Director, Non-Financial Risk, Canadian Banking

Scotiabank; Toronto; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Scotiabank in Toronto is seeking an experienced leader to oversee Canadian Banking Risk Advisory within Risk Identification and Business Risk Management. You will guide non-financial risk strategy, partner with executives, and drive proactive risk management across products, operations and technology.

The role requires 10–15 years in financial services with deep regulatory knowledge and proven leadership. You will champion risk culture, manage key risk indicators and support risk committees.

Qualifications

• MBA or university degree with 10–15 years of relevant experience in financial services, risk management, business operations, controls, compliance or related field.
• Strong understanding of Canadian Banking units, products, services, customer journeys, operations, systems and practices.
• Demonstrated experience providing risk advice and effective challenge to senior business leaders, translating complex requirements into practical actions.
• In-depth knowledge of non-financial risk management, control design, risk and control assessment, KRIs, risk appetite, events and issue management.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements and guidance impacting Canadian Banking (OSFI, Bank Act, policies).
• Strategic thinking, judgement, influencing, facilitation and executive communication skills, with change navigation.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Risk Advisory professionals aligned to Canadian Banking units, establishing coverage, service expectations, priorities and escalation protocols.
• Advise executives and business leaders on non-financial risk matters with timely challenge and practical options.
• Build proactive relationships with business units to understand priorities and assess risk and control implications.
• Provide risk advisory support for new products, services, processes, channels, tech and third-party arrangements, including risk impact assessments and implementation readiness.
• Guide use of risk management tools under the Operational Risk Management Framework and Compliance Risk Program.
• Facilitate risk identification and assessment with units and functions to document material risks and residual exposures.
• Advise on design and enhancement of controls with clear ownership and evidence requirements.
• Provide oversight for risk and compliance issues, including root-cause analysis and remediation strategies.
• Lead advisory support for operational risk events and sustainable corrective actions.
• Advise on interpretation and implementation of regulatory, policy and framework requirements with SMEs as needed.
• Synthesize risk insights to identify themes and emerging concerns and present to senior management.
• Prepare and present risk reports for management and risk committees, including key Canadian forums.
• Represent Canadian Banking Business Risk Management at risk committees and working groups.
• Promote strong risk culture through early engagement, constructive challenge and clear accountability.
• Lead and drive customer-focused culture across the team leveraging Bank relationships and knowledge.
• Ensure risk appetite and culture are considered in day-to-day activities and decisions.
• Maintain day-to-day controls and obligations related to operational risk, regulatory compliance, AML/ATF risk, conduct risk and conduct guidelines.
• Build a high-performing, inclusive team with succession planning and collaboration.

Skills

Risk management

Executive communication

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

People leadership

Risk appetite

Education

MBA or University degree

Job description

Join a purpose driven winning team, committed to results, in an inclusive and high-performing culture.

Leads and oversees the Risk Advisory function within Risk Identification team, Canadian Banking Business Risk Management, providing proactive, practical and independent non-financial risk advice to Canadian Banking business units. The role partners with business leaders and Control and Support Functions to identify, assess, manage and escape risk; strengthen control design and execution; support informed business decisions; and promote consistent application of the Bank's risk management frameworks, policies and risk appetite.

Is this role right for you? In this role you will:

