Operational Risk & Governance Coordination manager

What will you do?

The SLS Operational risk and governance manager is responsible for driving an integrated Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) approach across SLS cluster businesses.   The role provides end-to-end GRC coordination across business lines and with central Sanlam Group support functions to ensure a unified, efficient, transparent, and licence-level view of risk and compliance. The role will improve first-line oversight of SLS operations, covering operational and related risks associated with people, processes, technology, and data. 

It also plays a strategic role in enhancing SLS GRC maturity, including investigating and recommending solutions to simplify and optimise GRC coordination, reporting   and effectiveness, including AI-enabled solutions. 

What will make you successful in this role?

Output/Core Tasks:

Key Responsibilities

A. SLS GRC Integration and Coordination
•    Coordinate end-to-end GRC processes across SLS cluster businesses
•    Facilitate alignment of GRC practices, methodologies, tools, and reporting across the clusters.
•    Coordinate consistent application of Group Governance, ERM, and SLS Compliance frameworks.
•    Drive integrated GRC activities where clusters rely on central functions such as Procurement, Legal, Regulatory Compliance, Privacy, and Enterprise Risk Management.
•    Support GRC integration and reporting at the Life Licence level and consolidate at SLS level
•    Review and support simplification of operational risk environment and processes

B. SLS-Wide Business Operations Coordination
•    Facilitate vertical risk integration from operational levels through cluster leadership up to SLS Exco.
•    Support horizontal GRC coordination across all SLS business clusters.
•    Support GRC integration and reporting at the insurance licence level.

C. Operational Risk Oversight for Shared Services
•    Coordinate operational risk and GRC matters for Shared Services under SLS COO oversight including, Chief Medical Office, and Reinsurance.
•    Provide support to ensure that risks, controls, incidents, and compliance obligations from Shared Services are integrated into the SLS-wide GRC ecosystem.

D. Client Experience & Conduct-Related GRC
•    Enable GRC coordination for proposed SLS COO Client Experience functions.
•    Support the embedding of conduct risk, Treating Customers Fairly (TCF), and regulatory requirements in the Client Experience processes.

E. Support to SLS Cluster COOs
•    Partner with COOs to champion GRC initiatives across SLS.
•    Provide guidance and coordination to ensure alignment and avoid duplication of GRC responsibilities.
•    Help embed a robust risk-aware culture across SLS clusters.
 

Collaboration and Stakeholder Management

•Collaborate with the businesses within SLS as well as with Group Functions which includes but are not limited to Governance Officers, Compliance Officers, Enterprise Risk teams, and Group Support functions.    
•Facilitate alignment between SLS COO office and Group Governance frameworks.

Strategic Responsibilities

•    Support the design of future-state GRC operating models and systems for SLS.
•    Contribute to transformation of GRC processes to improve efficiency and business value.
•    Identify and drive adoption of AI-enabled GRC tools to enhance monitoring, reporting, and integration.
 

Role Requirements:

Qualifications and experience:

•    Bachelor's degree 
•    7+ years’ experience in Governance, Risk, Compliance, or Regulatory roles.
•    Financial services or life insurance experience preferred.
•    Exposure to multi-cluster operational environments and GRC/AI technology solutions will be an advantage  
•    Experience with driving innovative solutions and process improvement and / reengineering 

Knowledge:

•    Strong Excel skills
•    MS Office (Outlook, MS teams) experience
•    Governance, Risk or Compliance reporting 
•    Financial Reporting & Cost management
•    SAP S4/HANA experience preferable
•    PPO   billing system will be advantageous 
•    Exposure to projects and IT finance management
•    JIRA workflow system will be advantageous
•    IT environment will be advantageous

Core Competencies:

•    Customer focus
•    Cultivates innovation
•    Collaborates
•    Drives results
•    Being resilient

Personal Competencies:

• Strategic thinking and systems orientation
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
• Expertise in GRC principles and frameworks
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication and facilitation capabilities
   Life-long learning• Innovative mindset with interest in AI and digital solutions

Build a successful career with us

We’re all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping  our employees to realise their worth. Through its five business clusters – Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.

Core Competencies

Turnaround time

Closing Date: 7 April 2026

The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers. 

Our commitment to transformation