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GMO APAC Head of Transformation

Singapore, Singapore

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Date live: 08/14/2026

Business Area: Markets Post Trade

Area of Expertise: Banking Operations

Contract: Permanent

Reference Code: JR-0000100687

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Barclays Banking Operations

Put yourself at the heart of the Barclays. A career in banking operations puts you at the very centre of our business strategy. By putting customers at the heart of everything we do, we’re putting our whole business behind our Customer facing teams. As the face of our brand, especially in an increasingly digital world, you'll play a vital role in our customers' financial lives. Here, your voice is heard, and you’ll have the support and opportunities to thrive.

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Overall purpose of role

The Director for APAC Region Transformation & Singapore Operations provides senior leadership, governance, and delivery oversight across a broad and complex portfolio of regional transformation initiatives, regulatory-related programmes, and Singapore Operations regulated responsibilities.

The APAC Global Markets business is expanding at pace. The large volume of new product approvals, regional and global Operations change programmes, and multi‑jurisdictional initiatives require clear senior ownership, coordination, and delivery discipline. This role ensures that strategic programmes meet their intended outcomes by driving alignment, removing bottlenecks, ensuring resourcing adequacy, embedding quality standards, and holding leads accountable for delivery.

The role also provides Singapore Operations oversight under MAS requirements, ensuring effective governance, control, and risk management consistent with local regulatory expectations.

This leader must be a visionary communicator, capable of articulating compelling narratives to staff and senior stakeholders (MD/D), influencing outcomes without direct authority, aligning cross‑functional teams behind a common purpose, and navigating ambiguity and contention to land positive outcomes for the firm.

They will manage a team of change professionals, providing coaching, development, and direction to elevate delivery performance across the region, along with direct oversight of Singapore Operations staff, activities and controls.

Accountabilities

  • APAC Transformation Leadership
    • Own senior oversight of the regional transformation book of work spanning APAC Markets Operations, regulatory change, infrastructure programmes, and strategic initiatives.
    • Ensure programmes deliver target outcomes by setting execution standards, reviewing implementation plans, and enforcing delivery discipline.
    • Identify and remove structural blockers, escalate where required, and proactively manage interdependencies across regions and functions.
    • Drive quality assurance across all transformation outputs, including delivery governance, risk management, and benefits realisation.
  • Singapore Operations Oversight (MAS Senior Manager Role)
    • Provide senior oversight of Singapore Operations in line with MAS regulatory expectations, including operational risk, governance, and control frameworks.
    • Ensure robust processes exist for issue escalation, root cause analysis, remediation, and sustainable risk mitigation.
    • Support regulatory engagement with MAS for Operations related matters and ensure timely, accurate responses for queries, inspections, and audits.
  • Stakeholder Management & Senior Level Influence
    • Influence, negotiate, and partner with MD/D level stakeholders across Business Heads, Country Management, COO, Technology, Compliance, and Risk.
    • Build strong alignment across diverse groups to progress strategic initiatives, resolve challenges, and build consensus around direction and priorities.
    • Communicate transformation narratives in compelling, executive ready formats to increase senior buy in and programme momentum.
  • Delivery Excellence & Programme Management
    • Lead a team of programme and project managers to deliver complex, multi year initiatives with high visibility and material business impact.
    • Ensure high quality project management disciplines: governance, RAID management, reporting, financials, dependency mapping, and resource planning.
    • Manage the prioritisation of resources across competing programmes.
  • Culture, People Leadership & Team Development
    • Lead and develop a team of transformation and change professionals across APAC.
    • Create an environment of high performance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
    • Role model the ability to "dive deep" into technical detail when required, while also elevating discussions to strategic levels for senior forums.
    • Foster collaboration across onshore/offshore locations and broader transformation communities.
  • Risk, Control, and Operational Resilience
    • Oversee risk and control impacts of change programmes, ensuring they strengthen the overall control environment.
    • Partner with Operational Risk, Compliance, and Audit to ensure appropriate governance and sustainable solutions.
    • Ensure issues are tracked, escalated, and remediated within defined timelines with clear ownership and root cause analysis.

