Senior Director, People Risk Governance, Policy and Practice Lead

RBC; Toronto; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total rewards program

Flexible benefits

Stock options where applicable

Career development opportunities

Work-life balance

Job summary

RBC in Toronto seeks a Senior Director for People Risk Governance, Policy & Practice Lead to shape a global CoG for 2LOD. You will partner across HR, GRM, Compliance and business lines to ensure consistent risk oversight and governance aligned with regulatory expectations.

The role emphasizes policy development, risk assessment oversight, and advisory support to 1LOD/2LOD while leading a team of risk professionals in a fast-paced enterprise environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years in risk management, oversight or regulatory compliance with governance focus.
• Ability to drive complex, transformational initiatives at scale.
• Strong judgement and decision-making in ambiguous environments.
• Influence senior leadership on complex risk/regulatory matters.
• Policy management and policy governance experience.
• People leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Shape and drive global operating model and strategy for RBC’s 2LOD People Risk CoG.
• Own the People Risk framework, taxonomy, and requirements.
• Develop and maintain enterprise 2LOD policies and policy architecture governance.
• Provide independent oversight of 1LOD risk-taking and control activities.
• Lead regulatory examinations, regulator inquiries, and audit responses.
• Provide risk insights and training to 1LOD partners on inherent risks and controls.
• Manage a team of risk professionals and foster development.

Skills

Operational risk

Risk governance

Regulatory compliance

Policy governance

People leadership

Stakeholder management

Executive communication

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Job Description

What is the opportunity?

As a key and integral member of the People Risk Governance & Oversight team, the Senior Director, People Risk Governance, Policy & Practice Lead will support the VP, People Risk Oversight & Governance in the strategy, development and execution of a centralized, enterprise-wide, 2nd line of defense Centre of Governance (CoG) practice for the People Risk domain.

Specifically, the Senior Director will play an active and leading role in the following:

• Developing, implementing, and maintaining a clear, well-defined, framework, target operating model and strategy for global oversight of People Risk, in alignment with regulatory requirements and Enterprise risk frameworks.


• Establishing consistent risk oversight governance processes, which encompass risk identification, assessment, mitigation, reporting, and monitoring activities for the People Risk domain globally.


• Ensuring that the enterprise People Risk profile demonstrates a fair and accurate representation of risk exposure and aligns with RBC’s risk appetite.


• Providing independent and objective risk management insights, trends, analysis, and perspectives on emerging risks to enable well-informed senior leadership level discussions and action-oriented decision-making.


• Being the key lead with respect to People Risk matters globally, building processes to provide advisory support and guidance to 1LOD and 2LOD partners on People Risk escalations.


• Fostering and maintaining strong strategic relationships with internal partners across HR, Group Risk Management (GRM), Compliance, Business Segments and Functions, while championing a strong risk management mindset and culture.

What will you do?

• People Risk Centre of Governance : Shape and drive the global operating model and strategy for RBC’s enterprise-scope 2LOD People Risk CoG, ensuring that 1LOD and 2LOD roles and responsibilities are clearly delineated and understood by all impacted parties. Act as key contact and subject matter expert for all People Risk management matters, fostering strong partner relationships to enable active collaboration and global consistency in the adoption and application of related risk management practices.


• Risk Governance : Owner of the People Risk framework, taxonomy, methodology and requirements, ensuring they are well-defined and align with Operational Risk and Regulatory Compliance risk management practices. Champion and lead for integrating and ensuring adherence of the universal risk practices described by the Operational Risk Management Framework. Key participant in various operational risk governance and leadership forums. Collaborate with GRM Operational Risk Management and Compliance to support convergence activities in support of risk management practices or any other enterprise methodology changes to be implemented.


