Operational Risk Manager

Role Overview

We are seeking an Operational Risk Manager to work on a full-time 12 months fixed term contract basis to provide maternity leave cover in our Dublin office.

The role offers an excellent opportunity for a motivated candidate to develop and strengthen their operational risk expertise within a dynamic and evolving reinsurance environment across CRS (Capital & Risk Solutions). Operating within the second line of defence, you will play a key role in managing core operational risk activities across CRS, leading regulatory‑driven initiatives, and acting as a point of contact and co-ordinator for the implementation of Lifeco frameworks and standards.

This role sits within the CRS Risk team and reports to the Head of Risk, CRS. You will work closely with colleagues across Risk and Compliance and will have regular engagement with senior management in CRS, reinsurance risk teams in Dublin, Toronto and Barbados, as well as operational risk functions across Lifeco and Europe. The role involves interaction with CRS employees in Canada, Dublin, Barbados, Bluebell USA and Bermuda.

Responsibilities

As Operational Risk Manager, this role will involve:

• Overseeing the CRS operational risk management framework, including providing guidance, training and education to stakeholders on operational risk requirements and expectations.
• Acting as point of contact and co-ordinator for the delivery and rollout of Lifeco‑led initiatives across both CRS and Canada Life Reinsurance Ireland dac (CLReI), including new or updated frameworks, policies, methodologies and regulatory‑driven developments (e.g. OSFI E21).
• Liaising with business units on internal operational risk events, including capturing and maintaining a comprehensive event log and ensuring timely follow-up on agreed actions and implementation of new or enhanced controls.
• Planning, executing and tracking of annual CRS Risk Function activities and action plans, ensuring timely and accurate delivery.
• Maintaining and updating CRS and Reinsurance Division Risk Charters and Mandates, ensuring alignment with evolving governance and regulatory expectations.
• Supporting compliance monitoring and reporting on risk policies, escalating issues as appropriate.
• Co‑ordinating the quarterly Reinsurance Division Operational Risk Committee, including preparation, collation and presenting of meeting materials, tracking of deliverables, and management of follow‑up actions.
• Overseeing the preparation of operational risk assessments and reporting, including RCA updates, operational risk scenario analysis and thematic reporting.
• Preparing operational risk reports for GWL Lifeco and CRS and contributing to the development and completion of operational risk reporting for CLReI.

What you’ll need to be successful in the role:

The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience in audit, operational risk or another internal controls-related role.
• Minimum five years of experience in financial services, preferably in insurance or reinsurance.
• Well-developed verbal and written communication skills, and in particular, an ability to effectively communicate complex concepts.
• A minimum of an honours bachelor’s degree in finance, Economics, Business, Accounting, Risk Management, or a closely related discipline.
• Assertive, self-motivated with the capacity to work autonomously, as part of a team and across teams.
• Experience of effectively balancing and delivering on competing priorities.
• Competent user of MS Excel, MS Word and MS PowerPoint.
• Excellent attention to detail and high integrity.
• Champions simplification and efficiency, continuously seeking ways to improve processes and outcome.