Head of Portfolio Strategy and Credit Appetite | S4 | Corporate Credit Risk – Portfolio Management Business Area | Multiple Locations | Internal Mobility in Milton Keynes

Head of Portfolio Strategy and Credit Appetite | S4 | Corporate Credit Risk – Portfolio Management Business Area | Multiple Locations | Internal Mobility

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 robust 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

We’re looking for Head of Portfolio Strategy and Credit Appetite (S4) to join our Corporate Credit Risk – Portfolio Management team in Milton Keynes/Manchester/Glasgow/London.

This is a high-impact leadership role within Portfolio Strategy & Credit Appetite (PSCA) team in Risk Portfolio Management (PSCA), where you will shape the Bank’s corporate credit risk framework and lending policies, influence risk appetite at a portfolio level, and engage directly with senior stakeholders across the organisation and Group. The role is accountable for ensuring credit risk policies, frameworks, and appetite are clear, well governed, embedded across the business and aligned to Santander UK, Santander Group and regulatory expectations. It is a senior specialist and people leadership role, requiring great credit risk judgement, excellent governance discipline and the ability to influence across Business, Risk, Group and senior committee forums.

What you’ll be responsible for:

• Developing and maintaining corporate credit risk policies, standards, frameworks, and sector appetite guidance owned by the Chief Lending Officer

• End-to-end accountability for Credit Risk Appetite (RAS), including design, calibration, challenge and governance engagement

• Shaping portfolio strategy to maintain alignment with risk appetite and macroeconomic conditions and support sector reviews.

• Driving transformation through policy simplification, process optimisation and usage of AI tools to enhance operational efficiency.

• Engaging with senior stakeholders (S4 and above) across Business, Risk, Group and Regulators

• Presenting high-quality papers to local governance forums such as CBCRCF and ERCC, and Group forums (RPF) ensuring clear recommendations, robust risk rationale and timely approval of policy, framework and appetite matters.

• Supporting the Head of Risk Portfolio Management on regulatory, audit and Group activities, including ad-hoc information requests, credit risk reviews, remediation actions and presentations to senior stakeholders or regulators where required.

• Ensuring alignment with Group frameworks and local implementation

• Providing credit risk oversight for Business Strategic Commercial Plan annually

• Building and developing a high-performing team setting clear objectives, building succession capability, maintaining a robust risk and control culture, and supporting colleague wellbeing and career growth.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

Professional Experience

• Significant experience in Corporate or Commercial Credit Risk with expertise in policy, frameworks and risk governance and/or credit sanctioning/approver experience (Required)

• Experience managing senior stakeholders across first line, second line, Group, central risk and business areas, including the ability to challenge constructively (Required)

• Proven ownership of Risk Appetite or portfolio oversight frameworks (Preferred)

• Experience preparing governance papers and presenting recommendations to senior risk, credit or executive committees and/or governance forums (Preferred)

• Experience leading or coordinating regulatory, audit, Group validation or assurance activity in a financial services environment (Preferred)

• People management experience, including objective setting, coaching, performance management, capacity planning and development of high-performing teams (Preferred)

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience in risk management, finance, economics, business, banking or a related discipline (Preferred)

Hard Skills

• Excellent understanding of corporate credit risk management, including lending policy, delegated authorities, risk appetite, sector appetite, and asset quality. (Required)

• Ability to interpret and apply Group, regulatory and internal risk requirements within local policy and governance frameworks. (Required)

• Excellent policy and technical writing skills, with the ability to convert complex risk requirements into clear, usable guidance for business and risk users. (Required)

• Great analytical and governance skills, including attention to detail, issue escalation, audit trail discipline and control mindset. (Required)

• Confident user of Microsoft Office and collaboration tools, including Teams, Excel and PowerPoint for committee and stakeholder materials. (Required)

• Understanding of approved AI or automation tools and their potential application to controlled risk processes. (Preferred)

Soft Skills

• Constructive challenge and sound judgement, with the confidence to speak up while maintaining fact-based, professional stakeholder engagement. (Preferred)

• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to bring L1, L2, Group and business stakeholders together around shared priorities. (Preferred)

• Methodical, diligent and resilient approach, with the ability to deliver quality work to tight deadlines in a complex and changing environment. (Preferred)

• Continuous improvement mindset, focused on simplification, efficiency, customer outcomes and great risk culture. (Preferred)

• Commitment to inclusion, team wellbeing, colleague development and high performance. (Preferred)

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.

• 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).

We welcome applications on the understanding that, should you be offered this role, there may be no relocation package available. Santander will pay the employer mandatory government fees that are required to pay in connection with visa sponsorship. You may be liable for your own personal employee immigration and relocation costs.( Only applicable for roles that are eligible for sponsorship)

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: David Whitehouse - david.whitehouse@santander.co.uk

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