AVP, Operational Risk & Resilience Programs | Great West

Permanent Full Time

Are you passionate about helping to navigate evolving risks and regulatory expectations while enabling responsible growth and innovation?

Great-West Lifeco is seeking an AVP, Operational Risk & Resilience Programs to lead the continued evolution of our operational risk programs and capabilities. The role provides consistent oversight, practical risk management and business-focused solutions that support responsible growth and innovation across Canada, the United States and Europe.

Reporting to the VP, Operational Risk & Resilience and Chief Privacy Officer, this role works closely with regional teams, security and technology to strengthen risk and resilience outcomes, support strategic decision-making and advance enterprise priorities.

The role provides leadership and oversight for operational risk programs including privacy, data risk, third-party, business continuity management, people, and process risks, and is accountable for maturing global program priorities, fostering collaboration across risk disciplines, and supporting strategic initiatives. The successful candidate will also help shape the future development of risk oversight capabilities as priorities and regulatory expectations continue to evolve.

Key responsibilities include advancing the maturity and effectiveness of enterprise privacy, data risk, third-party risk, business continuity and operational resilience programs; strengthening governance, reporting and control practices; supporting regulatory engagement and program enhancement activities; and enabling consistent, business-focused risk management across the organization. Success in this role requires expertise across multiple operational risk domains and the ability to translate complex risk requirements into practical, business-enabling solutions.

What you will do: 

• Lead the continued development and maturity of global risk management strategies, frameworks, standards, policies, controls and governance practices across a portfolio of enterprise risk and resilience programs, including Privacy, Data Risk, Third Party, Process, Reporting and other operational risk domains.
• Strengthen governance structures, operating models, controls and oversight practices to support effective risk management, resilience and regulatory compliance across the enterprise.
• Provide strategic advisory, independent oversight and constructive challenge to business leaders, governance committees and boards on key risk, control, resilience and regulatory matters.
• In partnership with program leads, enable the adoption of privacy, data governance, third-party risk and operational resilience practices that balance business enablement, innovation and risk management.
• Oversee risk assessments, issue management, regulatory engagement, incident oversight and the translation of evolving regulatory requirements into practical business solutions.
• Partner with technology, security, legal, compliance and business stakeholders to manage risks associated with transformation, emerging technologies, outsourcing and strategic initiatives.
• Enhance enterprise reporting, metrics and analytics to improve risk transparency, support decision-making and provide a more integrated view of risk and resilience.
• Monitor regulatory developments and industry trends to inform strategy, strengthen capabilities and promote continuous improvement across the enterprise.
• Build strong enterprise partnerships and lead high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, resilience and responsible risk-taking.

What you will bring:

• Deep expertise in privacy, data protection, risk management and operational resilience within complex, regulated financial services environments.
• Proven leader in enterprise risk, governance and transformation programs, with experience embedding regulatory requirements into practical business outcomes.
• Strong knowledge of risk frameworks, controls, resilience, third-party risk, data governance and emerging technology risks across multiple jurisdictions.
• Trusted advisor to executives and boards, with the ability to influence, simplify complexity and drive organisational alignment.
• Experienced in developing governance frameworks, policies, oversight practices, reporting and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong analytical, communication and leadership skills, with a track record of building high-performing teams and leading cross-functional change.
• Intellectual curiosity and a continuous improvement mindset, with a strong interest in emerging risks, industry trends, innovation, data and technology.
• Degree in a relevant discipline; professional risk, privacy, audit, resilience or governance certifications are an asset.

The base salary for this position is between $159,500 - $209,500 annually. This represents base salary only and does not represent other variable compensation components of our total compensation ( i.e. annual bonus, commission etc). If you are selected to move forward in our recruitment process, your recruiter will be able to discuss additional details of our total rewards program with you.

Career opportunities will be open a minimum of 5 business days from the date of posting, closing dates will vary depending on the search activity. All applications received will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Grow with Great-West Lifeco 

Great-West Lifeco Inc is a Canadian headquarter, international financial services holding company with interests in life insurance, health insurance, retirement and investment services, asset management, and reinsurance businesses. We operate in Canada, the United States, and Europe under the brands: Canada Life, Empower and Irish Life. At the end of 2024, our companies had over 32,250 employees, 106,000 advisor relationships, and thousands of distribution partners – serving approximately 40 million customer relationships.

Great-West Lifeco trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the ticker symbol GWO and is a member of the Power Corporation group of companies.

What we offer:  

We’re committed to supporting our employees through every stage of their career. Here’s what you can expect as a full-time or part-time permanent team member: 

Career Development: Opportunities for career advancement, access to industry-leading learning programs and up to $2,000 annually towards education reimbursement. 

Health & Wellness: Flexible health and dental benefits, plus a $5,000 mental health benefit to support your well-being. 

Time Off: In addition to regular vacation and personal days, we support community involvement with a volunteer day.  

Financial Security: Company-matching pension plan, share ownership program and additional investment options. 

Rewards and Recognition: Employee recognition programs, service milestone celebrations, employee discounts and more!  

Emphasis on Community: We provide a workplace where employees feel connected and supported through Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), mentorship programs, social clubs and events.  

Learn more about Great-West Lifeco.  

We’re committed to removing barriers and ensuring equal access to employment. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during the application process may contact  talentacquisitioncanada@canadalife.com. All information provided will be handled in accordance with applicable laws and Great-West Lifeco policies.  

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