Essential Skills/Basic Qualifications:

  • Degree qualified with minimum 15+ years relevant experience in global markets operations, transformation, change management, or a similar discipline.
  • Deep experience delivering large‑scale cross‑functional programmes in complex, matrixed environments.
  • Strong experience interacting with regulators, ideally MAS or similar APAC regulators.
  • Exceptional communication, influence, and negotiation skills with senior stakeholders.
  • Extensive programme & project management experience (methodology‑agnostic but disciplined).
  • Ability to navigate ambiguity, conflict, and multi‑party dynamics to reach positive outcomes.
  • Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making capability.
  • Experience leading and developing high‑performing teams.

Additional Skills, Qualifications & Attributes

  • Regulatory & Governance Expertise
    • Deep understanding of MAS regulations, including operational risk, outsourcing, governance, reporting, incident management, and Senior Manager responsibilities.
    • Experience contributing to regulatory inspections, thematic reviews, and supervisory engagements.
    • Strong grasp of APAC regulatory landscapes (HKMA, SFC, ASIC, JFSA, SEBI), especially where transformation impacts controls.w
  • Operational Risk & Control Acumen
    • Expertise in operational resilience, including business continuity, outsourcing oversight, and change‑related risk controls.
    • Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate risks arising from large‑scale transformations.
    • Experience leading root cause analysis, thematic issue remediation, and sustainable control uplift.
  • Transformation & Change Expertise (Beyond Project/Programme Management)
    • Proven ability to deliver enterprise‑wide transformation across jurisdictions, functions, and technology platforms.
    • Strong understanding of change‑related operating model design, target state definition, and process re‑engineering.
    • Familiarity with Lean, Agile, automation, and digital transformation practices, even if not a practitioner.
  • Financial & Commercial Acumen
    • Ability to manage programme budgets, optimise resource allocation, and ensure ROI on transformation initiatives.
    • Understanding of cost optimisation levers across onshore/offshore models, vendor arrangements, and shared services.
  • Data, Technology & Process Literacy
    • Strong knowledge of how data and technology underpin Operations, including:
      • data lineage, data quality, and data governance principles
      • workflow systems, process automation, and digital tooling
      • cross‑platform dependencies across Markets infrastructure
    • Ability to “get hands dirty” in technical detail when required, especially during issue escalation, delivery bottlenecks, or design reviews.
  • Leadership Attributes
    • High executive presence: able to communicate complex issues crisply to MD/C‑suite and influence without authority.
    • Strong organisational EQ: ability to navigate matrixed environments, resist pressure, and maintain clarity under stress.
    • Resilience & adaptability: able to manage ambiguity, competing priorities, and shifting regulatory or business expectations.
    • Conflict management: skilled at resolving misalignment between functions (Ops, Tech, Business, Compliance) and driving decisions forward.
  • Stakeholder Alignment & Narrative Strategy
    • Ability to create strategic narratives that align APAC senior leaders (Business, COO, Country, Product) behind transformation outcomes.
    • Skilled at storytelling through data, using visuals, metrics, and insight to drive commitment and influence direction.
  • Cultural Competence Across APAC
    • Experience leading teams across multiple Asia‑Pacific cultures, understanding local norms, communication styles, and sensitivities.
    • Ability to operate effectively across Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, India, and offshore hubs.
  • People & Talent Development Skills
    • Strong track record of developing change professionals, uplifting capability, and building succession pipelines.
    • Ability to embed a high‑performance culture across diverse locations and experience levels.
  • Delivery‑Driven Mindset
    • Ability to hold programme owners accountable and maintain momentum across long‑running multi‑year programmes.
    • Comfort handling “hands‑on” delivery escalations while also providing strategic oversight.

Purpose of the role

To manage the implementation of strategic change initiatives to enhance the banks operational efficiency. 

Accountabilities

  • Management of strategic operational changes and initiatives to enhance the bank's operational efficiency and effectiveness, including the identification and assessment of changes on people, processes, and systems.
  • Collaboration with internal stakeholders, including business leaders, project managers and SMEs to support business operation team and promote alignment between operations with the bank’s objectives.
  • Development and implementation of change management strategies and effectively communicate the strategies so they are understood and adopted by stakeholders.
  • Management and development of KPIs to measure the effectiveness of business functions, utilising data and technology to support the identification of areas that require improvement.
  • Comply with all regulatory requirements and internal policies related to change management.
  • Provision of guidance and support to stakeholders throughout the operational change management process through training and coaching.

