Executive Business Partner to the CEO

Job description

Prudential’s purpose is to be partners for every life and protectors for every future. Our purpose encourages everything we do by creating a culture in which diversity is celebrated and inclusion assured, for our people, customers, and partners. We provide a platform for our people to do their best work and make an impact to the business, and we support our people’s career ambitions. We pledge to make Prudential a place where you can Connect, Grow, and Succeed.

To enable the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to operate effectively by providing high-quality executive, strategic and administrative support; coordinating priority initiatives and stakeholder engagements; and ensuring sound governance, confidentiality and disciplined follow-through across the Executive Office.
The role serves as a trusted partner to the CEO and Senior Management Team, manages sensitive information with discretion, supports the Company Secretary, and advances sustainability and external-relations priorities aligned with Prudential Life Assurance Zambia’s strategy, values and risk-management standards.

ROLE PROFILE

Job Title

Executive Business Partner to the CEO

Business Area

Executive Office

Location

Support Office – Prudential Life Assurance Zambia (PLAZ)

Reports To

Managing Director

Job Level/Grade

P4 (Manager Level)

Current Jobholder

Vacant

OVERALL JOB PURPOSE

To enable the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to operate effectively by providing high-quality executive, strategic and administrative support; coordinating priority initiatives and stakeholder engagements; and ensuring sound governance, confidentiality and disciplined follow-through across the Executive Office.

The role serves as a trusted partner to the CEO and Senior Management Team, manages sensitive information with discretion, supports the Company Secretary, and advances sustainability and external-relations priorities aligned with Prudential Life Assurance Zambia’s strategy, values and risk-management standards.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Strategic and Executive Support

• Act as a trusted partner and sounding board to the CEO, providing timely research, analysis, briefing materials and alternative perspectives to support informed decision-making.
• Coordinate the CEO’s priorities, annual agenda and key strategic initiatives, ensuring clear ownership, milestones, risk flags and timely follow-through.
• Prepare the CEO for meetings, presentations and external engagements by anticipating information needs, key messages and required decisions.

2. Executive Office Effectiveness

• Manage the CEO’s calendar, correspondence, travel and workload, applying sound judgement to prioritise matters and protect time for strategic priorities.
• Serve as the first point of contact for the Executive Office, resolving routine matters, escalating material issues and maintaining a professional stakeholder experience.
• Maintain secure and accurate records, correspondence and action trackers, handling confidential and sensitive information with the highest level of discretion.
• Identify and implement process improvements that strengthen efficiency, responsiveness and operational discipline within the Executive Office.

3. Senior Management and Project Coordination

• Coordinate Senior Management Team meetings, including agendas, papers, minutes, decisions and action follow-up.
• Lead or coordinate projects assigned by the CEO, maintaining clear plans, budgets, dependencies, risks and progress reporting.
• Facilitate effective communication between the CEO, senior leaders and relevant internal teams to ensure alignment and timely delivery.
• Support executive communications and events, ensuring messages are accurate, consistent and aligned with the Company’s strategy and reputation.

4. Governance, Risk and Compliance Support

• Support the Company Secretary with Board and shareholder administration, including meeting coordination, circulation of papers, records and follow-up actions.
• Promote adherence to applicable laws, regulations, policies and Prudential governance standards within the scope of the role.
• Identify emerging issues that may affect the CEO’s agenda or the Company and escalate them promptly with practical recommendations.

5. Stakeholder and Government Relations

• Build and maintain professional relationships with Board members, regulators, government ministries, industry bodies, development partners and other strategic stakeholders.
• Coordinate executive-level engagements with the Pensions and Insurance Authority, Ministry of Finance, Bank of Zambia and other public-sector stakeholders, ensuring timely briefs, correspondence, records and follow-up.
• Monitor relevant regulatory, policy and public-sector developments and provide concise insights, risk flags and recommended actions to the CEO and senior leadership.

6. Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility

• Support the CEO in integrating sustainability considerations into business priorities, executive decisions and selected operational initiatives.
• Coordinate sustainability awareness, engagement and partnership activities, tracking delivery against agreed objectives.

ROLE / PERSON SPECIFICATION

Minimum Experience

• At least 3–5 years’ relevant experience providing executive support to a Chief Executive, Managing Director or senior executive, preferably in a regulated or complex organisation.

Core Skills and Capabilities

• Demonstrates the highest standards of integrity, confidentiality, judgement and professional conduct.
• Strong planning, organisation and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage competing demands and deliver accurately under pressure.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to prepare clear executive briefs, reports, presentations and correspondence.
• Strong stakeholder-management and interpersonal skills, with confidence engaging Board members, senior executives, regulators, government officials and external partners.
• Proactive, resourceful and solutions-oriented, with sound judgement and the ability to anticipate needs, identify risks and take appropriate action.
• Demonstrated project coordination and follow-through, including action tracking, risk management, budgeting and reporting.
• Adaptable and resilient, with tact, diplomacy and a collaborative approach.

Education and Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Management, Communications, Law, Governance or a related field.
• A relevant professional qualification in project management, executive business support, governance, company secretarial practice, stakeholder relations or sustainability is an advantage.

Technical Proficiency

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365, particularly Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Teams, with the ability to learn company-specific systems quickly.
• Working knowledge of executive-office administration, meeting governance, document control and confidential records management.

Prudential is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equality of opportunity of benefits for all who apply and who perform work for our organisation irrespective of sex, race, age, ethnic origin, educational, social and cultural background, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, disability or part-time / fixed-term work, or any other status protected by applicable law. We encourage the same standards from our recruitment and third-party suppliers taking into account the context of grade, job and location. We also allow for reasonable adjustments to support people with individual physical or mental health requirements.