Director, Business Continuity Risk Management

Canada Life; London; On-site; CAD 121,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education reimbursement up to $2,000

Mental health benefit up to $5,000

Volunteer day

Pension plan

Employee ownership program

Employee discounts

ERGs and mentorship programs

Job summary

Canada Life in London, Ontario, seeks a Director, Business Continuity Risk Management (Canada) to provide risk management leadership and independent oversight across the Canadian segment's BCRM program. The role leads the 2nd Line of Defence for BC, ER, ICM, and TR pillars, aligning with enterprise policies and regulatory expectations, and oversees risk reporting to senior management and risk committees.

You will build a high‑performing team, collaborate with global risk partners, and drive

Qualifications

• Post secondary education or equivalent in business, risk management, finance or compliance.
• Minimum 7 years in financial services with operational risk management accountability.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience.
• Experience in Emergency Response, Crisis Management, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery.
• Industry accreditation/certification and ISO 22301 experience is an asset.
• Strong relationship-building and influencing across stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead 2nd Line oversight for Business Continuity Risk Management across Canada with independent oversight and challenge.
• Coordinate with 1st and 2nd Line stakeholders to define the oversight model.
• Define and execute 2nd Line strategic priorities for resilience and BCRM maturity.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team and promote collaboration.
• Partner with global risk teams to enhance frameworks and reporting.
• Provide independent advice on business disruption risk, including risk assessments and testing.
• Review risk trends and recommend enhancements to the framework.
• Lead risk reporting for senior management and risk committees.
• Represent 2nd Line in internal audits and regulatory examinations.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Industry accreditation (CBCI/AMBCI/MBCI/FBCI/ABCP/CBCP/MBCP)

Job description

Permanent Full Time

We are seeking a Director, Business Continuity Risk Management (Canada) to provide risk management leadership, independent oversight, and support ongoing maturity of the Canadian segment's Business Continuity Risk Management (BCRM) program.

Reporting to the AVP, Operational Risk & Resilience, this role is accountable for collaborating with 1st Line of Defence stakeholders in the ongoing development, effectiveness, and maturity of the Business Continuity Risk Management framework across Canada. The Director serves as a 2nd Line of Defence leader and responsible for overseeing the Emergency Response (ER), Incident & Crisis Management (ICM), Business Continuity (BC), and Technology Resiliency (TR) pillars of the framework, ensuring alignment with enterprise policies, regulatory expectations, and industry leading practices.

This role provides thought leadership, independent risk opinion, and influence on business continuity risk management processes and resilience capabilities. Furthermore, this role leads the development, review and presentation of risk reporting to senior management and risk committees.

What You Will Do

• Lead the 2nd Line oversight program for Business Continuity Risk Management across Canada, providing independent oversight and challenge to ensure the design, implementation, effectiveness, and sustainability of business continuity and resilience capabilities across business units
• Coordinate with key 1st Line and 2nd Line stakeholders to define and implement 2nd Line oversight engagement model
• Define and execute on 2nd Line strategic priorities to support advancing operational resilience, maturing the BCRM framework, and drive operational excellence through adoption of innovation and technology/tooling
• Lead and develop a high performing team, promoting collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement
• Partner with 2nd Line stakeholders, including global Operational Risk and Resilience and other risk SMEs, to drive continuous enhancement of risk frameworks, contribute to updates to risk appetite, and strengthen reporting and oversight processes
• Provide subject matter expertise and independent advice on business disruption risk concerns, including incident response processes, supporting enterprise risk management programs and assessments, including Risk and Control Self-Assessments (RCSAs), initiative and change assessments, scenario testing, and issues management processes
• Review internal and external business disruption risk trends, current and emerging risks, and the BCRM risk profile, proactively recommending enhancements to framework and risk management activities
• Lead reporting, providing clear and concise risk insights for senior management and risk committees
• Represent 2nd Line in internal audit reviews and regulatory examinations

What You Will Bring

• Post secondary education or equivalent experience, preferably in business, risk management, finance, or compliance disciplines
• Minimum 7 years of experience in financial services or a regulated environment with operational risk management accountabilities
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience managing teams
• Demonstrated leadership, judgement and execution skills, with the ability to prioritize and deliver high-quality outcomes
• Experience in Emergency Response, Crisis Management, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery within a 1st or 2nd Line of Defence role
• Industry professional accreditation / certification is an asset (i.e. CBCI, AMBCI, MBCI, FBCI, ABCP, CBCP, MBCP) and experience with ISO 22301
• Proven strength in building relationships, influencing outcomes, and navigating complexity across diverse stakeholder groups
• Excellent analytical, verbal, and written communication skills
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple initiatives concurrently

The base salary for this position is between $121,200.00 - $171,200.00 annually. This represents base salary only and does not represent other variable compensation components of our total compensation ( i.e. annual bonus, commission etc). If you are selected to move forward in our recruitment process, your recruiter will be able to discuss additional details of our total rewards program with you.

Career opportunities will be open a minimum of 5 business days from the date of posting, closing dates will vary depending on the search activity. All applications received will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Grow with Canada Life

We’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the financial, physical and mental well-being of Canadians. Our company is trusted by 1 in 3 Canadians and contributes to the strength of communities across the country.

We’re looking for people who live our values everyday: we step up, we do the right thing, and we deliver – for our customers, communities and each other. Are you someone who always strives to do the right thing, who steps up for themselves and others, and delivers with impact? Then we want to hear from you!

What we offer

We’re committed to supporting our employees through every stage of their career. Here’s what you can expect as a full-time or part-time permanent team member:

• Career Development: Opportunities for career advancement, access to industry-leading learning programs and up to$2,000 annually towards education reimbursement.
• Health & Wellness:Flexible health and dental benefits, plus a $5,000 mental health benefit to support your well-being.
• Time Off:In addition to regular vacation and personal days, we support community involvement with a volunteer day.
• Financial Security:Company-matching pension plan,share ownership program and additionalinvestment options.
• Rewards and Recognition: Employee recognition programs, service milestone celebrations, employee discounts and more!
• Emphasis on Community: We provide a workplace where employees feel connected and supported through Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), mentorship programs, social clubs and events.

Learn more about Canada Life.

We’re committed to removing barriers and ensuring equal access to employment. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during the application process may contact [e-mail]. All information provided will be handled in accordance with applicable laws and Canada Life policies.

Canada Life would like to thank all applicants, however only those who qualify for an interview will be contacted.