UK

United Kingdom · Operations · Director/VP (16-20 years)

Director, Operational Risk & Compliance

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

Start my plan, free

Free to start: a plan built for this role, and a Future Fluency module to try first. No card.

Keep this job description

Where should we send it?

One email: what AI is changing in this job, and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

Upskilling a team in this role? Talk to us

  • Experience bandDirector/VP (16-20 years)
  • Direct reports4-8 reports
  • Reports toChief Operations Officer (COO)
  • UK framework levelUsually a director, accountable for a division and its numbers

Also advertised as Head of Operations Compliance · VP, Operations Risk & Governance · Senior Director, Compliance & Quality (Operations)

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

Two short quizzes about you

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

GQA Level 5 Diploma in the Practice of Process Safety Management GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards
CICM Level 5 Diploma in Credit and Collections Management Chartered Institute of Credit Management · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards
FDQ Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Food Manufacturing Excellence FDQ Limited · Level 3 · covers 3 of 10 standards
FDQ Level 3 Diploma for Proficiency in Food Manufacturing Excellence FDQ Limited · Level 3 · covers 2 of 10 standards
GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Diploma for a Bulk Storage Operator (Technician) GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 3 · covers 2 of 10 standards
FDQ Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Food Industry Skills FDQ Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety GQA Level 5 Diploma in the Practice of Process Safety Management
Compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements CICM Level 5 Diploma in Credit and Collections Management
Manage compliance to support achieving excellence in food operations FDQ Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Food Manufacturing Excellence
Comply with External and Internal Obligations within a Bulk Storage Operations Environment GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Diploma for a Bulk Storage Operator (Technician)
Carry out quality audits in food operations FDQ Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Food Industry Skills

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Automation Fluency building AI into how work runs
Systems Fluency seeing the whole picture
Start my plan, free
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Director, Operational Risk & Compliance

5 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 5
  2. Compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements Chartered Institute of Credit Management · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 5
  3. Manage compliance to support achieving excellence in food operations FDQ Limited · covers 3 of 10 standards Level 3
  4. Comply with External and Internal Obligations within a Bulk Storage Operations Environment GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 3
  5. Carry out quality audits in food operations FDQ Limited · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 3
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Director, Operational Risk & Compliance?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skill this role is being asked for

  • AI Governance & Ethical Deployment in Operations
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Director, Operational Risk & Compliance plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

Start my plan, free Ready to pay? Subscribe for £70 a month

3What this role really is

This job sets the compliance strategy for an operations function, making sure daily work across all plants and regions meets regulatory standards. It means working with the COO to turn regulatory requirements into practical programmes that work on the shop floor. The role protects the business from financial, reputational, and safety risks.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

ServiceNow GRC / OneTrust (or similar enterprise GRC platform) Expert

Leading the strategic deployment and optimisation of the GRC platform across Operations, defining enterprise-wide workflows, and presenting high-level dashboards to leadership.

Microsoft Visio / Lucidchart / Celonis (or other process mining tools) Expert

Championing BPM standards, using process mining to identify systemic control weaknesses across the entire operational footprint, and driving process re-engineering initiatives.

SAP S/4HANA / Oracle NetSuite (or other major ERP system) Advanced

Working with IT and business process owners to define security roles, access controls, and change management protocols for regulated operational processes within the ERP.

Power BI / Tableau Server (or other enterprise BI platform) Expert

Overseeing the development and presentation of a unified compliance reporting suite for the entire business unit, including executive and board-level risk dashboards.

Diligent / BoardVantage (or other board portal software) Advanced

Preparing, uploading, and managing all materials for the Audit & Risk Committee, ensuring timely and accurate board-level reporting on compliance posture and critical incidents.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Strategic Programme Design N/A (Executes defined tasks) N/A (Contributes to process improvements) N/A (Leads specific workstreams)
Regulatory Response & Engagement N/A (Escalates all external contact) N/A (Prepares evidence for senior review) N/A (Supports audit responses)
Budget & Resource Allocation N/A N/A N/A

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Reduction in Reportable Incidents
The year-over-year decrease in significant safety, environmental, or quality incidents that require external reporting or result in major operational disruption.
Target · 20% year-over-year reduction in major reportable incidents across Operations.

