Head of Operations | Trade Services & Invoice Finance |S4 – COO, CCB | Multiple Locations | Internal Mobility in London

Country: United Kingdom

IT STARTS HERE Santander (www.santander.com) is evolving from a global, high-impact brand into a technology-driven organisation, and our people are at the heart of this journey. Together, we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what’s possible. This is more than a strategic shift. It’s a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference. Our mission is to contribute to help more people and businesses prosper. We embrace a strong risk culture and all our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management.

Retail & Commercial Banking is a global business integrating all our retail and commercial banking activities to better serve our customers, improve efficiency and drive value creation.

THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE

Santander UK Corporate & Commercial Bank is looking for a Head of Operations – Trade Services & Invoice Finance based out of any CCB location. This is a new senior leadership role, accountable for the end-to-end operational delivery of Trade Services and Invoice Finance. You’ll lead teams, across multiple sites, responsible for delivering high-quality, efficient, controlled and customer-focused services, while ensuring strong operational performance, effective risk management, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement. You’ll play a key role in shaping the future of our Trade Services and Invoice Finance operations, working closely with Relationship Teams, Sales, Credit Risk, Financial Crime, Technology, Product and Operations colleagues to improve customer outcomes, simplify processes and support business growth.

We’re shaping the way we work through innovation, cutting-edge technology, collaboration and the freedom to explore new ideas.

To succeed in this role, you will be responsible for:

• Leading the operational teams responsible for Trade Services and Invoice Finance, ensuring delivery against customer, commercial, regulatory and operational standards.
• Driving operational excellence through effective resource planning, workflow management, productivity optimisation and performance management.
• Maintaining a strong risk and control environment across all operational activities, including compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements, sanctions frameworks, anti-money laundering obligations and operational risk standards.
• Owning operational incidents, root cause analysis, remediation activity and lessons learned.
• Acting as a senior operational contact for internal and external stakeholders, supporting the resolution of complex customer issues and escalations.
• Building a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, customer outcomes, continuous improvement and colleague engagement.
• Identifying and delivering opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce risk and enhance customer experience through process improvement, automation and digitisation.
• Leading operational readiness and implementation activity for regulatory, technology and business change programmes.
• Managing operational budgets and resource plans, supporting productivity, cost-efficiency, capacity and scalability.
• Using data, management information and operational insight to improve service quality, performance and decision-making.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

Our people are our greatest strength. Every individual contributes unique perspectives that make us stronger as a team and as an organisation. We’re enabling teams to go beyond by valuing who they are and empowering what they bring. The following requirements represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Professional Experience

• Significant leadership experience within banking operations, trade finance, invoice finance, receivables finance, asset-based lending or commercial lending operations. (Required)
• Proven experience leading operational teams and people leaders through change. (Required)
• Strong understanding of Trade Services products, such as Letters of Credit, Guarantees, Documentary Collections, Supply Chain Finance and Trade Loans. (Required)
• Strong understanding of Invoice Finance, Asset Based Lending or related operational environments.(Required)
• Proven experience managing operational risk, controls, governance and assurance activity. (Required)
• Experience delivering operational transformation, process improvement and continuous improvement initiatives. (Required)
• Experience managing senior stakeholders and influencing across business, risk, technology, product and operations teams. (Required)
• Experience using data and management information to monitor performance, identify issues and drive improved outcomes. (Required)

Education

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, or demonstrable equivalent experience within financial services. (Preferred)

Languages

• English (Required)

Hard Skills

• Strong knowledge of operational risk, controls, governance and regulatory requirements in a banking environment. (Required)
• Strong understanding of customer-focused operational delivery and service management. (Required)
• Ability to manage operational budgets, resource plans, productivity and cost-efficiency targets. (Required)
• Strong analytical capability, with the ability to use performance data and management information to support decision-making. (Required)
• Good understanding of lending platforms, automation, digitisation and operational transformation opportunities. (Required)
• Knowledge of financial crime, sanctions and anti-money laundering obligations relevant to operational delivery. (Preferred)

Soft Skills

• Strong senior leadership capability, with the ability to inspire, develop and engage teams. (Required)
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills across senior audiences. (Required)
• Ability to combine strategic thinking with hands-on operational delivery.
• Strong decision-making and critical thinking skills, particularly in complex or high-risk situations. (Required)
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to simplify complexity and bring people with you. (Required)
• Customer-focused mindset, with a passion for improving customer and colleague experience. (Required)
• Ability to build trusted relationships and lead collaboratively across functional boundaries. (Required)

WE VALUE YOUR IMPACT

At Santander, your contribution matters. We recognise the difference you make every day, and we make sure you feel valued, supported and rewarded in return. Here, recognition goes beyond pay. It’s about the pride you feel in your work, the impact you have on customers and communities, and the opportunities you have to grow and thrive — personally and professionally.

Salary Range: £71,862.00 - £107,794.00 per annum (depending on experience). This salary range represents the expected remuneration for the role. Annual salary is based on a standard 35-hour working week. Actual salary offered will depend on skills, experience, qualifications and location.

Competitive rewards that reflect the real impact you make and the value you bring. Wellbeing that goes beyond work — we work with a range of wellbeing partners across our 4 pillars of wellbeing (physical, mental, social and financial) to give you access to a suite of apps, discounted gym and fitness access, weekly online classes, flexible healthcare and mental health support. Support for every life stage — from menopause and pregnancy to parenthood and beyond, with enhanced family leave, childcare options and tailored wellbeing support. Time to give back through volunteering opportunities that let you make a difference in the communities we serve. Global growth opportunities to shape your career, learn new skills and explore what’s possible across our international network. Ready to be recognised? It starts with you.

LOCAL COMPLIANCE

At Santander, we’re proud to be an inclusive organisation that provides equal opportunities for everyone — regardless of age, gender, disability, civil status, race, religion or sexual orientation. We’re committed to creating a recruitment experience that’s accessible, fair and welcoming for all candidates. We want our people to thrive — at work and at home — while delivering the best outcomes for our customers and supporting each other to grow.

To make this possible, our roles are site-based with a hybrid working pattern, where colleagues are expected to attend the office at least 12 days per month (pro-rata for part-time roles). When applying, please consider the travel distance, time and cost to your chosen office location(s).

WHAT TO DO NEXT

If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply. For further Guidance please visit Internal Mobility - Candidate Guidance. If you want to know more about the opportunity: Please contact Paul Theaker – Paul.Theaker@santander.co.uk Contact Number: - 07720 337921