Senior Business Manager: Strategy & Governance in Milton Keynes

IT STARTS HERE. Santander 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.

Santander UK is seeking a Business Manager based out of Milton Keynes to support the Head of Everyday Banking (EDB) in Retail and Business Banking (RBB). This is a strategic and fast-paced role at S4 level, offering exposure to senior leadership and the opportunity to influence priorities and operations at a divisional level. The Business Manager will work closely with the Head of Everyday Banking and wider RBB leadership team to drive divisional governance, strategic initiatives, communications, and engagement. The role is ideal for someone with strong analytical, organisational, and stakeholder management skills, looking to make a tangible impact in a high-profile environment. This role reports to the Head of Everyday Banking and is part of a high-performing team.

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:

• Support the Head of Everyday Banking in managing the day-to-day agenda EDB, including meeting preparation, briefings, and issue resolution.
• Support Finance in tracking and reporting the Divisional FTE, demand forecasting activities and budget management and contribute to the tracking setting of the function’s long term (3-5 year) plan and the target operating model.
• Assist in the coordination and delivery of divisional governance forums such as weekly leadership meetings, monthly Board updates, and Quarterly Business Reviews.
• Prepare high-quality presentations and briefing materials for senior stakeholders, including the CEO of Retail and Business Banking.
• Contribute to divisional strategy and operating model changes, working with People & Culture, Compliance, and Communications to ensure smooth execution.
• Help define and cascade annual divisional priorities and Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) in partnership with the RBB CEO and RBB COO.
• Support the design and delivery of divisional engagement activities and events, including townhalls, newsletters, and leadership offsites.
• Build strong relationships across the RBB leadership team and with senior stakeholders across Santander UK.
• Represent EDB in cross-divisional forums and deputise for the Head of Everyday Banking as required.
• Manage the operating rhythm and content for the EDB Leadership Team and being an active voice and participant at the leadership table.
• Implementation of control frameworks and governance to ensure processes and services adhere to established standards and time frames.
• Develop and deliver (with the support of the leadership team) a rolling colleague engagement plan for the function leveraging key engagement enablers (both local and Bank wide initiatives developed centrally) and addressing key local engagement issues highlighted through Peakon and other engagement feedback channels.
• Contribute to cross team/functional initiatives, ensuring engagement and communication across departments.
• Research and develop content for Head of Everyday Banking to support their executive and senior stakeholder engagement and directly own and manage operational issues on their behalf.

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:

• Strategic Ownership: Drives work forward independently, anticipates needs, and takes full accountability for outcomes — not just tasks. Thinks ahead and plans with the bigger picture in mind. Proactively flags issues and offers solutions. Owns deliverables end-to-end.
• Executive Communication: Communicates with clarity, discretion, and professionalism — especially in high-stakes or ambiguous situations. Synthesises information succinctly. Communicates upward with confidence and precision. Knows when to escalate, when to act, and how to protect the CEO’s voice and time.
• Trusted Judgment: Makes good decisions without constant oversight and understands the tone, politics, and risk of the environment. Uses sound judgment in email, meetings, and stakeholder relationships. Navigates grey areas thoughtfully.
• Situational Leadership: Knows when to lead, when to follow, and how to adapt based on context and priorities. Steps up when direction is needed. Supports when others are leading.
• Value-Added Context: Brings insight, institutional knowledge, and added value — not just logistics. Connects the dots between past and present. Speaks up to avoid repeated mistakes or missed opportunities.

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.

30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, which increases to 31 days after 5 years service, with the option to purchase up to 5 contractual days per year. £6,000 car allowance per year. Company funded individual private medical insurance. Protection for you and your family, with company-funded death-in-service benefit and income protection insurance, and the option to take advantage of discounted rates for additional life assurance and critical illness cover. Share in Santander’s success by saving or investing in our share plans. As a Santander UK employee, you are able to request staff versions of our products like our Edge Current Accounts and Credit Cards with no fees, as well as apply to many other deals and discounts in Santander products and services. 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.

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.

Every individual must have the right to work in the UK to commence employment with Santander either by way of nationality, visa or work permit. If you do require a working visa / permit this will not influence our decision on whether to progress your application. However, if you do not have a right to work, or an application for a working visa / permit is unsuccessful, Santander will not proceed with your application and will withdraw any conditional offer previously made.

If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply. If there’s anything we can do in the recruitment process to help you achieve your best, get in touch. Whether it’s a copy of our application form in another format or additional assistance, we’re available through email. You can contact us at resourcing@santander.co.uk.