Director of Strategy

Package Description

At Saga, we recognise that our people make us special. We believe our colleagues deserve rewards for the excellence they demonstrate every single day, that's why we have put together an amazing benefits package for all colleagues.  

BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR THIS ROLE: 

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Option to purchase additional leave - 5 extra days
• Pension scheme matched up to 10%
• Company performance related annual bonus - Up to 40%
• Enhanced Car allowance - level 3 role 
• Private medical insurance 
• Life assurance policy on joining us, 4 x salary
• Wellbeing programme
• Colleague discounts including family discounts on cruises, holidays and insurance
• Range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Grandparents leave
• Income protection
• Access to Saga Academy, our bespoke learning platform

Job Introduction

Director of Strategy

Salary - depending on experience   

Permanent

Hybrid Home & Folkestone / London

Saga Plc is hiring for a newly created role, Director of Strategy. This gives you the chance to work closely with our CEO on the future vision and plans for Saga. You will need to have previously developed and engaged with consumer facing business models on significant business growth strategy. Ideally you will have had a credible career within a highly regarded strategy house and now seek an opportunity in-house where you can make a significant impact to the continued success and growth of an established UK brand.

We need our new Director of Strategy to lead and support across all our Business units, helping to develop and manage strategic change and improve delivery based upon market knowledge and experience in a large customer facing territory and product portfolio. 

You will act as the core architect of Saga’s Group strategy, partnering closely with the Group CEO and Operating Board to shape where the Group plays, how it wins, and how value is created over the short-, medium- and long-term business plan. You will lead the development of robust, data driven business cases for major strategic initiatives, partnerships and growth opportunities, and play a vital role in translating strategic choices into disciplined execution that delivers our sustainable financial performance.

Main Responsibilities

Stepping into this crucial role at Saga, you will fit naturally and be able to deliver on strategy. Capable to get things done, you will be responsible for the following; 

•    Leading the development of the Group’s overall Strategic vision and plan, working with the Operating Board and Business Unit CEOs, and shaping proposals for decision and approval by the Group Board

•    Acting as a senior strategic thought partner to the Chief Strategy Officer and Business Unit CEOs, providing independent challenge, insight and perspective beyond operating plans

•    Owning the synthesis of external market trends, competitor intelligence and evolving customer needs to inform Group strategy, with a particular focus on innovation, future audiences and long‑term growth opportunities

•    Partnering with the CFO to shape capital planning and allocation in line with strategy, underpinned by rigorous analysis of market dynamics, performance, returns and trade‑offs

•    Identifying and developing high‑value strategic opportunities, including major capital projects, partnerships, joint ventures and potential M&A, from early concept through to investment decision

•    Establishing clear, outcome‑focused mechanisms and metrics to track execution of strategic initiatives, maintaining pace, discipline and transparency on delivery

•    Driving integration across Saga’s organisation to realise synergies and enterprise‑wide value in a deliberate and systematic way

•    Working with the Chief People Officer to ensure organisational capabilities, talent and structures are aligned to strategic priorities and future requirements

•    Working with the Chief Technology Officer to shape a modern, future‑ready technology and digital agenda that directly enables strategy and materially improves customer experience

•    Partnering with the Brand team to ensure clear alignment between strategic priorities, Purpose and Business Unit plans, and that strategic intent is consistently expressed internally and externally

•    Championing an open, transparent culture where challenge is welcomed and issues are surfaced constructively, reinforcing strong governance, accountability and ethical standards 

The Ideal Candidate

You will have already been exposed to working on large scale growth / change / transformation strategies. You will have experience of consumer facing marketing and sales-based organisations. Have a strong commercial and financial acumen. Naturally comfortable working alongside the CEO and senior / exec level leaders, supporting their decision‑making in complex environments. You will also be able to demonstrate the following skills; 

•    Can demonstrate leadership experience operating at or close to Plc Board level, working with Boards, Executives and senior stakeholders to shape and deliver significant strategic change

•    Has outstanding strategic capability, combining rigorous analysis with creativity, commercial judgement and openness to new perspectives

•    Holds strong judgement and decision‑making skills, including the ability to operate effectively with ambiguity, make trade‑offs and empower others

•    Operates at executive‑level, with excellent communication and influencing skills, with the credibility to challenge, align and build consensus across diverse senior stakeholders

•    Has a proven ability to navigate complexity, negotiate effectively and constructively resolve conflict in high‑stakes environments

Saga Values: Make it Happen, Do the Right Thing, Customer First, Excellence Every Day, Our People Make Us Special

About The Company

Over the past 75 years we have become the UK's specialist provider of products and services to people aged over 50 in the UK. We’re the most trusted brand amongst UK consumers in this demographic, recognised for high-quality products and exceptional standards of service. Our product portfolio includes cruises, holidays, insurance, personal finance products and our Saga Magazine. 

Our focus on delivering exceptional products and service empowers our colleagues to create moments that are personal and special for our customers and for each other and our values underpin our approach and help guide us to deliver our purpose. 

We’re committed to making sure that colleagues can be their best, be themselves and make a difference – more than anywhere else. We have done this by creating a truly inclusive culture, where all colleagues can bring their full and authentic selves to work and be treated with dignity and respect in an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. 

Thanks to our people, Saga was awarded with a Gold for Best Customer Centric Culture in 2025. This is testament to the great culture we’ve built together. This award belongs to all our colleagues who collectively make Saga a fantastic place to work. 

We are champions of age inclusivity and signatories of the Age-Friendly Employer Pledge, we are proud of our multigenerational teams we have in place. We’re also a committed Disability Confident employer and ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. Your application will have fair consideration, and you’ll receive personal communication throughout your applicant journey when you apply to join Saga. 

Saga does not accept agency CVs unless specifically engaged on the role by the Talent Acquisition Team. Please do not forward CVs to our recruiters, employees or any other company location. Saga will not be responsible for any fees related to CVs received in this unsolicited manner.

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