Explore a career at the strategic forefront of corporate integrity with Operational Risk Senior Officer jobs. This high-impact, senior-level profession is dedicated to protecting organizations from internal failures, inadequate controls, and emerging threats that could lead to financial loss, reputational damage, or regulatory non-compliance. Professionals in this field act as a crucial pillar of an organization's second line of defense, designing and overseeing the frameworks that ensure operational resilience. If you are a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of risk principles and a talent for influencing change, pursuing Senior Operational Risk Officer jobs places you at the heart of safeguarding business continuity and fostering a robust risk culture. Individuals in these roles typically carry a portfolio of critical responsibilities centered on governance and proactive risk management. A core function involves establishing, implementing, and overseeing the application of operational risk policies, governance processes, and specialized risk management technologies. They independently assess risks, challenging both historical and proposed business practices to address the root causes of potential losses. This includes conducting deep-dive analyses on risk events, issues, and corrective action plans to identify thematic trends and emerging risks. They serve as subject matter experts, providing guidance and oversight on a wide range of areas, which can include technology risk, cyber risk, third-party/vendor risk, and data governance. Furthermore, they are responsible for developing and delivering concise, insightful risk reporting to senior management, highlighting current exposures, program progress, and key events to inform strategic decision-making. The day-to-day duties of an Operational Risk Senior Officer are multifaceted. They lead risk identification workshops, facilitate working groups to implement risk-mitigating recommendations, and manage projects related to enhancing the risk management program. A significant part of the role involves building and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships with business users and other Lines of Defense to better understand and address customer requirements in a changing business environment. They are also tasked with monitoring performance through various scorecards and key risk indicators (KRIs), resolving operational escalations, and ensuring compliance with internal policies and external regulations. To excel in Operational Risk Senior Officer jobs, candidates typically need a substantial background of 10+ years of relevant experience in risk management, compliance, or a related control function. A bachelor’s degree is standard, with a master’s degree often preferred. Exceptional communication, influencing, and relationship management skills are non-negotiable, as the role requires effectively conveying complex risk concepts to a broad audience and resolving conflicts while maintaining partnerships. Strong analytical capabilities are essential for data manipulation and presentation, and expertise in Microsoft Office tools is a given. In-depth knowledge of operational processes and the technology platforms that support them is critical, with a growing emphasis on expertise in areas like data governance, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. This career path is ideal for detailed-oriented strategic professionals who are accountable, demonstrate sound ethical judgment, and are driven to create lasting solutions for minimizing organizational exposure.
