Head - Customer Strategy & Research

Job Purpose

As the Head of Customer Strategy & Research (Senior Vice President), you will be the driving force behind developing and implementing customer strategies that fuel business growth within the affluent segment. Working closely with cross-functional teams and the Customer Proposition team, you'll shape the future of our product and service offerings, both in Singapore and internationally. Your leadership in leading market research, strategic insights and product R&D will be key to unlocking new opportunities and ensuring our continued success.

In This Role, You Will Do

1. Customer Intelligence & Insights: Prioritize and lead research efforts to build deep intelligence on customer segments, personas, journeys, and competitors.
2. Lead the Research Team: Manage and inspire the Customer Research & Strategy team to deliver high-quality, actionable research that drives decision-making.
3. Define Value Propositions: Identify and shape customer value propositions (CVP) that align with strategic objectives and market opportunities.
4. Synthesize Research for Action: Turn research findings into powerful insights that inform product development, marketing, and go-to-market strategies.
5. Collaborate Across Teams: Work cross-functionally with marketing, product, and business development teams to integrate customer strategies and drive business growth.
6. Risk and Compliance Management: Maintain awareness of regulatory and business risks, ensuring proactive steps are taken to mitigate them.
7. Champion Culture: Foster a collaborative and innovative team culture that aligns with the organization’s core values and vision.

We're Looking For

1. 18+ years of experience in strategy, research, or consulting, preferably in a management consulting firm or a financial institution.
2. Bachelor's degree (master's degree is a plus).
3. Proven track record in building strategic vision and successfully leading strategic initiatives.
4. Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to handle complex projects.
5. Excellent communication and presentation skills to convey findings and recommendations effectively to senior stakeholders.
6. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and initiatives simultaneously in high-pressure environments.
7. Leadership & Team Management: Proven leadership capabilities to inspire and guide high-performing teams.
8. Ability to synthesize complex information into actionable insights that drive growth and innovation.
9. Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across teams and build consensus.
10. High attention to detail and the ability to multi-task effectively in dynamic environments.
11. Demonstrates alignment with the organisation’s core values through expected behaviours.
12. High level of integrity, takes accountability of work and good attitude over teamwork.
13. Takes initiative to improve current state of things and adaptable to embrace new changes.

About Great Eastern

Founded in 1908, Great Eastern is a well-established market leader and trusted brand in Singapore and Malaysia. With over S$100 billion in assets and more than 16 million policyholders, it provides insurance solutions to customers through three successful distribution channels – a tied agency force, bancassurance, and financial advisory firm Great Eastern Financial Advisers. The Group also operates in Indonesia and Brunei.

The Great Eastern Life Assurance Company Limited and Great Eastern General Insurance Limited have been assigned the financial strength and counterparty credit ratings of "AA-" by S&P Global Ratings since 2010, one of the highest among Asian life insurance companies. Great Eastern's asset management subsidiary, Lion Global Investors Limited, is one of the leading asset management companies in Southeast Asia.

Great Eastern is a subsidiary of OCBC, the longest established Singapore bank, formed in 1932. It is the second largest financial services group in Southeast Asia by assets and one of the world’s most highly-rated banks, with an Aa1 rating from Moody’s and AA- by both Fitch and S&P. Recognised for its financial strength and stability, OCBC is consistently ranked among the World’s Top 50 Safest Banks by Global Finance and has been named Best Managed Bank in Singapore by The Asian Banker.