Senior Operational Risk Manager

SBS Skipton Building Society; Skipton; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual discretionary bonus

25 days annual leave

Pension contribution up to 10%

Private medical insurance

Flexible working

Discounted gym memberships

Home and Tech voucher

Job summary

SBS Skipton Building Society in Skipton is seeking a Senior Operational Risk Manager to provide independent second line oversight across technology, cyber security, operational resilience, data and third party risk, influencing senior stakeholders and ensuring risks are managed within the Society’s Risk Appetite.

You will lead and develop the Operational Risk team, challenge first line controls, deliver insightful risk reporting to the Executive and Board, and drive continuous improvement in

Qualifications

• Strong expertise across the operational risk landscape including technology, cyber security, operational resilience, third party risk and business change, with the ability to provide effective second line oversight, challenge and assurance.
• Proven experience supporting and influencing senior stakeholders, translating complex risk matters into clear business insights, actions and recommendations.
• In depth knowledge of operational risk frameworks, governance, risk appetite, assurance methodologies and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Experience developing and enhancing risk frameworks, leading assurance activities, and challenging first line teams on complex risk matters.
• Strong analytical, reporting and communication skills, including producing high quality risk reporting for Executive and Board level audiences.
• A collaborative and pragmatic approach, with a track record of building strong relationships, coaching colleagues, driving continuous improvement and strengthening risk culture.

Responsibilities

• Provide second line oversight, challenge and assurance across operational risks, with a focus on technology, cyber security, operational resilience, data, third party and change risk.
• Act as a trusted subject matter expert, offering guidance, challenge and strategic advice to senior stakeholders on complex and emerging risk issues.
• Support and challenge first line teams to identify, assess and manage risks effectively, ensuring strong controls and informed decision making.
• Deliver insightful risk reporting, analysis and updates to senior leadership, Risk Committees and the Board, highlighting key themes, trends and emerging threats.
• Drive continuous improvement across risk frameworks, governance, reporting and risk management practices, while supporting regulatory and strategic initiatives.
• Provide inspirational leadership to the second line operational risk team, aligned to our organisational behaviours.

Skills

Operational risk

Technology risk

Cyber security

Operational resilience

Data risk

Third party risk

Business change

Stakeholder influence

Risk reporting

Leadership

Job description

Hours: Full time, permanent Closing Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2026

Job introduction

Play a key role in shaping and strengthening the Society's risk management approach by providing independent second line oversight, challenge and assurance across a broad range of operational risks. With a particular focus on complex and emerging areas such as technology, cyber security, operational resilience, data, third party risk and business change, you'll deliver expert insight, influence decision making at a senior level, and help ensure risks are managed effectively within the Society's Risk Appetite.

What You’ll Do

As a Senior Operational Risk Manager you will inspire and develop a high performing Operational Risk team through effective leadership, coaching and a commitment to continuous improvement.

• Provide second line oversight, challenge and assurance across operational risks, with a focus on technology, cyber security, operational resilience, data, third party and change risk.
• Act as a trusted subject matter expert, offering guidance, challenge and strategic advice to senior stakeholders on complex and emerging risk issues.
• Support and challenge first line teams to identify, assess and manage risks effectively, ensuring strong controls and informed decision making.
• Deliver insightful risk reporting, analysis and updates to senior leadership, Risk Committees and the Board, highlighting key themes, trends and emerging threats.
• Drive continuous improvement across risk frameworks, governance, reporting and risk management practices, while supporting regulatory and strategic initiatives.
• Provide inspirational leadership to the second line operational risk team, aligned to our organisational behaviours.

What You’ll Need

To be successful in this role, you will ideally have:

• Strong expertise across the operational risk landscape including technology, cyber security, operational resilience, third party risk and business change, with the ability to provide effective second line oversight, challenge and assurance.
• Proven experience supporting and influencing senior stakeholders, translating complex risk matters into clear business insights, actions and recommendations.
• In depth knowledge of operational risk frameworks, governance, risk appetite, assurance methodologies and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Experience developing and enhancing risk frameworks, leading assurance activities, and challenging first line teams on complex risk matters.
• Strong analytical, reporting and communication skills, including producing high quality risk reporting for Executive and Board level audiences.
• A collaborative and pragmatic approach, with a track record of building strong relationships, coaching colleagues, driving continuous improvement and strengthening risk culture.

What’s In It For You

• Annual discretionary bonus scheme 25 days standard annual leave + bank holidays + rising 1 day per year of service to a max of 30 days
• Matching employer pension contribution (up to 10% per annum)
• Colleague Mortgages and access to Skipton products and services at discounted rates
• Flexible working to help balance your commitments
• Private medical insurance, health and wellbeing app, volunteering opportunities, cycle-to-work scheme, discounted gym memberships
• Lifestyle perks such as a Home and Tech voucher, which can be used at John Lewis, Currys, and IKEA

We’re here to make life better for our members.

About Skipton

Our story began in 1853 in Skipton, North Yorkshire. Today, you’ll find us across England and Scotland, from Aberdeen to Plymouth. We help over a million members put down roots, save for what matters, and feel good about their money. As a mutual, they own us, so everything we do is for them. You'll feel that same fairness and purpose in how all 2,500 of our colleagues work together, too It all means that life at Skipton is more exciting than you imagine.

What it’s like to work here

Life at Skipton

We talk and we listen to each other. And we make decisions as a team. That way, you get all the support you need to do work that works for everyone. For most of our roles there's the option of blended working, which means we mix working from home and meeting in person, with three days a week in our Skipton office. We also value what everyone brings to Skipton. And we create a fair place where you can be yourself. Our colleague networks play a big role in this. They connect people with similar life experiences and make our workplace warm, friendly, inclusive and welcoming. It’s not just our members who are important to us. You are, too. Lots of organisations talk about wellbeing, but they don’t always back it up. As a mutual, we put people first. And that includes the people who work here. So, when we say we care about your wellbeing, we mean it. Wellbeing isn't just one thing. It’s about feeling good, having energy, and being able to be yourself and perform at your best. That’s why we offer help for your mental and physical health across five key areas. What’s more, it’s help that you can actually use too - not just read about.

Why?

Not just another building society. Not just another job. We're the fourth biggest building society in the UK and what makes us a bit different is that we're a mutual organisation. We don't have shareholders; we're owned by our members. Our colleagues say Skipton's a great place to work, and you could be one of them, bringing with you new ideas on how we can keep customers at the heart of what we do. Whatever your background, and whatever your goals, we’ll help you take the next step towards a better future. Why? It’s just the way we are. We care about sustainability and look to the long-term for both colleagues and customers. And we know that when we build better futures as individuals, we build better futures as a business.