Head of Marketing Governance

Head of Marketing Governance and Operations

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: London or Edinburgh

Reporting to: Group Brand and Marketing Strategy Director

Working Style: Hybrid (50% home/office)

Team: CMO Office, Group Brand and Marketing

Join Our Group Brand and Marketing Team

We're seeking an experienced Head of Marketing Governance and Operations to lead our Marketing Governance and Operations team at Royal London. This pivotal role ensures our Brand & Marketing (B&M) function operates sustainably, efficiently, and at scale—while meeting Royal London's risk management standards and delivering effective control environment aligned to our strategy and ambitions.

You'll, oversee risk and governance, define and deliver the operational strategy and build strong partnerships across Finance, Risk, People, and Procurement. Your leadership will help embed operational excellence and a positive risk culture throughout B&M.

Key Responsibilities

Risk Oversight & Management

• Ensure effective risk management practices are adopted across B&M.
• Build ability to assess control effectiveness and strengthen the B&M control environment in response to new and evolving risks
• Work with the Risk Business Partner to support adherence to the Group Risk Management Framework.
• Advocate for a strong risk culture, balancing risk appetite with business opportunities.
• Identify and communicate emerging risks, providing recommendations and controls.
• Oversee submissions to the UK Risk Committee and Group Executive Risk Committee, reviewing and advising on readiness.
• Apply commercial judgement to risks and escalate as appropriate.
• Scan the legal and risk horizon to ensure B&M is prepared and mobilises mitigation plans.

Governance

• Proactively raise governance standards across B&M, supporting colleagues to adopt best practice.
• Prepare colleagues for Group Committees, providing counsel and guidance.
• Own and maintain the Group Brand and Marketing Communication Framework.
• Optimise and embed a robust governance framework.

Marketing Operations

• Build the infrastructure, skills, and technical environment for an efficient marketing operations team.
• Design, implement, and maintain best-practice processes for budget, risk, supplier management, creative, production, and print.
• Lead the development of a skills and capabilities plan in partnership with the People function.
• Deliver creative services, production, and print strategy, establishing a centralised delivery model.
• Manage marketing supplier relationships at a contractual level, collaborating with Procurement.

• Build partnerships with enabling functions and key suppliers to deliver the marketing operational plan.

• Own the Marketing Operations roadmap and provide resources to support business units.

• Develop and maintain methods, processes, tools, ways of working, and training programmes.

Stakeholder Management

• Build effective relationships with senior stakeholders and B&M Leadership Team
• Act with credibility and confidence when engaging senior stakeholders.
• Influence, challenge, and build alignment for ideas, positively impacting others.
• Maintain a network of internal and external contacts to shape and promote priorities.

People Leadership

• Lead a team of marketing governance and operations specialists.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture.

Technical & Functional Skills

• Proven ability to lead and manage enterprise-wide governance frameworks.
• Excellent planning, coordination, and organisational skills.
• Strong risk management

Qualifications & Personal Capabilities

• Excellent communication, negotiation, influencing, and leadership skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing abilities.
• Self-sufficient, driven, and able to deliver through others.
• Ability to organise, prioritise, and delegate work efficiently.

About Royal London

We're the UK's largest mutual life, pensions and investment company, offering protection, long-term savings and asset management products and services.

Our People Promise to our colleagues is that we will all work somewhere inclusive, responsible, enjoyable and fulfilling. This is underpinned by our Spirit of Royal London values; Empowered, Trustworthy, Collaborate, Achieve.

We've always been proud to reward employees by offering great workplace benefits such as 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, an up to 14% employer matching pension scheme and private medical insurance. You can see all our benefits here - Our Benefits

Inclusion, diversity and belonging

We're an Inclusive employer. We celebrate and value different backgrounds and cultures across Royal London. Our diverse people and perspectives give us a range of skills which are recognised and respected – whatever their background.