Strategy Analyst

Let's Write Africa's Story Together!

Old Mutual is a firm believer in the African opportunity and our diverse talent reflects this.

Job Description

As a Strategy Analyst, the incumbent will be a crucial member of the Group Strategy team and will be expected to play a key role in delivering strategic support and initiatives to various stakeholders across the Old Mutual Group. The incumbent will need to be highly organized and analytically strong, and capable of working independently to conduct rigorous research, modeling, and analysis. The incumbent will manage discrete research and analysis work streams within complex projects and deliver smaller projects with limited oversight. The Strategy Analyst will support Strategy Associates and Executives with development of content (presentations and papers) for key engagements with various senior stakeholders and should be comfortable in an advisory role, providing strategic insights based on data-backed arguments to both segment project teams and executives within Old Mutual. The ideal candidate is self-motivated, ambitious, and creative in problem-solving.

Key Result Areas

1. Strategy development/ thought leadership
   • Analyze the organization’s wider environment and draw conclusions about the impact of events and activities; support the team to create solutions that deliver value in line with the business and finance plans.
   • Link ideas or events and feed insights and observations to senior colleagues and key stakeholders to influence business decisions.
   • Identify immediate threats or opportunities to the business and propose mitigating actions to the relevant stakeholders.
   • Solid business acumen and keeps up with developments in the operating environment and is comfortable with defending findings and insights to internal stakeholders.
2. Strategic Networking
   • Identifies and creates opportunities to initiate new connections that will facilitate the achievement of strategic goals within own area.
3. Problem Solving
   • Processes and distils a variety of information to understand a problem fully.
   • Propose solutions and build on others' ideas to encourage creative problem-solving.
   • Seeks the opinions and experiences of others to understand different approaches to problem solving.
4. Strategic Thinking
   • Demonstrate awareness of the impact of your work on organizational strategy.
   • Identify implications of your analysis and adapt to changing requirements.
5. Responding to pressure and change
   • Maintain a focus on key priorities and deliverables, staying resilient in the face of pressure.
   • Anticipate and adapt flexibly to changing requirements.
   • Use challenge as an opportunity to learn and improve.
   • Participate fully and encourage others to engage in change initiatives.
6. Stakeholder Focus
   • Understand stakeholder requirements and gather additional information when needed.
   • Interact effectively with stakeholders and deliver timely, accurate services.
   • Adapt services to meet differing stakeholder needs and use feedback to improve.
7. Organizational awareness
   • Stay aware of the organizational objectives and monitor current developments and trends that may affect implementation of organizational direction, programmes or plans.
   • Promote and encourage others to keep up to date with the organization’s rules, structures, decision-making bodies, networks, power relationships and environment.
8. Research and Analysis
   • Proactively seek new information sources to progress research agendas and address gaps in knowledge.
   • Analyze and integrate qualitative and quantitative data to find new insights.
   • Translate research outcomes into concise, meaningful reports and presentations.
   • Proactively conduct research & leverage insights and best practice methodologies in dealing with uncertainty.
   • Continuously innovate in navigating business complexities with practical frameworks.
   • Conduct research, articulate, and present insights using frameworks such as SWOT Analysis, PESTEL Analysis, Market Landscape Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Target Audience Analysis, Product and Services Analysis.
   • Continuously scan and gather data on local and international markets for business opportunities and risk mitigation.
   • Generate ideas for strategic initiatives.
9. Communicating and influence
   • Clearly articulates the key points of an argument, both in verbal and written communication.

Responsibilities

1. Facilitates the strategy formulation processes and activities in consultation with the relevant key stakeholders.
2. Assists in translating the business strategy into operational plans.
3. Assists in monitoring the execution of the strategy and reporting on business performance to help OML achieve business objectives.
4. Interpret the strategic need and identify solution recommendations to strategic challenges at a business unit level.
5. Analyze financial and operational data, market trends, customer behavior, and competitive dynamics to support strategic decision making within the business unit.
6. Manage specific segments within forecasting and demand planning, implementing strategies to efficiently predict future product demand and optimally adjust production levels.
7. Develop and propose annual business plans for a given area or department, ensuring alignment with strategy.
8. Provide specialist advice on the interpretation and application of policies and procedures, resolving complex or contentious queries and issues.
9. Contribute to the design and creation of reporting strategies and templates.
10. Deliver small- or medium-scale projects while working within an established program management plan.
11. Develop tactical plans for optimizing resources and assets being managed within a given area or department.
12. Conduct research using primary data sources, and select information needed for the analysis of key themes and trends.
13. Contribute to stakeholder engagement by identifying stakeholders and their needs, issues, and concerns.
14. Develop own capabilities by participating in assessment and development planning activities.

Skills

1. Action Planning
2. Adaptive Thinking
3. Analytical Thinking
4. Business Acumen
5. Commercial Acumen
6. Computer Literacy
7. Data Compilation
8. Data Interpretations
9. Evaluating Information
10. Managing Stakeholder Expectations
11. Microsoft Excel
12. Numerical Aptitude
13. Oral Communications
14. Solution Analysis
15. Statistical Analysis Techniques
16. Strategic Prioritization
17. Strategic Selling
18. Writing

Competencies

1. Action Oriented
2. Business Insight
3. Collaborates
4. Communicates Effectively
5. Decision Quality
6. Ensures Accountability
7. Financial Acumen
8. Manages Complexity

Education

Bachelors Degree (B) (Required)

Closing Date

17 April 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.

The Old Mutual Story!