Head of Quality and Partnership Standards

Why us?

We're a dynamic, fast-paced and growing business with huge ambition. This is all made possible by the brilliant people who are part of The Openwork Partnership family. We're investing heavily in our colleagues, continuously striving to give them the platform to develop personally and professionally and reach their full potential.

This is a rare and exciting first line role, taking responsibility for the strategic delivery of our Assurance Model (control framework) across The Openwork Partnership. The opportunity will give autonomy for shaping this, putting your own creative stamp on things and to continue the evolution of the framework across the business.

As Head of Assurance Standards, you will own the framework for the appropriate oversight of our Appointed Representatives. A data focused individual, you should be adept at leveraging and harnessing technology against a compliance backdrop. 

This is a Swindon based role, with hybrid working opportunity. 

We'd like you to be responsible for:

• Leadership, management, and oversight of the assurance standards function.
• Implement and evolve an effective assurance model that uses data, metrics and leverages technology.
• Safe execution of the assurance model.
• Implement and evolve the checking quota for pre and post sale business checks.
• Ownership of the T&C schemes.
• Regulatory reporting as part of the assurance model.
• Develop and deliver continuous improvement initiatives to ensure assurance standards are aligned to.
• Contribute to key change initiatives to support the corporate strategy.

Key Accountabilities:

• Ensuring that the assurance processes and standards conform to expected regulatory requirements.
• Day to day management of the assurance standards function against agreed service standards, key performance Indicators and metrics.
• Clearly documented T&C policy and schemes for the Openwork network, OWL Financial and safeguarded benefits.
• Delivery of an appropriately robust Advertising Approval – Financial Promotions framework.
• Delivery of regulatory and business MI & reporting for the assurance model.
• Stakeholder management to enable effective evolution of the assurance model.
• Manage annual budget of c. £3-5m.
• Represents and presents at key governance groups across the organisation.
• Effective management of quota metrics in line with risk appetite. 
• Manage complex case support from FIRST help desk referrals.

What will you need to succeed?

• Strategic vision
• An appreciation of the conduct risks relevant to an AR network.
• An understanding of the regulatory environment.
• Outstanding stakeholder management skills.
• Mindset that puts the Customer at the heart of everything.
• Demonstrable effective leadership, with a focus on creating a high performing team with a growth mindset.
• Excellent facilitation and presentation skills.
• Focus on delivering value with experience of overcoming obstacles to achieve the desired outcomes.
• Proven ability to engage at all levels, creating buy in and developing a collaborative way of working.
• Resilient, proactive, and driven in a changing environment.
• Key influencer and achieves positive engagement at all levels advocating change.
• Self-starter looks for opportunities to drive continuous improvement to deliver improved quality.

The benefits:

• Salary - up to £77,000
• Bonus scheme - on target bonus - 17.5%
• An annual car allowance of £5,486
• Pension scheme - contribute up to 5% of your salary and Openwork will match you and put in an extra 5%
• Critical illness cover
• Income protection - 1x salary 
• Death in service - 4x salary
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays, with the opportunity to buy up to an additional 10 days 
• A range of other flexible benefits to include private medical insurance, dental insurance and much more.