Senior Operational Risk Manager

skipton; Skipton; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual discretionary bonus

25 days annual leave

Employer pension matching

Private medical insurance

Flexible working

Volunteering opportunities

Cycle-to-work scheme

Home and Tech voucher

Job summary

Skipton is seeking a Senior Operational Risk Manager to strengthen its risk management approach with a focus on technology, cyber security, operational resilience, data and third party risk. You will provide independent second line oversight, challenge and assurance across a broad range of risks, influencing senior decisions and supporting risk governance at board level.

You will lead a high performing Operational Risk team, develop risk frameworks, deliver insightful reporting, and drive

Qualifications

• Strong expertise across the operational risk landscape including technology and cyber security.
• Experience supporting and influencing senior stakeholders, translating complex risk matters into clear business insights and actions.
• In depth knowledge of operational risk frameworks, governance, risk appetite, assurance methodologies and 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 for Executive and Board level audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide second line oversight 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 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 and trends.
• Drive continuous improvement across risk frameworks, governance, reporting and risk management practices.
• Provide inspirational leadership to the second line operational risk team, aligned to organisational behaviours.

Skills

Operational risk

Technology risk

Cyber security

Operational resilience

Third party risk

Business change

Stakeholder influence

Analytical reporting

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.

Your key responsibilities will also include:

• 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

Your work matters.

And the way we reward you matters, too.

At Skipton, we offer pay and benefits that really do make life better, together with a genuine thank you for making a difference.

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, whe