• Lead a team of Risk Advisory professionals aligned to Canadian Banking business units, establishing clear coverage, service expectations, priorities and escalation protocols.
• Act as a trusted advisor to Canadian Banking executives and business leaders on non-financial risk matters, providing timely challenge, guidance and practical options that enable informed decisions and sustainable business outcomes.
• Build strong, proactive relationships with business units to understand strategic priorities, products, customer journeys, operations, technology dependencies and change portfolios, and assess the related risk and control implications.
• Provide risk advisory support for new and changing products, services, processes, channels, technology and third-party arrangements, including risk impact assessments, control requirements, implementation readiness and post-implementation considerations.
• Guide business units in the effective use of risk management tools under the Bank's Operational Risk Management Framework and Compliance Risk Program, including risk and control self-assessments, key risk indicators, risk appetite activities, operational risk events and issue management.
• Facilitate risk identification and assessment activities with business units and Control and Support Functions, ensuring material and emerging risks, control gaps, interdependencies and residual risk exposures are clearly understood, documented and escalated.
• Advise on the design, enhancement and implementation of controls, with a focus on clear ownership, appropriate preventative and detective coverage, evidence requirements, sustainability and alignment with the business operating model.
• Provide challenge and oversight for risk and compliance issues, including root-cause analysis, remediation strategy, action-plan quality, target dates, closure readiness and identification of broader thematic or systemic implications.
• Lead and coordinate advisory support for operational risk events, ensuring the business appropriately assesses impact, identifies root causes, completes required escalation and develops sustainable corrective actions.
• Provide advisory support to Canadian Banking business units on the interpretation and implementation of applicable regulatory, policy and framework requirements, engaging subject-matter experts where required.
• Synthesize business-unit risk insights to identify themes, trends, concentration risks and emerging concerns across Canadian Banking, and recommend priorities or actions to senior management.
• Prepare and present clear, decision-focused risk reporting for management and risk committees, including the Canadian Core Risk Committee and other relevant forums.
• Represent Canadian Banking Business Risk Management at key risk committees and working groups, bringing a business-informed risk perspective and ensuring decisions and actions are communicated to impacted stakeholders.
• Promote a strong risk culture by encouraging early engagement, constructive challenge, transparent escalation and clear accountability for risk ownership within the first line of defense.
• Lead and drive a customer-focused culture across the team, leveraging broader Bank relationships, systems and knowledge to deliver consistent and effective advisory support.
• Ensure the Bank's risk appetite and risk culture are considered in day-to-day activities and decisions.
• Maintain effective day-to-day business controls and fulfil obligations related to operational risk, regulatory compliance risk, AML/ATF risk, conduct risk and the Guidelines for Business Conduct.
• Build a high-performance and inclusive team by setting clear expectations, developing advisory capabilities, supporting succession planning and fostering collaboration, sound judgement and continuous improvement.

Dimensions

• Provides risk advisory coverage across Canadian Banking business units and products, in partnership with relevant Control and Support Functions.
• Supports business decision-making and execution by providing timely, consistent and actionable non-financial risk advice.
• Helps prevent financial loss, regulatory exposure, customer harm and reputational damage through early risk identification, effective challenge and sustainable control solutions.
• Operates across key activities within the Operational Risk and Compliance Risk Programs and supports the continuous improvement of risk advisory practices.
• Requires strong knowledge of Canadian Banking business processes, products, operations, systems, technology and change initiatives.
• Engages stakeholders at all levels, from business and functional teams to Canadian Banking executives and enterprise risk partners.

Do you have the skills that will enable you to succeed in this role? We’d love to work with you if you have:

• MBA or University degree, with 10-15 years of relevant experience in financial services, risk management, business operations, controls, compliance or related field.
• Strong understanding of Canadian Banking business units, products, services, customer journeys, operations, systems and practices.
• Demonstrated experience providing risk advice and effective challenge to senior business leaders, including the ability to translate complex requirements into practical business actions.
• In-depth knowledge of non-financial risk management, control design, risk and control assessment, key risk indicators, risk appetite, operational risk events and issue management.
• Strong knowledge of applicable regulatory requirements and guidance impacting Canadian Banking, including relevant OSFI guidelines, the Bank Act and internal policies and frameworks.
• Strong strategic thinking, judgement, influencing, facilitation and executive communication skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and balance risk, customer and business considerations.
• Proven people leadership experience, including the ability to build advisory capability, establish accountability and lead through change.
• Ability to identify cross-business themes and emerging risks and convert insights into clear recommendations for senior management and risk committees.

Working Conditions

• Work in a standard office-based environment; non-standard hours may be required. Limited domestic travel.

Location(s): Canada : Ontario : Toronto

Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: "for every future", we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets.

At Scotiabank, we value the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the Bank, and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. If you require accommodation (including, but not limited to, an accessible interview site, alternate format documents, ASL Interpreter, or Assistive Technology) during the recruitment and selection process, please let our Recruitment team know.

We thank all applicants for their interest in a career at Scotiabank; however, only those candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.