Business Planning Manager, Legal

Job description / Role

Business Planning Manager, Legal, Africa & Middle East

The role will directly support the General Counsel, Africa & Middle East (AME) in:
* The execution of the functional strategy and agenda across AME
* Driving a disciplined approach to the budget and forecasting process across AME
* Implementing effective communication plans to assist in proactive cascade of the vision, strategy, direction and leadership for Legal to the AME network and businesses.
* Defining and delivering the management information required to meet the reporting responsibilities of the region.
* Managing any projects and process improvement initiatives designed to drive efficiencies across the Legal function within the region in accordance with Group standards and guidance

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Strategy and agenda support
* Proactively support the General Counsel, AME in the execution of the functional strategy and agenda across the Region.
* Proactively track and measure the performance of the Regional Team in delivering the Legal agenda across the Region, and identify gaps and actions required to deliver the agenda.
* Organise and support agenda setting for meetings of the Regional Legal Leadership team.
* Work closely with the Head of Governance, Legal AME and the Regional Risk and Policy Manager, Legal as part of the Office of the Regional General Counsel, AME to identify gaps and implement actions to achieve best practices and efficiencies in AME Legal.

Budget
* Support the General Counsel, AME to maintain a rigorous cost and investment discipline across the region.
* Manage the annual regional operating cost budget for the countries and product teams in AME.
* Work closely with the Senior Manager, Planning and Project Management, Legal to execute a disciplined budget process and accurate forecasting across teams in AME according to agreed functional standards, including development of Legal capacity plans as required for the region.
* Coordinate and consider input from the country and regional teams in relation to investments and target setting decisions.

Management Information
* Support the General Counsel, AME in defining and delivering the management information required to meet the reporting responsibilities of the region.
* Manage the reporting requirements for the region, with guidance from General Counsel, AME, Head of Governance, Legal, AME and Regional Risk and Policy Manager, Legal to ensure reports and other Management Information are provided in agreed and standardised format to all key business and governance stakeholders.

People Agenda
* Support the General Counsel, AME in:
* Ensuring the region is adequately resourced by an appropriate number of competent staff sufficiently independent to perform duties objectively, to support sustainable business growth and address legal risks within the Region.
* Deploying Group capability and capacity planning tools in the Region paying particular focus to, talent development, performance management, learning and development and engagement.
* People management in the areas of resourcing, talent development, performance management, learning and development and engagement, in accordance with frameworks and standards set by Group.
* Embedding the newly integrated function organisation and any other organisation structure from time to time.

Communications
* Collaborate with Planning and Project Management, Legal to develop and implement effective communication plans to support cascade of information by the Regional Legal team to the broader AME legal team.
* Implement agreed functional communication standards, support agenda setting and provide relevant communication tools to facilitate information and best practice sharing across the Regional Legal team.
* Produce high quality presentations for the General Counsel, AME's use at management meetings and governance committees where applicable

Project/Initiatives Management
* Lead the implementation of process improvement initiatives within the region, as directed by the General Counsel, AME to drive efficiency across the Regional team and in line with Group frameworks and standards.
* Support the regional roll out of Group projects and initiatives as and when required by the General Counsel, AME.

Other responsibilities
* Ensure an effective infrastructure is in place to support the Regional Team (including business management, planning and administration e.g. premises, IT).
* Maintain close relationships with all members of the Regional and Product Legal teams and with the Senior Manager, Planning and Project Management, Legal.

Business
* Support the General Counsel AME in all aspects of running the Legal function, includingsupport in leading and implementing the vision, strategy and direction of the Legal function.
* Assist with the management and coordination of the AME Legal Management Team, including co-ordination of meetings (working closely with the PA to the General Counsel AME), agenda formulation, strategic team planning, minute taking and follow-up / driving key actions (working with the AME LMT to ensure seamless and timely execution).
* Support the General Counsel AME in his membership / attendance of relevant Governance and Management Committees meetings, and all other meetings as required. This includes reviewing documentation in advance and identifying salient points and issues which require attention and analysis (and starting that analysis).
* Endeavour to ensure that the General Counsel AME is kept abreast of material issues in the Bank that might impact Legal.
* Draft speaking notes for the General Counsel AME to use on any Legal team calls, and draft regular posts in the General Counsel AME's name (including about Regional Leadership Team, Governance and Management Team events).
* Ensure the General Counsel AME is briefed and prepared for all internal and external speaking engagements.
* Work closely and collaborate with Head of Governance, Legal AME and Regional Risk and Policy Manager, Legal to proactively identify monitor and manage risks relating to Legal in AME

Requirements

* Financial/ budgeting experience or analytical and numerical skills advantageous.
* Legal degree/legal experience/legal documentation experience helpful.
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills, upward management skills and multi cultural awareness and sensitivity.
* Ability to operate within a geographically dispersed and highly varied stakeholder base.
* Ability to collaborate and work dynamically across country, region, business and group stakeholders.
* Strong project management and organisational skills.
* Ability to effectively prioritise multiple tasks in a high pressure environment.
* Exemplary integrity, ethics, independence and resilience.
* Ability to work in a matrix organisation, leveraging resources across the organisation to complete deliverables.
* Ability to handle sensitive matters at all levels of the organisation with discretion and confidentiality.

About the Company

Standard Chartered Bank started in 1958 in UAE with its first branch in Sharjah. The Group’s business gradually increased in Dubai with the opening of several branches and today, Dubai is the administrative hub of the Middle East and South Asia Region. In its 43rd year, the Bank enjoys the position of having the most extensive branch network among foreign international banks in UAE with 10 branches emirate-wide.

Standard Chartered is an international bank, focused on the established and emerging markets of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America with an extensive global network of more than 600 offices in over 50 countries. The three principal business groups are Global Markets, Personal Banking and Corporate and Institutional Banking.

In UAE, we are one of the leading banks, offering an extensive range of products and services for personal customers, local companies, multinational corporate and financial institutions.