Operations Cross-Function Executive Director

Role summary

Business area

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across Lending Services, including Middle Office operations and Lending Quality Assurance.
• Support the Managing Director with business objectives, operational excellence, and strategic initiatives.
• Lead transformation, process improvement, and technology initiatives to improve efficiency, scalability, and resilience.
• Maintain governance, risk, and control frameworks for operational, audit, and regulatory obligations.
• Oversee the independence and effectiveness of Lending Quality Assurance.
• Manage operational performance, resource planning, capacity, and service delivery.
• Act as deputy to the Important Business Service Owner for operational resilience and incident management.
• Develop stakeholder relationships across Front Office, Risk, Compliance, Internal Audit, and Technology.
• Lead and mentor direct reports and promote accountability and continuous improvement.

Essential skills and experience

• Significant experience in commercial lending operations, loan administration, middle office, agency services, or a similar banking environment.
• Proven leadership experience managing operational teams in complex financial services organizations.
• Strong understanding of syndicated lending products, operational processes, governance, and control frameworks.
• Experience in risk management, audit remediation, and operational controls.
• Experience leading strategic change, transformation programs, and process improvement.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing, communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Understanding of Operational Resilience requirements for important business services.
• Experience developing high-performing teams and fostering continuous improvement.

Leadership competencies

• The role emphasizes customer focus, driving change, driving results, enterprise leadership, judgement and decision-making, risk management, strategic vision, trust, and integrity.

Workplace and benefits

• SMBC describes hybrid and flexible working as part of its employee offering.
• Benefits include paid leave, private medical insurance, life and invalidity insurance, mental wellbeing support, and learning and development opportunities.