If we had 10 major safety incidents last year, we'd expect no more than 8 this year, thanks to improved controls and proactive risk management under your leadership.

External Audit Performance
Number of major non-conformities or critical findings from external regulatory audits (e.g., ISO 9001, 14001, 45001 certifications).
Target · Zero major non-conformities in all external operational compliance audits.

Achieving ISO 9001 re-certification with no major findings, demonstrating a consistently high standard of quality management across all plants.

Regulatory Fines & Penalties Avoidance
The total financial impact of regulatory fines, penalties, or legal costs directly related to operational compliance breaches.
Target · Maintain zero regulatory fines or penalties related to operational non-compliance.

Successfully navigating a new environmental regulation without incurring any fines, by proactively updating processes and training staff before the deadline.

Compliance Programme Effectiveness Score
An internal score derived from control effectiveness testing, internal audit findings, and risk assessment results, indicating the overall health of the operational compliance programme.
Target · Achieve an average score of 4.5/5 or higher across all operational compliance domains.

Our internal assessment shows our CAPA closure rate is 98% and control effectiveness is rated 'Strong' in 90% of areas, contributing to a high overall programme score.

Strategic Influence & Thought Leadership
Your ability to shape the company's overall risk posture and compliance strategy, not just for Operations, but influencing other departments. This means being seen as the go-to expert.
  • You're regularly invited to C-suite strategy sessions
  • your input is sought on new market entries or product launches
  • you present to the Board Audit & Risk Committee
  • you're asked to represent the company in industry forums or regulatory discussions.
Organisational Culture of Compliance
How well you've embedded a proactive, 'speak up' culture around compliance and risk throughout Operations, where people genuinely understand and own their responsibilities.
  • Frontline staff can articulate key compliance requirements
  • managers proactively report potential issues before they escalate
  • training completion rates are consistently high
  • internal surveys show high awareness and positive attitudes towards compliance.
Team Development & Retention
Your effectiveness in building, mentoring, and retaining a high-performing operational compliance team, ensuring we have the right talent for the future.
  • High retention rates within your team
  • clear succession plans for key roles
  • positive feedback in 360-degree reviews regarding your leadership and mentorship
  • successful promotions of your team members into more senior roles.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Protecting the Business & People

You'll feel a deep sense of satisfaction knowing that your work directly prevents accidents, environmental damage, and financial penalties. Every day, you're safeguarding our employees, our customers, and our company's future.

Successfully implementing a new safety protocol that demonstrably reduces workplace injuries across all manufacturing sites.

Shaping Strategy & Influence

You'll thrive on being at the table for major operational decisions, providing critical input that shapes how we grow and operate. You'll enjoy the challenge of influencing senior leaders and seeing your strategic vision come to life.

Leading the development of a new global operational compliance policy that becomes the standard for all new market entries.

Building & Developing High-Performing Teams

You'll love mentoring and guiding your team, helping them grow their expertise and take on bigger challenges. Seeing your managers and specialists develop into future leaders will be a key motivator.

Implementing a new talent development programme for compliance professionals that results in two internal promotions within 12 months.

What frustrates people
  • Dealing with the 'business prevention unit' label, even though you're protecting the company.
  • The constant tension between operational efficiency and strict compliance requirements.
  • Navigating complex internal politics when different departments have conflicting priorities.
  • The sheer volume and ever-changing nature of global regulations, making it feel like a constant game of 'whack-a-mole'.
  • Having to deliver difficult news to senior leaders about operational non-compliance or significant risks.
What this role does not give you
  • A purely hands-on, technical role; you'll be leading and strategising more than executing individual tasks.
  • A quiet, predictable environment; expect urgent regulatory updates, incident responses, and high-pressure situations.
  • The ability to always be popular; sometimes your job is to say 'no' for the good of the business.
  • Immediate gratification; many of your strategic initiatives will take months or years to show full impact.

8Who you work with

This role is absolutely critical for our operational licence to operate. You'll directly influence our ability to meet production targets, ensure product quality, and maintain a safe working environment across all our operational sites. Your decisions will shape the operational culture around risk and compliance, impacting everything from daily shop floor procedures to multi-year capital investment decisions. Essentially, you're the guardian of our operational reputation and legal standing.

