Head of Operational Risk Management - PWB & PCBG

Role Overview

Head of Operational Risk Management - PWB & PCBG at First Abu Dhabi Bank. This role is based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Company Overview

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is the largest bank in the UAE and one of the world's largest and safest financial institutions. The bank offers a comprehensive range of personal and private banking services, including credit cards, Islamic banking, investments, loans, and mortgages. FAB is committed to excellence and innovation in providing top-tier financial solutions to clients globally.

Role Purpose

Lead and oversee the end-to-end implementation of the Operational Risk Management framework across Personal Banking, Business Banking, and Private Banking as a First Line of Defence (1LoD), ensuring a strong risk and control environment while enabling business growth within approved risk appetite.

Key Responsibilities

Framework Implementation & Governance

• Lead the implementation and embedding of the Operational Risk Management framework across the business, ensuring clear accountability for risk ownership and governance.
• Provide risk governance and oversight for products, channels, campaigns, outsourcing arrangements, third-party relationships, and transformation initiatives.

Risk Management Operations

• Oversee core risk management activities including RCSA, KRIs, incidents, issues, remediation actions, control assessments, and governance reporting.
• Establish and maintain robust incident and loss management processes, including root cause analysis, trend monitoring, and remediation tracking.

Risk Appetite & Monitoring

• Lead risk appetite management through monitoring of key risk metrics, emerging risks, threshold breaches, escalation requirements, and mitigation plans.

Operational Resilience

• Drive operational resilience and business continuity by identifying, assessing, and managing critical business services, processes, and dependencies.

Control & Regulatory Coordination

• Partner with Risk, Compliance, Audit, and other control functions to manage regulatory findings, audit observations, and remediation commitments through to closure.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, promoting a strong risk culture, stakeholder engagement, accountability, and sustainable risk management practices.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Risk Management, Law, or a related discipline.
• Professional certification in Operational Risk, Risk Management, or Governance is preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in Operational Risk Management within banking or financial services.
• Strong understanding of banking products, channels, operating models, and risk frameworks.
• Experience working across business, operations, technology, risk, compliance, and audit functions.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong stakeholder management and governance capabilities.
• Influencing and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proven ability to manage complex regulatory, risk, and transformation initiatives.

Additional Information

FAB offers unique career choices, a chance to innovate, and a performance-based culture. The bank provides a range of learning and development initiatives to support all employees through training and skill development. FAB has structured plans for the recruitment and career progression of Emirati talent to enable them to make a mark in the financial and banking sector both regionally and globally.