Group Head of Operational Risk & Resilience
The Group Head of Operational Risk & Resilience is a strategic leader responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive, enterprise-wide operational risk and resilience framework across the firm. This role sets the operational risk strategy and risk appetite for the Bank, directly managing the Group-level operational risk function and providing oversight to local entities.
Leveraging deep expertise in operational risk management, industry best practices, and regulatory compliance, the Group Head will lead and mentor the Operational Risk team, championing best-practice risk management principles. This includes contributing to the ongoing evolution and enhancement of the Bank's overall risk management framework.
This role sits in 2nd LoD and reports directly to the Chief Risk Officer
Responsibilities:
- Define, develop, and maintain the overarching Operational Risk Framework for the Group, aligning it with evolving regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
- Devise and oversee the operational risk appetite, ensuring it remains calibrated to strategic objectives and business growth.
- Provide strategic leadership and guidance to senior management on operational risk management, influencing decision-making and ensuring the integration of operational risk into enterprise-wide risk management strategies.
- Develop and implement a proactive operational risk management program, including identification, assessment, monitoring, and reporting of operational risks across all business units, including Loss Events and the NFR Taxonomy.
- Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive operational resilience framework encompassing business continuity planning across the entire Group.
- Provide Second Line oversight of ICT Risk, ensuring effective identification, management, testing, incident reporting, and regulatory compliance in line with DORA expectations.
- Lead oversight of Third-Party and Supplier Risk Management, including critical ICT suppliers, ensuring resilience, concentration risk management, contractual protections, and exit planning meet regulatory outsourcing requirements.
- Ensure effective Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and Crisis Management arrangements are in place, tested, and aligned to defined impact tolerances.
- Oversee the end-to-end collection and analysis of operational loss and incident data, driving root-cause analysis to prevent recurrence and improve control effectiveness
- Act as the key point of contact for operational risk and resilience matters, providing strategic guidance and updates to the Board, Board Risk and Compliance Committee, and Executive Committee.
- Oversee the development and maintenance of relevant group policies, procedures, and standards relating to operational risk and resilience.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of operational risk and resilience specialists. This includes providing coaching, performance management, and career development opportunities.
- Foster a strong culture of operational risk awareness and accountability across the organisation through training programs, communication initiatives, and collaborative engagement.
- Engage with external stakeholders, including regulators and industry experts, to stay abreast of emerging trends and best practices in operational risk and resilience management.
- Provide recommendations to Executive Management on emerging trends in operational risk management, both internally and externally.
- Ensure ongoing compliance with all relevant regulations and industry standards related to operational risk and resilience.
Other duties as may be determined by the Chief Risk Officer
- Bachelor's degree in Risk Management or a related field; professional certifications are considered a plus
- At least 10 years of experience in operational risk within a regulated environment
- Sound understating of banking operations
- Strong subject matter expertise across ICT, Third Party and Outsourcing, Payments and Business Continuity
- Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and operational risk methodologies
- Proficiency in RCSA, KRIs, control testing and scenario analysis, alongside core risk processes like Risk Appetite design, Risk Governance and Risk Reporting
- Detailed understanding of digital banking products
- Experience overseeing technology and data risks
- Senior leadership experience in regulated financial services
- Exceptional communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to engage, influence and provide credible challenge to senior executives and Board level stakeholders
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