Inside the business
  • Chief Operations Officer (COO)
  • Legal & Regulatory Affairs Team
  • Heads of Manufacturing, Logistics, and Supply Chain
  • Internal Audit Committee
  • Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Leadership
Outside the business
  • Regulatory bodies (e.g., HSE, Environment Agency, specific industry regulators)
  • External auditors and certification bodies
  • Key suppliers and strategic partners
  • Industry associations and peer groups

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • Proven track record of leading and managing large-scale operational compliance programmes in complex, multi-site organisations.
  • Extensive experience (10+ years) in a senior compliance, risk, or audit role within an Operations context, with at least 5 years managing other managers.
  • Demonstrable experience in engaging with and presenting to executive leadership and board committees.
  • Expert-level understanding of enterprise GRC platforms and their strategic deployment.
  • A deep, practical understanding of how to embed compliance into operational processes without hindering efficiency.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Predictive Risk Modelling & Advanced Analytics

Moving from reactive incident response to proactive risk prevention requires the ability to build and interpret sophisticated predictive models. This means using operational data to forecast potential non-conformances, safety incidents, or equipment failures before they happen.

Statistical Process Control (SPC) · Machine Learning for Anomaly Detection · Risk Quantification Techniques · Data Visualisation for Executive Insights

  • This quarter: Partner with our Data Analytics team to identify a key operational risk area (e.g., safety near-misses) and explore potential predictive models.
  • Next quarter: Take an online course on advanced analytics or predictive modelling for risk management.
  • Within 6 months: Oversee the development of a pilot predictive risk dashboard for one operational site.
  • Within 12 months: Integrate predictive risk insights into our quarterly operational risk review process.

Quick win: Challenge your team to identify one operational dataset that could be used for simple trend analysis to spot emerging risks. Start asking deeper 'what if' questions based on the data you already have.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly attending industry conferences and workshops on operational risk, compliance, and regulatory changes.
  • Participating in professional networks and peer groups to share best practices and stay abreast of emerging trends.
  • Engaging in continuous learning through online courses or executive education programmes focused on leadership, AI governance, or advanced analytics.
  • Mentoring junior professionals within the compliance or operations functions to give back to the community and reinforce your own learning.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI Governance & Ethical Deployment in Operations

As AI becomes more embedded in operational processes (e.g., predictive maintenance, automated quality control), ensuring these systems are compliant, unbiased, and ethically sound becomes a critical compliance challenge. Regulators are starting to pay attention, and we need to be ready.

  • AI Risk Assessment Frameworks
  • Explainable AI (XAI)
  • AI Policy Development
  • Data Lineage & Integrity for AI

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
  • Advanced Control Design & Optimisation
  • Audit Programme Leadership (Internal & External)
  • Incident & Crisis Response Management
  • Compliance Programme Metrics & Reporting

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Head of Operations for a large, regulated business unit

    5-8 years in a similar role

    Skills to master

    • Deep understanding of operational P&L, managing large teams, driving production targets, and navigating commercial pressures while maintaining compliance.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully led a major operational transformation project with significant compliance implications.
    • Consistently delivered strong operational performance while maintaining an excellent compliance record.
    • Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate effectively with compliance teams in previous roles.
  2. 2

    Director of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)

    5-7 years in a similar role

    Skills to master

    • Broad understanding of all enterprise risks (financial, strategic, cyber, operational), developing cross-functional risk frameworks, and reporting to the Board on overall risk posture.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Developed and implemented a robust risk assessment methodology that was adopted across multiple departments.
    • Proven ability to translate operational risks into broader business impact and communicate effectively to executive leadership.
    • Strong track record of collaborating with various risk functions (e.g., finance, IT, legal).
  3. 3

    Senior Legal Counsel (Regulatory/Operations Focus)

    8-10 years in a similar role

    Skills to master

    • Deep legal interpretation of regulatory texts, managing regulatory enforcement actions, and providing legal advice on complex operational compliance matters.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully managed significant regulatory investigations or disputes.
    • Provided strategic legal advice that directly influenced operational compliance policy.
    • Demonstrated a pragmatic, business-oriented approach to legal risk management.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This work can lead to a deeper compliance specialism or broader operational leadership, building on experience in protecting a complex business at scale.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Director, Operational Risk & Compliance is actually changing.

