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Job Description

Responsible for developing and overseeing the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainability policies, reporting and insights. On integration, ensure that all three pillars of the Group Sustainability strategy are working in an integrated manner to amplify impact, and tell a coherent story.

On reporting, ensure that all reporting requirements related to Sustainability are gathered, understood and translated into reports. These would include the Sustainability & Climate reports as well as the ESG data and Disclosure booklet, all ratings agency reporting and any external reporting required as part of Alliances or bodies Old Mutual has signed up to. To improve data accuracy and collection, implement tools to support such, and make reporting more seamless and part of business-as-usual within Old Mutual. Improvements in ratings from relevant agencies as well as Sustainability thought leadership would also be driven by this role.

Regarding Policy Development, identify areas of deficient policy within the Group in relation to the requirements of ESG standard setters and the Group’s own ambitions; drafting, obtaining approval for, and implementing these across the Group in conjunction with relevant policy owners. The role will require close alignment with other Sustainability leads, the Group Compliance and Risk functions to evaluate the ongoing appropriateness of policies and their execution and make suggestions for improvement.

Key Result Areas

Reporting & Integration

Lead the production of all reporting requirements related to Sustainability. These would include the Sustainability & Climate reports, as well as the ESG data and Disclosure booklet, ensuring compliance with key frameworks (GRI, SASB, JSE, IFRS S1 and S2, King V)
Identifying material issues and emerging ESG trends
Work with the Risk function to identify ESG risks and reputational impacts
Integrate the reporting and sustainability strategy to deliver reporting requirements to the board and Exco
Hold the pen on all ratings agency reporting and any external reporting required as part of Alliances or bodies Old Mutual has signed up to.
Provide guidance and support across the Group on alignment with key reporting frameworks, regulations, and legislation Set and lead execution of the data and analytics reporting plan, creating strategies and templates to collect, validate, analyse and report data in a meaningful way.
Manage internal assurance processes for ESG disclosures
Create, present, and communicate high-impact data and analytics insights and recommendations to critical internal and external stakeholders.
Improvements in disclosures, ratings from relevant agencies as well as Sustainability thought leadership would also be driven by this role
Work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that all three pillars of the Group Sustainability strategy are working in an integrated manner to amplify impact, and tell a coherent story.
Provide input into the review and execution of the Sustainability strategy
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 ESG standard setters and the Group’s own ambitions; drafting, obtaining approval for, and implementing these across the Group in conjunction with relevant policy owners. The role will require close alignment with other Sustainability leads, the Group Compliance and Risk functions, to evaluate the ongoing appropriateness of policies and their execution and make suggestions for improvement.

Functional Strategy Formation and Execution

Lead the development and implementation of strategy for an important area of responsibility within a function, anticipating complex issues, challenges, and opportunities and ensuring integration with wider functional strategy.
Work with relevant stakeholders to clarify their strategic and commercial priorities related to the delivery of the reporting suite and other deliverables
Elicit complex business requirements using a variety of methods, such as interviews, document analysis, workshops, and workflow analysis, to express the requirements in terms of target user roles and goals.

Communication

Articulates self with credibility and conviction, encouraging buy-in to the organisation’s position
Ensure ownership and communication of the reporting requirements to the broader business.
Present a confident, articulate, professional, trustworthy character to stakeholders.
Capable of using influence to ensure deliverables are achieved and recommendations socialized.
Develop and/or deliver a plan for significant aspects of internal and external communications with guidance from senior colleagues.

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 of ESG-related reporting, policy, strategy, and drive integration across functions (e.g., compliance, risk, procurement, HR)
Ensure the integrity of public disclosures and sit on committees of the board where appropriate.
Coordinate and support business units and clusters 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.
Represent the organization confidently in ESG-related forums that OML participates in where required

Management effectiveness

Accept and promote the company’s values.
Manage teams 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 reporting team to add value.
Responsible for developing the Group Sustainability reporting team, including selection, training, coaching, performance management and talent management.
Manage people and culture by 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 knowledge management practices & standards.
Responsible sustainability risk management, including the management and clearing of audit findings.
Contributes to functional resource planning and integration.
Development to ensure that the department delivers within budget.
Drives and manages accountabilities for certain legislative requirements specifically impacting the way we engage with our customers e.g. TCF and PPI.
Monitor and manage a wide range of activities of a significant team, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements by liaising with all internal risk management functions while supporting the development and implementation of the organization's compliance policy.

Requirements:

Skills, Qualifications and Experience Required

Relevant Post graduate degree/ qualification (Honours/Masters/ MBA)
Comprehensive job-related experience in Sustainability (6 years to 10 years)
Extensive experience in ESG reporting, data management and policy development and analysis essential – previous experience in a Group-level sustainability function advantageous.
Thorough knowledge of ESG concepts and approaches
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, Business Requirements Analysis, Change Management, Current State Assessment, Data Compilation, Environmental Waste Management, Executing Plans, Managerial Accounting, Occupational Safety and Health, Oral Communications, Organizational Design, Policies & Procedures, Professional Presentation, Requirements Development, Servant Leadership

Competencies

Action OrientedBalances StakeholdersBuilds Effective TeamsBusiness InsightCommunicates EffectivelyEnsures AccountabilityInstills TrustManages Ambiguity

Education

MBA, Post-graduate Diploma (PGDip) (Required)

Closing Date

09 August 2026 , 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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