Senior Operation Risk Officer at Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD): (Deadline 8 March 2025)

Senior Operation Risk Officer at Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD): (Deadline 8 March 2025)

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

The Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) Plc is Rwanda’s only National Development Bank mandated to support Rwanda’s Vision 2050 development agenda. Over the past five years, the bank has registered exponential growth contributing to socio-economic development, strengthening institutional and human capacity, fostering corporate governance and risk management practices.

The Bank is implementing the revised strategic plan for 2024-2028 which is appropriately aligned to the country’s strategic direction enabling the Bank to unlock better value creation for its stakeholders by supporting entrepreneurs, addressing market failures, and impactful socioeconomic development.

To deliver on its bold vision and impactful objectives, the Bank’s expanded and refocused mandate is underpinned on four strategic focus areas:

• Availing transformational finance.
• Increasing green financing for a resilient future.
• Driving scale and impact.
• Fostering innovation and technology.

To achieve its strategic mandate, BRD recognizes the importance of strengthening its human and institutional capital to drive sustainable development and ensure the Bank remains a center of excellence in the financial sector.

BRD is committed to respecting gender equality and disability norms. We promote gender-responsive practices. Qualified candidates particularly females and persons living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

To help accomplish this ambitious and exciting vision, the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) would like to recruit suitable qualified candidates to fill the following positions:

SENIOR OPERATIONAL RISK OFFICER (1)

Contract Terms – Open-ended

Purpose of the Job:

As an Operational Risk Officer at the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD), you will be responsible for the identification, assessment, measurement, monitoring and reporting non-financial/Operational risks (and the impact of the financial risks on the value of the bank through the process in which they are managed) to ensure that business units of the Bank optimize the risk-reward relationship and mitigate losses, and you will lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive business continuity program aligned with international best practices (e.g., ISO 22301) to ensure organizational resilience and minimize disruption in the event of unforeseen events.

Main Responsibilities of the Job:

Operational Risk Identification and Assessment:

• Identify and assess potential threats: Analyse natural disasters, cyber threats, human errors, and other vulnerabilities that could disrupt operations.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies: Implement preventative measures like technology upgrades, security policies, and staff training to minimize the likelihood of disruptions.
• Maintain awareness of emerging risks: Stay updated on changing risk landscapes and adapt the BCP and mitigation strategies, accordingly, reporting on potential impacts.
• Work with respective departments to develop their respective risk and Control self-assessments to identify, assess, and prioritize operational risks across the bank’s activities, systems, and processes.
• Ensure potential risk events across all operational domains are Identified and categorized through department Risk Control Self assessments.
• Assess the likelihood and potential financial and reputational impact of each risk event using validated methodologies.
• Rank risks based on their severity and urgency for mitigation.
• Document the risks identified through the preparation of a risk register for the Bank.
• Participate in the development of departmental risk indicators, implement Enterprise-wide key risk indicators ( KRIs) and monitor their performance.
• Assess the capital charge resulting from operational risk weighted assets.
• Prepare and conduct the product, program and projects risk assessment and provide recommendations.
• Prepare risk champions refresher training on regular basis, to ensure a risk aware culture through different  programs ( BCP, operational risk programs among others)
• Participating in fraud investigation that may arise from the course of the bank’s operations.

Operational Risk Measurement, Mitigation and Control:

• Ensure the formulation and implementation of a robust risk management strategy aligned with the bank’s risk appetite and regulatory requirements.
• Stay updated on relevant banking regulations and incorporate their requirements into BRD risk management framework.
• Ensure risk assessments are conducted before launching new activities or implementing significant changes.
• Ensure the design and implementation of effective controls, including:
• Preventive: Process improvements, technology upgrades, employee training, and robust security protocols.
• Detective: Monitoring mechanisms and exception reporting systems to proactively identify and address risk occurrences.
• Corrective: Disaster recovery plans and incident response protocols to minimize potential losses and ensure business continuity.
• Perform a Control Effectiveness Evaluation by:
• Regularly assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of implemented controls, adapting and updating them as necessary to address evolving risks and regulatory changes.

Operational Risk Reporting and Governance:

• Periodic Reporting: Develop reporting templates and provide regular reports to senior management and relevant committees, including:
• Risk Profile: Comprehensive overview of the bank’s current risk landscape, highlighting key risk areas and trends.
• Mitigation Strategies: Details of implemented risk management strategies and their effectiveness.
• Emerging Risks: Identification and analysis of potential emerging risks requiring proactive attention.
• Communication and Collaboration: Maintain open communication channels with all stakeholders to foster a culture of risk awareness and proactive risk management.