Where it leads

Roles this leads to

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety, worked against Director, Operational Risk & Compliance.

Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety Level 5

Applied to your work in Director, Operational Risk & Compliance

The objective of this unit is to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of the regulations, industry standards, and management requirements for process safety. Learners will understand the role of the Process Safety Leadership Group, relevant frameworks, legal duties, and the role of the Competent Authority.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

Start my plan, free
See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Director, Operational Risk & Compliance
  • Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
  • Advanced Control Design & Optimisation
  • Audit Programme Leadership (Internal & External)
  • Incident & Crisis Response Management
  • Compliance Programme Metrics & Reporting
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Director, Operational Risk & Compliance is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)

    3-5 years

    L7

    • Developing and implementing an enterprise-wide Code of Conduct.
    • Managing global compliance programmes across all business units.
    • Leading internal investigations into high-profile compliance breaches.
    • Advising the CEO and Board on complex ethical dilemmas.

  2. Chief Operations Officer (COO)

    5-7 years

    L7

    • Developing and executing multi-year operational strategies.
    • Leading major capital investment projects and facility expansions.
    • Optimising global supply chains for resilience and cost-effectiveness.
    • Driving a culture of continuous improvement and innovation across operations.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

As a Director, your time is gold. You're thinking strategically, influencing leaders, and protecting the business. The good news? AI isn't here to replace your strategic brain; it's here to free it up from the tactical grind. Imagine having an intelligent assistant that handles the heavy lifting of data synthesis, regulatory monitoring, and report drafting.

For a Director of Operational Risk & Compliance, AI means moving beyond reactive problem-solving. It's about getting real-time insights, predicting risks before they materialise, and automating the grunt work of programme management. This lets you focus on what truly matters: setting the strategy, building a world-class team, and engaging with the Board and regulators.

Strategic Risk Foresight Engine

AI analyses vast datasets – historical incidents, audit findings, market trends, and even external news – to predict emerging operational risks and compliance hotspots. You'll get early warnings on potential issues, allowing you to proactively adjust strategies and allocate resources where they're needed most, before they become a crisis.

Global Regulatory Intelligence Hub

An AI agent continuously monitors regulatory changes across multiple jurisdictions and industry bodies. It summarises complex updates, flags their relevance to our specific operations, and even suggests potential impacts on our existing policies and procedures. No more sifting through hundreds of pages of legal text yourself; get the actionable insights directly.

Executive Report Auto-Drafter

Feed AI your raw compliance data, audit results, and risk assessments, and it can generate first drafts of comprehensive Board or Executive Committee reports. It'll structure the narrative, pull key metrics, and highlight critical findings, saving you hours of drafting time and ensuring consistent, high-quality communication.

Programme Performance Optimiser

AI reviews the effectiveness of your compliance programme elements – CAPA closure rates, training completion, control effectiveness scores – and identifies areas for improvement. It can even recommend specific interventions or resource re-allocations to optimise overall programme performance and efficiency.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Director, Operational Risk & Compliance?

Common routes in include Head of Operations for a large, regulated business unit (5-8 years in a similar role), Director of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) (5-7 years in a similar role) and Senior Legal Counsel (Regulatory/Operations Focus) (8-10 years in a similar role). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Director, Operational Risk & Compliance progress to?

This role can lead on to Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) (3-5 years) and Chief Operations Officer (COO) (5-7 years), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Director, Operational Risk & Compliance?

Increasingly, AI Governance & Ethical Deployment in Operations. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

Read the Zavmo manifesto to understand how you will be taught Meet your tutors

Or try another one

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 7

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

 More jobs in operations

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.
If you leave this industry

Skills in operational risk and compliance carry across regulated industries. Similar director or executive roles exist in pharmaceuticals, aerospace, energy, and financial services. Managing complex regulations, building control environments, and influencing senior stakeholders are skills valued across sectors.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my plan, free What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.