Senior Strategy & Corporate Development Manager

Job Title: Senior Strategy & Corporate Development Manager Are you looking to apply your strategy and corporate development expertise to influence and shape the strategic decision-making of a leading UK Bank? Are you looking to work within a high impact, empowered and collaborative team? We now have a unique opportunity for an intellectually curious, commercially minded individual to join our talented Strategy & Corporate Development team at Santander UK and would love to hear from you. The purpose of the Senior Strategy & Corporate Development Manager role is to facilitate top management decision making and shaping of Santander’s overall strategic direction, identifying and evaluating growth options collaborating closely with senior leadership to drive long-term business advancement and value creation. As a subject matter expert, the role holder will lead the development and communication of the Santander UK Strategic Plan. This includes researching macroeconomic trends and technological developments, anticipating shifts in customer behaviour, and translating insights into potential new business models. They will also manage end-to-end strategic initiatives, monitor performance against strategic objectives and KPIs, and address risks and governance issues—ensuring ongoing alignment with corporate goals. The difference you’ll make: The role will cover, but will not be limited to, the below key areas of responsibility: • Shape and evolve Santander’s long-term strategic plan in alignment with business and Group priorities • Facilitate strategic planning with senior leadership, driving initiative prioritisation and resource allocation • Track the execution of strategic initiatives, flagging risks and adapting plans to ensure delivery and value realisation • Conduct deep market and competitive analysis to uncover trends and growth opportunities • Lead analysis of macroeconomic trends, customer behaviours, and emerging technologies to anticipate market shifts and define future business models • Translate complex insights into actionable strategies that inform investment, growth, and transformation initiative • Take end-to-end ownership of strategic projects assigned to ensure on-time, in-full delivery • Evaluate corporate development opportunities • Prepare high quality materials to facilitate discussions with the senior management, the Board and key external stakeholders • Play a central role in communicating the bank’s strategy, ensuring clarity, alignment, and momentum across the organisation What you’ll bring: A credible and proven background in strategy / corporate development with the intellectual curiosity, commercial acumen, and stakeholder gravitas having influenced strategy and driven transformation in a complex, regulated environment. • Possess a strong track record from a top-tier consulting firm, leading investment bank, or a high-performing strategy or corporate development team within a major financial institution • Have expert-level capabilities in strategic thinking, financial analysis, and executive engagement, and demonstrate deep sector expertise in financial services, particularly UK Retail and Commercial Banking • Proven experience partnering and building trust with senior cross-functional leaders and managing external advisors or consultants • Strong influencing skills with a track record of shaping senior-level decision-making in complex, matrixed environments • A deep understanding of the UK financial services landscape, including macroeconomic, regulatory, and market dynamics • Solid grasp of UK banking business models and the financial levers driving performance across customer segments and markets • Expertise in financial modelling, valuation, forecasting, and scenario analysis to support growth and investment decisions • Hands-on experience in the end-to-end corporate development process, including deal evaluation, due diligence, and managing relationships with investment banks and advisors • Advanced analytical and quantitative skills, with proficiency in data mining, AI-enabled insight generation, and use of visualisation tools • High-level proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook, with the ability to create clear, compelling, and executive-ready deliverables • Demonstrated ability to prepare and present strategic materials for C-suite or Board-level audiences, with a strong command of storytelling, narrative flow, and impact communication • An understanding of Santander UK’s and Santander Group’s current strategic agenda (including financial plans / budgets, projects in train etc.) is expected What else you need to know: This role will be a predominantly office-based operating from our Triton Square, London, office, and Milton Keynes HQ depending on Executive Board requirements. We want our people to thrive at work and home and be able to deliver the best outcomes for our customers and to help each other develop. To support this, we offer site-based contracts with a hybrid working pattern and our expected level of attendance in an office is at least 12 days per month (pro-rata for part-time roles). If you apply for this role in this location, it’s important you consider your travelling distance, time and cost from your home to the office location. We’re happy to discuss specific working patterns and arrangement within this hybrid approach during the recruitment process. If you’re interested in this role but with part time hours or a job-share we would still love to hear from you and discuss these. Inclusion At Santander we’re creating a thriving workplace where all colleagues feel they belong and are supported to succeed. We all help to make Santander a workplace that celebrates diversity and attracts, retains and develops the most talented and committed people through living our values of Simple, Personal, and Fair. How we’ll reward you. As well as a competitive salary, you’ll enjoy a benefits package that you can tailor to your needs. For part-time / contract roles, your salary, bonus (where eligible) and certain benefits will be prorated to reflect your working hours / contract duration. • We put 8% of salary into your pension, even if you don’t contribute yourself. We’ll pay in up to 12.5% of salary, if you contribute as well, and you can take some of our contribution in cash if you prefer. • 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, which increases to 31 days after 5yrs service, with the option to purchase up to 5 contractual days per year • £6,000 car allowance per year • Company funded individual private medical insurance • Voluntary healthcare benefits at discounted rates such as private medical insurance for your family, dental insurance, and health assessments • Protection for you and your family, with company-funded death-in-service benefit and income protection insurance, and the option to take advantage of discounted rates for additional life assurance and critical illness cover • Share in Santander’s success by saving or investing in our share plans • As a Santander UK employee, you are able to request staff versions of our products like our Edge Current Accounts and Credit Cards with no fees, as well as apply to many other deals and discounts in Santander products and services Learn more about our benefits and family friendly policies