Building and Maintaining the Business Continuity Framework:

• Conduct Business Impact Analysis (BIA): Identifying and prioritizing critical business functions based on their impact on the bank’s mission and stakeholders.
• Develop and update the Business Continuity Plan (BCP): This plan outlines critical functions, recovery time objectives (RTOs), and recovery point objectives (RPOs) for essential bank operations.
• Design and implement recovery strategies: Develop solutions for recovering critical functions in the event of disruptions, including alternate sites, technology redundancy, and workforce mobilization plans.
• Conduct regular testing and exercises: Validate the effectiveness of the BCP through simulations and drills to ensure readiness for real-world events.

Crisis Management and Recovery:

• Oversee recovery efforts: Coordinate with relevant teams to restore operations, repair damaged infrastructure, and mitigate financial and reputational losses.
• Evaluate and document lessons learned: Analyse the response to disruptions and identify areas for improvement in the BCP and recovery strategies.

Coordination and Communication:

• Collaborate with key stakeholders: Work with departments across the bank to align business continuity plans, test procedures, and communication protocols.
• Establish clear communication channels: Ensure effective communication during disruptions to minimize confusion and facilitate swift recovery.
• Train and educate staff: Provide training on BCP procedures and roles to ensure all personnel are prepared and can respond effectively in an emergency.
• Provide mentorship to junior staff, or professional interns for personal development.

Continuous Improvement:

• Regularly review and refine the Bank’s policies and procedures to ensure its alignment with best practices and regulatory requirements.
• Proactively monitor industry trends and technological advancements to identify and address potential new risks.
• Cultivate a robust risk culture via engaging risk awareness, learning, and training initiatives risk awareness, learning and training.

Performance indicators

• Customer Satisfaction (CSAT):Percentage of positive customer feedback or satisfaction ratings post-interaction.
• First Call Resolution (FCR):Percentage of customer issues resolved during the first call without the need for escalation.
• Average Handle Time (AHT):Average time spent handling customer inquiries or issues per call, with a balance between speed and quality.
• Service Level Adherence:Percentage of calls answered within the designated service time or within expected wait times.
• Call Abandonment Rate:Percentage of calls that are abandoned by customers before being answered.
• Attendance & Punctuality:Percentage of scheduled shifts attended on time with minimal absenteeism.
• Escalation Rate: Percentage of calls escalated to a supervisor, aiming to minimize unnecessary escalations.
• Productivity (Calls Managed per Hour):Nmber of calls an agent is able to handle effectively within a specified timeframe.

Feedback Implementation: Number of customer feedback suggestions implemented or followed up on to improve service.

Working relationships

• BRD All Departments & the public

Professional, academic qualifications and experience

• Bachelor’s degreein finance, project management, or a related field. A master’s degree or professional certifications (e.g., FRM, PRM, ISO 22301 Certified, ISO 31000 Certified) is desirable.
• Preferable to have an audit background forat least 2 years’ experience in a financial institution or audit firms.
• Minimum of 4 yearsof experience in Operational risk management.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills to align operational risk management with the overall Bank strategy.
• Leadership qualities with the ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.
• Good Understanding of Operational Risk Concepts and metrics for assessing, measuring, and reporting operational risks events.
• Strong qualitative, analytical, and critical thinking skills to address complex operational risk challenges and develop effective solutions.
• Ability to adapt to evolving regulatory environments and industry best practices.

Core competencies

• Analytical Thinking & Reporting– Strong ability to analyze complex data, evaluate financial  and non-financial records, and provide clear, data-driven risk insights.
• High Accuracy & Attention to Detail– Expertise in reviewing operational  documents, identifying inconsistencies, and ensuring compliance with risk frameworks.
• Strategic & Logical Thinking– Ability to align operational risk management with institutional strategy and regulatory requirements.
• Problem-Solving & Risk Identification– Proactive in detecting, assessing, and mitigating operational risks before they escalate.
• Judgment & Mental Agility– Quick decision-making and adaptability in handling evolving risk scenarios.
• Organizational & Process Improvement Skills– Strong ability to structure workflows, enhance internal controls, and improve risk processes.
• Governance & Compliance Expertise – Deep knowledge of risk regulations, enterprise risk frameworks, and best practices in risk management.
• Result-Oriented & Proactive– Focused on delivering measurable risk mitigation strategies and ensuring continuous improvement.
• Collaborative Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement– Ability to work with internal teams, regulators, and external partners to embed a risk-aware culture.
• Integrity & Ethical Conduct– Upholds transparency, accountability, and high ethical standards in all risk management functions.

Application Guidelines:

Interested candidates should apply online (https://www.brd.rw/careers/ ) and upload application documents including Curriculum Vitae, copies of degree certificates and professional certificates, motivation letter, names of three previous supervisors (as one document) as well as their emails and telephone.

Only online applications shall be considered.

Email-only for inquiries (not application): [email protected]

Address all applications to the Head, Human Capital, and Corporate Services of BRD.

Deadline for application: March 8, 2025.

The employment package is highly competitive and attractive.

Only Candidates with the right qualifications and relevant experience shall be shortlisted and contacted for a written test.

Done in Kigali,February 21, 2025.

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