• Policy Governance : Develop an enterprise-scope People Risk Policy and related standards that govern how People Risk is managed globally, while ensuring the policy remains consistent with changing industry best practices and regulatory expectations. Own and maintain all applicable 2LOD People Risk policies/standards and establish a policy architecture governance model in alignment with Enterprise Risk policy requirements. Implement policy adherence monitoring for 2LOD People Risk policies/standards, confirming whether 1LOD teams are complying with governing regulations and internal policy requirements.


• Risk Oversight, Challenge & Assessment : Provide independent oversight of the 1st LOD risk-taking and control activities and challenge risk assessments and risk decisions made through review of Risk Registers, Control Registers, Risk & Control Self-Assessments (RCSAs), Issues Management, Internal and External events, Scenario Analysis and Change Management initiatives. Advise on the alignment of the business risk appetite with the enterprise. Monitor and challenge risk exposure and control effectiveness. Conduct and lead thematic reviews specific to identified People Risks and supporting practices. Engage with partners across the enterprise to effectively raise issues identified through 2LOD oversight and monitoring activities.


• Regulatory & Audit Relations : Lead the review and coordination of responses of People Risk related regulatory examinations, regulator inquiries/requests for information, consultations and audit requests.


• Advisory & Training: Provide risk insight and guidance to 1st line partners on the identification of inherent People Risks and the assessment of existing controls to mitigate potential risks and reduce residual risk. Develop People risk training that provides information and education specific to People Risk and associated controls to help strengthen awareness and risk culture


• People Leadership: Manage a team of risk management professionals, providing ongoing support and coaching in furtherance of career growth and development.

What do you need to succeed?

Must Have

• Subject-matter expertise and knowledge of operational risk and enterprise risk frameworks, with a minimum of 10 years prior work experience in risk management, an oversight function and/or regulatory compliance with a governance focus.


• Experience in driving complex, transformational initiatives at scale while providing strategic impact.


• Ability to navigate through ambiguity, bringing perspective and sound judgement to decision-making.


• Ability to influence senior leadership decision-making with precision and clarity on complex risk/regulatory matters.


• Policy management and policy governance experience.


• People leadership experience.

Nice to Have:

• HR, People Risk and/or employment law related experience


• Prior experience with working within a global, enterprise-wide mandate


• Strong use of Excel and PowerPoint applications


• Dashboard/reporting capabilities

What’s in it for you?

We thrive on the challenge to be our best, progressive thinking to keep growing, and working together to deliver trusted advice to help our clients thrive and communities prosper. We care about each other, reaching our potential, making a difference to our communities, and achieving success that is mutual.

• A comprehensive Total Rewards Program including bonuses and flexible benefits, competitive compensation, commissions, and stock where applicable


• Leaders who support your development through coaching and managing opportunities


• Ability to make a difference and lasting impact


• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team


• Flexible work/life balance options


• Opportunities to do challenging work


• Opportunities to take on progressively greater accountabilities


• Access to a variety of job opportunities across business and geographies

#LI-POST

Job Skills

Business Perspective, Client Counseling, Data Gathering Analysis, Decision Making, Fraud Management, Internal Controls, Organizational Governance, Process Management, Risk Management, Strategic Thinking

Additional Job Details

Address:

ROYAL BANK PLAZA, 200 BAY ST:TORONTO

City:

Toronto

Country:

Canada

Work hours/week:

37.5

Employment Type:

Full time

Platform:

HUMAN RESOURCES & BMCC

Job Type:

Regular

Pay Type:

Salaried

Posted Date:

2026-11-03

Application Deadline:

2026-11-30

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the application deadline date above

Our Employment Opportunities

At RBC, we are guided by living shared values of Client First, Integrity, Collaboration, Respect and Excellence and winning together as One RBC. We believe an inclusive workplace that has diverse perspectives is core to our continued growth as one of the largest and most successful banks in the world. Maintaining a workplace where our employees feel supported to perform at their best, effectively collaborate, drive innovation, and grow professionally helps to bring our Purpose to life and create value for our clients and communities. RBC strives to deliver this through policies and programs intended to foster a workplace based on respect, belonging and opportunity for all.