Vice President, Operational Risk Management

About this role

Business Overview

The Risk & Quantitative Analysis (RQA) group provides independent oversight of BlackRock’s fiduciary and enterprise risks. RQA’s principal objectives are to advance the firm’s risk management practices and to deliver independent risk expertise and constructive challenge to drive better business and investment outcomes. 

RQA is committed to investing in our people to increase individual enablement and ultimately build a stronger team. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion which encourages collaboration, innovation, diversity and the development our future leaders.  We actively engage in discussions on career growth and work with team members to understand how personal passions and strength connect with our purpose.

Operational Risk Management

The Operational Risk team within Enterprise Risk is responsible for all aspects of operational risk, including error investigation and resolution, new product and business change risk assessments, risk reporting / analysis, leading risk reducing projects and the maintenance of the operational risk framework, including facilitation of Risk and Control Self-Assessments.

Key Responsibilities

Based in New York, the candidate will work as part of a global team in a fast-paced environment to address concurrent time-sensitive risk issues and deliver timely analyses with senior leader visibility, specifically:

• Leverage internal network, industry knowledge, and data to independently identify, assess, and address emerging operating risks and trends across various business lines (e.g., Active Portfolio Management, Index Strategies, Private Markets).
• Use the firm’s large datasets, KPIs, and incident data to hypothesize, analyze, monitor, report, and escalate trends in the operating environment.
• Prepare and present risk reports and analysis to management, boards & oversight committees.
• Manage operating event investigation from beginning to end; close open exposure, root cause analysis, validating impact, drafting board quality summaries and client communications, engagement with senior stakeholders in real-time, and influencing accountability for problem management.
• Develop strong working relationships with business partners to challenge risks and processes, including escalating issues for remediation, as needed. 
• Provide oversight and challenge to functional heads on risk management, design and effective operation of controls, including in the context of Risk & Control Self Assessments (“RCSAs”).
• Development and active promotion of the risk management framework and BlackRock‘s risk-aware culture, including roll-out of Operational Risk framework tools and training.

Skills/Competence/Experience

We are seeking an energetic, inquisitive and ambitious professional with a track record of delivering high-quality results.  The successful candidate’s strengths will complement an existing high-impact team that demonstrates both strong interpersonal and analytical skills.  The candidate must be competent in independently identifying actionable insights from large datasets, influencing senior stakeholders through effective communication, and confidently leading the resolution of urgent operating issues with open market exposure.  

• 5+ years of experience in financial services preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in STEM, Finance, Economics, or Business program.
• Results focused, holding self and others accountable for delivering outcomes.
• Proactive self-starter with intellectual curiosity about how things work and confidence to take initiative in uncertain conditions.
• Ability to quickly understand complex issues through independent research and asking thoughtful questions of subject matter experts. 
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple priorities simultaneously without losing sight of the big picture.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to identify emerging risks, summarize issues and communicate risk themes and trends with impact.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and able to present to senior stakeholders with influence and impact.  
• A proven record of constructively challenging the business on its risk management practices and control environment, together with influencing business priorities and outcomes.
• Good negotiation skills, ability to resolve conflict between teams or individuals so that functional / organizational objectives are achieved through teamwork, collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience working directly within the investment lifecycle (Portfolio Management,