Retail Strategy and Transformation Director

8192 Barclays Bank UK PLC; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Barclays Bank UK PLC in London seeks a Director to drive Retail Banking transformation, operating model design, and cost optimisation. You will lead cross-functional change, partner with HR and Finance, and deliver measurable efficiency gains across the function.

The role emphasises AI-enabled customer outcomes, workforce strategy and governance, with a focus on sustaining growth and regulatory compliance in a complex financial services environment.

Job description

Job Description Purpose of the role

To drive the success of the commercial banking segment through market analysis, product development, sales and relationship management, risk management, and performance. Accountabilities Execution of market research to understand the competitive landscape, identify market trends and opportunities, and develop strategies to capture market share within the commercial banking segment, taking into consideration industry, size, and growth stage. Development of appropriate pricing models for different products and services, ensuring profitability while remaining competitive in the market. Development, implementation and management of innovative financial solutions, services and products aligned to the banks objectives and are tailored to the commercial banking segment, including loan products, cash management solutions, and trade finance services. Identification and forging of strategic partnerships with other financial institutions, technology providers, or industry experts to expand product offerings and reach new client segments. Management of key stakeholder relationships within target companies to understand their needs and recommend appropriate solutions. Development and implementation of sales strategies including the establishment of sales targets, identification of sales channels to reach potential clients and objectives for loan terms to support the negotiation process and development of service agreements. Monitoring of key leading and lagging metrics such as new client acquisition, loan volume, revenue generation, and market share to assess the performance of the commercial banking segment. Funnel and journey optimisation are key to delivery of service and commercial performance.

Director Expectations

To manage a business function, providing significant input to function wide strategic initiatives. Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide. They manage the direction of a large team or sub-function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross functionally. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions. Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives. Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub-function. Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately. Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence. Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate. Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives. Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up-to-date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives. Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations. Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area. Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally. Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions. Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division. All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others. All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.

Key Accountabilities

Lead the design and execution of initiatives that improve Retail Banking performance, productivity and long-term efficiency. Bringing the outside in and future of banking in the digital and AI world. Accountable for operating model design, workforce strategy including skills and locations, organisational change and transformation delivery and cost optimisation, ensuring the business has a clear route to sustainable growth, improved customer outcomes and stronger financial performance. The role acts as the bridge between strategy and execution, translating business priorities into practical operating model, organisational and process changes that deliver measurable commercial, customer and efficiency benefits. Operating Model Design Define and implement Retail Banking wide target operating models across customer-facing, operational and head office functions. Design future-state processes, governance, accountabilities and operating rhythms. Improve efficiency, control and service outcomes through structural and process redesign. Ensure operating model decisions are grounded in customer, colleague, risk and commercial considerations. Workforce Strategy & Organisational Design Design future workforce models aligned to business strategy and financial objectives. Lead organisational redesign, workforce change programmes and location strategy initiatives. Partner with HR, Learning and business leaders to identify the skills needed for the future Retail Banking strategy and monitor capability maturity and workforce readiness to support long-term business performance. Define capability roadmaps and workforce transition plans, including data, AI, digital and transformation capabilities, and lead upskilling and talent development programmes to build a future-ready workforce. Assess capability requirements, organisational spans and layers, sourcing models and offshoring opportunities. Create implementation plans that balance commercial outcomes, colleague experience and operational resilience. Transformation Delivery Lead complex cross-functional transformation programmes from design through implementation. Establish governance, prioritisation and execution frameworks to support delivery at pace. Manage interdependencies across business, operations, technology and control functions. Ensure benefits realisation, adoption and long-term sustainability of delivered change. Efficiency, Productivity & Cost Optimisation Develop and lead Retail Banking’s efficiency and productivity agenda. Identify, prioritise and execute opportunities to improve productivity, simplify operations and reduce cost. Establish benefits frameworks, performance tracking and governance to ensure savings are delivered and sustained. Drive adoption of automation, AI and process simplification opportunities. Partner with Business Management, Finance, HR and business leaders to shape medium and long-term cost strategies. Support leadership teams through significant organisational transformation activity.

Success Criteria

Success in this role would be evidenced by a step change in Retail Banking productivity, efficiency and organisational effectiveness, delivery of a future-fit workforce and operating model; and successful execution of transformation programmes that deliver sustainable commercial, customer and cost benefits. The role should be recognised as the key bridge between strategy and execution across Retail Banking.

Our Work Experience

Our Work Experience is the combination of everything that's unique about us: our culture, our core values, our company meetings, our commitment to sustainability, our recognition programs, but most importantly, it's our people. Our employees are self-disciplined, hard working, curious, trustworthy, humble, and truthful. They make choices according to what is best for the team, they live for opportunities to collaborate and make a difference, and they make us the #1 Top Workplace in the area.