Head of Operational Risk

Head of Operational Risk

Department: Risk

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: London

Reporting To: Mark Davey

Description

The Head of Operational Risk will lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the firm's operational risk framework across global commercial and operational activities. This role requires a strategic thinker with strong stakeholder influence, deep industry knowledge, and the ability to drive cultural change while managing an international team. The successful candidate will act as the primary point of contact for operational risk across the business, ensuring robust controls, effective incident management, and clear risk insight for senior leadership.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership & Strategy

• Set the strategic direction for the Operational Risk function in alignment with wider business objectives.
• Lead, mentor, and develop an international team with varying levels of experience and seniority.
• Raise the profile of the Operational Risk function across the organization, ensuring clarity of purpose and value.

Risk Frameworks & Governance

• Establish, implement, and oversee the monthly KRI Framework, ensuring high quality reporting and insight for senior management forums.
• Lead the Incident Management Process, including investigation, analysis, lessons learned documentation, and presentation of findings.
• Support the ongoing enhancement of the Operational Risk Framework across core and emerging business areas.
• Review and improve policies, guidelines, and processes to strengthen risk culture and behaviors.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the go to operational risk partner for the business, providing subject matter expertise and practical guidance.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, mediating between differing viewpoints to drive positive change in the risk and control environment.
• Represent the function in key internal meetings, committees, and cross functional initiatives.

Operational Delivery

• Oversee the day to day running of the Operational Risk and Enterprise Architecture teams.
• Prepare and present operational risk metrics, insights, and trend analysis for monthly and quarterly governance meetings.
• Ensure timely escalation and resolution of risk issues, control gaps, and incidents.
• Deputize for senior leadership where required, providing continuity and authoritative input.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience in operational risk within a commodity trading, bunkering, or related trading environment.
• Awareness of key regulatory and compliance matters influencing the industry.
• Experience in risk, audit, assurance, compliance, or internal control.
• High IT aptitude: experience with ETRM systems preferred.
• BPMN process mapping experience beneficial.
• Professional qualifications desirable (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA, FRM, ERP, CFA).
• Strong understanding of operational risk and control processes, ideally within fast paced commercial settings.
• Ability to manage ambiguity and work effectively with complex, evolving, or ill defined processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly and logically.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, capable of influencing at all levels.
• Proven ability to mediate between differing viewpoints and drive consensus.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including developing and managing teams.