group, defining key targets and metrics related to impactful delivery along societal and business lenses in the financial services industry. While heading the Climate Action pillar, the role will also require a deeper understanding of ESG beyond environmental issues, working with other ESG pillar owners to formulate a coherent and differentiated market ESG strategy, and execute on this to the desired quality and impact.

Key Result Areas

Strategy development & implementation

Responsible for strategy development projects and regular environmental and trend reporting for OML, and how the Group’s climate action ambitions fit into these broader trends and wider Group strategy.

Work with OML CEO, Chief Sustainability Officer and Segment Executives to clarify their strategic and commercial priorities related to the field of Climate mitigation and adaptation and wider ESG imperatives.

Design, scope, manage and socialize Climate & broader ESG projects with their stakeholders to agree recommendations and next course of action.

Develop methodologies to assess the viability or success of sustainability initiatives.

Establish key targets and metrics to monitor and report on climate-related progress and performance

Anticipate long-term climate- related megatrends and benchmark to determine where OML should lead and or be positioned.

Develop approaches, methodologies and frameworks to generate strategic insights, to communicate complex issues easily and to build understanding/ alignment.

Support the OML business units with input and guidance on a regular basis.

Provide expertise and thought leadership to leaders on a broad range of business critical ESG topics and impact areas.

Identify risks or opportunities and proactively seek to address them.

Coordinate efforts of leadership and business units to link strategies and tactics of individual business units related to Climate Action & Sustainability to those of the broader organization.

Advise on integrating climate-related innovations, technologies, and processes into the company’s product offerings and risk mitigation strategies

Direct sustainability program objectives and operations to ensure compliance with appropriate laws, and internal policies and regulations. 

Ensure accurate and transparent reporting of climate-related activities, risks, and progress, aligned with international reporting frameworks

Support delivery across the Group Sustainability portfolio as required

Policy Development

Identify areas of deficient policy within the Group in relation to the requirements of relevant standard setters and the Group’s own ambitions; drafting, obtaining approval for, and implementing these across the Group. The role will require close alignment with the Group Risk function to evaluate the ongoing appropriateness of policies and their execution and make suggestions from improvement.

Communication

Articulates self with credibility and conviction, encouraging buy-in to the organisation’s position

Ensure ownership and communication of the OML Climate Action strategic pillar to the broader business.

Understand the OML business industries, their respective contexts and demonstrate sensitivity to our businesses, their current priorities and future needs, and how the various segments can contribute to Climate action and broader Sustainability ambitions in a coordinated manner.

Present a confident, articulate, professional, trustworthy character to internal clients.

Capable of using influence to ensure deliverables are achieved and recommendations socialized.

Manages Board, Group Exco & segment expectations by anticipating and influencing changing priorities

Stakeholder Engagement:

Build and maintain external and internal cross-functional relationships ensuring that they have access to high-quality advice and guidance to support in delivering business strategy and plans

Ensure the integrity of public disclosures and sit on committees of the board where appropriate.

Coordinate and support business segments to ensure consistent approaches on the key elements that support best practice sharing.

Define and drive clear accountability and engagement models and processes within the team and with touchpoints across the Group.

Build, enhance and leverage the Old Mutual brand among key stakeholders locally and on the African continent, government, business, trade unions and civil society.

Represent the organization confidently in ESG related forums that OML participates in

Management effectiveness

Accept and promote the company’s values.

Manage teams (including joint Group Sustainability/ client teams/ external consultants) to tight deadlines ensuring agreed delivery outcomes are met.

Drive operational excellence throughout area of supervision.

Define and implement best operating practices in Sustainability management.

Define performance parameters and measurements for area under supervision.

Proactively seek opportunities for Group Sustainability to add value.

Responsible for developing the Group Sustainability team, including selection, training, coaching, performance management and talent management.

Manage people and culture per OML people practices and policies to create an enabling environment that supports high-performing and empowered teams.

Finance and Governance:

Manage the habits and artefacts, per GSSE knowledge management practices & standards.

Responsible for Finance and Risk management, including the management and clearing of audit findings.

Contributes to functional resource planning and integration.

Accountable for the operational costs related to Climate Action & Policy Development to ensure that the department delivers within budget.

Implements the functional resource plan for the pillar and takes corrective action (where required).

Drives and manages accountabilities for certain legislative requirements specifically impacting the way we engage with our customers e.g. TCF and PPI.

Requirements:

Skills, Qualifications and Experience Required

Post graduate degree/ qualification (CA/ Masters/ MBA)

Comprehensive job related experience in own area of expertise (6 years to 10 years)

Prior policy development experience would be advantageous.

Extensive experience in strategy development and analysis related to Climate and broader ESG essential – previous Sustainability/ ESG experience advantageous.

Thorough knowledge of ESG concepts and approaches

Expert in designing and delivering projects to understand and address strategic problems to bring forth both societal value as well as bottom line impact.

Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects to tight deadlines

Excellent people management skills in leadership role with ability to facilitate Executives

Strong business knowledge and commercial acumen

Line management experience and interest in developing junior Sustainability professionals.

Exceptional communication, planning, organizing, relationship building and analytical skills

Initiative to work independently

Knowledge and experience of emerging technologies advantageous

Skills

Adaptive Thinking, Assessment, Business Requirements Analysis, Change Management, Current State Analysis, Data Collection Methods, Environmental Monitoring, Hazard Mitigation, Health and Safety, Oral Communications, Planning and organisational skills, Policies & Procedures, Professional Presentation, Regulatory Policies, Requirements Verification, Risk Management, Sustainable Event Management

Competencies

Education

NQF Level 8 - Honours or Postgraduate Diploma or equivalent (Required)

Closing Date

12 July 2025 , 23:59

The appointment will be made from the designated group in line with the Employment Equity Plan of Old Mutual South Africa and the specific business unit in question.

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