Operational Resilience & Business Control Director - Banking - London - Contract

A leading international financial services organisation is seeking an experienced Director, IBS & Operational Resilience Business Control Officer to join its EMEA Control Office. This is a senior leadership position responsible for driving First Line of Defence governance, risk and control oversight across Operational Resilience and Important Business Services (IBS).

Reporting to the Control Operating Officer, the successful candidate will act as the senior subject matter expert for Operational Resilience, providing strategic leadership and challenge across business, operations and technology functions. The role will be instrumental in ensuring the organisation can operate within defined impact tolerances during severe but plausible disruption scenarios.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and enhance the First Line Operational Resilience and IBS governance framework across the EMEA region.
• Maintain oversight of Important Business Services and associated impact tolerances.
• Drive the identification, assessment and mitigation of resilience-related risks, ensuring effective control environments are in place.
• Provide expert guidance on evolving Operational Resilience regulatory requirements and industry best practice.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across business, operations and technology functions to strengthen resilience capabilities.
• Oversee service mapping, dependency analysis and resilience scenario testing activities.
• Ensure robust governance, reporting and escalation processes are maintained.
• Provide constructive challenge to business areas regarding resilience readiness, risk management and control effectiveness.
• Collaborate closely with Operational Risk, Business Continuity, Cyber Security, Technology and Third-Party Risk teams to deliver a coordinated resilience framework.

Ideal Background

• Strong experience within Operational Resilience, Business Continuity, Operational Risk or Enterprise Risk Management within a financial services environment.
• Deep understanding of Important Business Services (IBS), impact tolerances, resilience mapping and scenario testing.
• Significant experience operating within a First Line of Defence control or business management function.
• Proven ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders across business and technology teams.
• Strong knowledge of UK and European Operational Resilience regulations and expectations.
• Excellent governance, risk management and leadership capabilities.