Director – Sanctions Compliance

Director – Sanctions Compliance, Manchester
We’re seeking a future team member for the role of Director to lead our Global Sanctions Compliance Operations team in Manchester, United Kingdom.
About the Role
The Director, Sanctions Operations, will lead end-to-end operational strategy and execution of sanctions screening processes, including alert dispositioning, quality assurance, training and all associated controls functions that are performed in Manchester. Additionally, the incumbent will be part of the Global Sanctions Operations Leadership team and will drive strategy across Quality Assurance and Training functions for sanctions screening globally.
This leader will drive operational excellence, client experience, and risk control while accelerating data‑driven decisioning, AI‑enabled operations, and intelligent automation at scale. The ideal candidate is a proven transformation leader with deep expertise and experience in sanctions screening, sanctions regulations, strong people leadership, and a strategic mindset, passionate about reengineering, simplification, and continuous improvement.
In this role, you’ll make an impact in the following ways:
Leadership and strategy:
Oversee the sanctions compliance functions of 20-30 FTEs based in Manchester.
Lead and own the sanctions operations training and quality assurance function for BNY globally
Take accountability for the sanctions functional delivery against client key performance indicators (KPIs), key risk indicators (KRIs), objectives, and quality standards across static data and transaction Screening.
Identify and implement process improvement opportunities to enhance efficiency, strengthen controls, and manage risk.
Evaluate opportunities to leverage automation and AI within processes to improve effectiveness and support sustainable risk management.
Operations management:
Monitor operational performance, resource allocation, and workflow distribution to ensure the function can scale effectively.
Strengthen first‑line risk and control discipline: incident prevention, rapid issue resolution, root‑cause elimination, change control, and regulatory adherence.
Implement new regulations globally that may be mandated by regulators.
Stakeholder Engagement:
Build constructive relationships with operations and compliance Leads.
Partner with Technology and Product teams to co‑create target‑state capabilities, ensuring effective operational design is embedded early in change.
People Management:
Coach and develop a high-performing sanctions operations team, delivering initiatives to grow their skills and managing succession plans for senior leads.
To be successful in this role, we’re seeking the following:
Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent combination of education and experience is required; advanced/graduate degree preferred.
Significant experience in sanctions roles in the first line or second line of defense of a large multi-national bank.
Proven track record running complex operations with significant daily volumes, tight SLAs, and high regulatory scrutiny in targeted markets.
Experience in implementing new regulations, regulatory control frameworks and handling regulatory reviews.
Deep understanding of operational risk, control frameworks, business continuity, and regulatory requirements across global jurisdictions
Demonstrated success implementing AI/ML and automation in production operations, with measurable KPI improvements.
Strong d