Head of Operational Risk Management - PWB & PCBG

First Abu Dhabi Bank; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

First Abu Dhabi Bank is seeking a Head of Operational Risk Management for the UAE, to lead the end-to-end implementation of the risk framework across Personal Banking, Business Banking, and Private Banking. You will ensure strong risk governance, embed risk ownership, and partner with risk, compliance, and audit functions to close findings and drive resilience.

The role requires 10+ years in operational risk within banking, solid understanding of banking products and risk frameworks, and proven

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Operational Risk Management within banking.
• Strong understanding of banking products, channels, risk frameworks.
• Experience across business, operations, technology, risk, compliance, and audit.
• Strong stakeholder management, governance, influencing, and problem-solving.
• Proven ability to manage regulatory, risk, and transformation initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation and embedding of the Operational Risk Management framework across the business, ensuring clear accountability for risk ownership and governance.
• Oversee core risk management activities including RCSA, KRIs, incidents, issues, remediation actions, control assessments, and governance reporting.
• Establish and maintain robust incident and loss management processes, including root cause analysis, trend monitoring, and remediation tracking.
• Drive operational resilience and business continuity by identifying, assessing, and managing critical business services, processes, and dependencies.
• Provide risk governance and oversight for products, channels, campaigns, outsourcing arrangements, third-party relationships, and transformation initiatives.
• Lead risk appetite management through monitoring of key risk metrics, emerging risks, threshold breaches, escalation requirements, and mitigation plans.
• Partner with Risk, Compliance, Audit, and other control functions to manage regulatory findings, audit observations, and remediation commitments through to closure.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, promoting a strong risk culture, stakeholder engagement, accountability, and sustainable risk management practices.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Governance

Risk management

Regulatory awareness

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business

Professional certification in Operational Risk

Job description

Job Title: Head of Operational Risk Management - PWB & PCBG

Job Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Date Posted: 30 September 2026

Job Reference/ID: 2809

Job Description / Role:

Lead and oversee the end-to-end implementation of the Operational Risk Management framework across Personal Banking, Business Banking, and Private Banking as a First Line of Defence (1LoD), ensuring a strong risk and control environment while enabling business growth within approved risk appetite.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the implementation and embedding of the Operational Risk Management framework across the business, ensuring clear accountability for risk ownership and governance.
• Oversee core risk management activities including RCSA, KRIs, incidents, issues, remediation actions, control assessments, and governance reporting.
• Establish and maintain robust incident and loss management processes, including root cause analysis, trend monitoring, and remediation tracking.
• Drive operational resilience and business continuity by identifying, assessing, and managing critical business services, processes, and dependencies.
• Provide risk governance and oversight for products, channels, campaigns, outsourcing arrangements, third-party relationships, and transformation initiatives.
• Lead risk appetite management through monitoring of key risk metrics, emerging risks, threshold breaches, escalation requirements, and mitigation plans.
• Partner with Risk, Compliance, Audit, and other control functions to manage regulatory findings, audit observations, and remediation commitments through to closure.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, promoting a strong risk culture, stakeholder engagement, accountability, and sustainable risk management practices.

Experience Required:

• 10+ years of experience in Operational Risk Management within banking or financial services.
• Strong understanding of banking products, channels, operating models, and risk frameworks.
• Experience working across business, operations, technology, risk, compliance, and audit functions.
• Strong stakeholder management, governance, influencing, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proven ability to manage complex regulatory, risk, and transformation initiatives.

Education Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Risk Management, Law, or a related discipline.
• Professional certification in Operational Risk, Risk Management, or Governance is preferred.

Employment / Job Type: Full Time

Nationality: UAE National (Emiratisation)

About the Company:

The largest bank in the United Arab Emirates by assets, formed in 2017 through the merger of National Bank of Abu Dhabi and First Gulf Bank. Listed in Abu Dhabi, FAB serves retail, corporate, investment, and private banking clients through a network spanning the Gulf, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Company Industry:

Banking

Closing Date: 16 October 2026

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