Director, Business Continuity & Operational Resilience

We are looking for an experienced Director of Business Continuity & Operational Resilience to lead and develop resilience programmes across a large international financial services organisation. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for ensuring the business is prepared for disruption, can respond effectively when incidents occur and can continue delivering its most important services.

The role covers operations across a wide geographical area and combines strategic oversight with hands-on programme delivery, team leadership and continuous improvement.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of an established business continuity programme while helping shape the next stage of the organisation`s operational resilience work. You will have the opportunity to lead a growing team, influence how resilience is managed across international operations and play an important role in introducing a new system that will support the organisation`s long-term approach.

While experience in both business continuity and operational resilience would be ideal, we recognise that candidates may have greater depth in one area than the other. A strong business continuity background, together with the ability and interest to take on broader operational resilience responsibilities, will be highly valued.

Relocation will be supported for the right candidate

Key Responsibilities

Business Continuity & Operational Resilience

• Lead and improve business continuity and operational resilience programmes across the organisation.
• Develop clear policies, standards and procedures to help business teams prepare for and respond to disruption.
• Work with regional and local teams to ensure business continuity plans are practical, regularly tested and kept up to date.
• Support the continued implementation of an operational resilience programme across multiple countries.
• Identify potential weaknesses in the organisation`s ability to withstand disruption and recommend improvements.
• Ensure business continuity and resilience arrangements meet relevant regulatory requirements.
• Work closely with technology, risk and other business teams to ensure plans are coordinated and effective.
• Oversee business continuity arrangements involving key external suppliers and service providers.
• Provide senior management with clear reporting on resilience risks, programme progress and areas requiring attention.

Systems Implementation & Improvement

• Take a leading role in the rollout and ongoing development of a new resilience management system, Fusion Risk Management. 
• Work with internal teams to ensure the system is implemented successfully and supports the organisation`s business continuity and resilience requirements.
• Help employees understand and adopt the new system through training, guidance and ongoing support.
• Improve the quality, consistency and accessibility of business continuity information and reporting.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes and make resilience activities more effective.

Experience with Fusion Risk Management would be useful but is not essential. We are equally interested in candidates who have successfully implemented or managed similar systems, such as ServiceNow or other business continuity and risk management platforms.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead and develop a team responsible for business continuity, operational resilience and systems implementation.
• Manage a combination of permanent employees and contractors, with the potential for the team to expand.
• Work closely with business leaders and regional teams to improve resilience practices across the organisation.
• Provide practical advice and guidance to stakeholders on business continuity and operational resilience.
• Build strong working relationships across technology, operations, risk and other business functions.
• Support the development and delivery of business continuity training.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential Experience

• At least 10 years` relevant experience in business continuity management, including experience overseeing or supporting operational resilience programmes.
• A minimum of three years` experience managing and developing teams.
• Strong experience developing, implementing and improving business continuity programmes within a large or complex organisation.
• A good understanding of operational resilience and how to apply it across different business functions.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders and coordinating activities across multiple teams or locations.
• Experience introducing, implementing or improving business continuity, resilience or risk management systems.
• The ability to translate complex requirements into clear, practical processes that business teams can follow.
• Strong communication, problem-solving and organisational skills.

Desirable Experience

• A background in financial services, particularly banking or insurance.
• Experience in consulting, technology or other highly regulated industries.
• Knowledge of business continuity and operational resilience regulations, particularly those relevant to financial services.
• Familiarity with recognised business continuity standards, including ISO 22301.
• Experience in related areas such as IT disaster recovery, technology risk, supplier resilience or operational risk.
• Experience working across different countries or managing regional programmes.
• Relevant professional qualifications such as MBCI, CBCI, CBCM, CBCP or equivalent certifications.
• A relevant degree or other technical qualification.