About Northern Trust
As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.
Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide.
With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.
Role Overview
The Operational Resilience Risk Specialist serves as a senior subject matter expert within the Operational Risk Management function, providing independent second-line oversight and challenge of the organization's Operational Resilience, Business Continuity (BC), and Disaster Recovery (DR) programs.
The role is responsible for assessing and monitoring resilience risks, evaluating the effectiveness of resilience controls and governance processes, and providing credible challenge to business and technology stakeholders. The position supports the organization's ability to prevent, respond to, recover from, and learn from disruption events while ensuring compliance with regulatory expectations and enterprise risk management requirements.
The successful candidate will partner with business units, technology teams, and resilience program owners to strengthen resilience capabilities, review resilience risk assessments, evaluate continuity and recovery preparedness, and provide reporting and insight to senior management and risk governance forums.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Resilience Oversight
Provide independent second-line oversight and challenge of the Operational Resilience framework, policies, standards, and associated governance processes.
Review and assess the effectiveness of operational resilience capabilities across Important Business Services (IBS), critical business processes, and supporting interdependencies.
Monitor operational resilience risk exposure and identify emerging risks, control weaknesses, and areas requiring remediation.
Support the development and enhancement of resilience-related risk metrics, key risk indicators, and management reporting.
Business Continuity Risk Oversight
Provide oversight of Business Continuity Management (BCM) activities, including Business Impact Analyses (BIAs), business continuity plans, recovery strategies, and testing programs.
Disaster Recovery Risk Oversight
Provide independent oversight of enterprise Disaster Recovery governance, planning, and testing activities.
Risk Assessment and Assurance
Perform risk-based reviews and quality assurance activities across Operational Resilience, BC, and DR programs.
Evaluate the design and effectiveness of resilience-related controls.
Assess issues, vulnerabilities, audit findings, regulatory observations, and self-identified control weaknesses.
Support thematic reviews, deep-dive assessments, and targeted risk reviews.
Governance, Reporting and Regulatory Engagement
Prepare and deliver concise risk reporting for senior management, risk committees, and governance forums.
Escalate material resilience risks, control deficiencies, and regulatory concerns as appropriate.
Qualifications and Experience
Required
Several years of experience in Operational Risk, Operational Resilience, Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, Technology Risk, Audit, or related risk management disciplines.
Strong knowledge of Operational Resilience frameworks, Business Continuity Management, and Disaster Recovery methodologies.
Preferred
Experience within a regulated financial services environment.
Familiarity with regulatory requirements and industry guidance, including DORA, PRA/FCA Operational Resilience…