Director Expectations

  • To manage a business function, providing significant input to function wide strategic initiatives. Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide..
  • They manage the direction of a large team or sub-function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross functionally. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
  • Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
  • Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub-function.
  • Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
  • Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.
  • Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.
  • Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.
  • Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up-to-date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.
  • Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.
  • Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.
  • Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.
  • Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.
  • Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.

Barclays welcomes applications from all candidates and is committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments (accommodations) are put in place to allow for a fair and inclusive recruitment process. For more information and how to request one, please review Adjustments to the recruitment process.

We’re a global, vital and highly respected financial organisation with an inspiring Purpose. Operating in 39 countries and employing around 100,000 people across the world, we help communities, individuals and businesses thrive. And we’ve created financial solutions and technology that the world now takes for granted. A career with us can offer incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience, and the chance to learn from some of the best minds in technology and finance.

To find out more about Barclays' strategy please click here.

We are an equal opportunity employer and opposed to discrimination on any grounds. It is the policy of Barclays to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law.

Barclays is required by law to confirm that you have the Legal Right to Work in any role that you apply for. If you currently hold a work visa sponsored by Barclays, or you would require sponsorship from Barclays, you must declare this as part of your application. Sponsored visas are role and entity specific and any changes must be reviewed. It is important that you ensure you are working on the correct visa at all times. Failure to accurately disclose your visa status or Legal Right to Work may result in your application or any employment offer being withdrawn at any time.

This role may be subject to enhanced governance arrangements. If successful, you may be required to comply with additional regulatory and compliance obligations, such as disclosure of personal trading activities and external interest/affiliations.

Further information on these requirements will be provided at a later stage of the process.

This is Barclays Singapore

Barclays has been a strong presence in Singapore for over 50 years. Our office is carefully designed to optimise the well-being of our colleagues. The center itself is an integrated live-work-play development, with shops, restaurants, gyms and an alfresco dining area.

Located in Marina Bay, you will have convenient options to commute, excellent views, and access to a range of amenities.

We’re utilising cutting-edge technology to deploy eco-friendly facilities like a eco-farm to cultivate fresh produce in our office.

Singapore is one of the wealthiest and safest cities in the world with low crime rates and zero corruption.

Our colleagues here in Singapore come from all around the world to create a richly diverse, wholly inclusive environment.

This is Barclays Singapore

Barclays has been a strong presence in Singapore for over 50 years. Our office is carefully designed to optimise the well-being of our colleagues. The center itself is an integrated live-work-play development, with shops, restaurants, gyms and an alfresco dining area.

Great location

Located in Marina Bay, you will have convenient options to commute, excellent views, and access to a range of amenities.

Sustainability and innovation

We’re utilising cutting-edge technology to deploy eco-friendly facilities like a eco-farm to cultivate fresh produce in our office.

A great city to live in

Singapore is one of the wealthiest and safest cities in the world with low crime rates and zero corruption.

A vibrant community

Our colleagues here in Singapore come from all around the world to create a richly diverse, wholly inclusive environment.

Multicultural ERGs at Barclays

Be you. Be valued. Belong.

We celebrate the unique perspectives and experiences each individual brings, believing our differences make us stronger and drive success.

You can learn more about our commitment to our colleague on our Inclusion and Opportunities page.

Learn more

Application Process

Your application

We’ll ask for information about you, your CV and cover letter.

1

Your assessment

Covering your behaviours and ability at work.

2

Your interview

Exploring your past experiences and skills.

3

Next step

We’ll request additional information so that you can complete our screening process

4
How to ApplyRead our FAQ's
Barclays

Working flexibly

We’re committed to providing a supportive and inclusive culture and environment for you to work in. This environment recognises and supports your personal needs, alongside the professional needs of our business. If you'd like to explore flexible working arrangements, please discuss this with the hiring manager. Your request will be reviewed in-line with the requirements of the role/business needs of the team.

Hybrid working

We have a structured approach to hybrid working, where colleagues work at an onsite location on fixed, ‘anchor’, days, as set by the business area. Please discuss the working pattern requirements for the role you are applying for with the hiring manager. Please note that working arrangements may be subject to change on reasonable notice to ensure we meet the needs of our business.

Barclays is built on an international scale.

Our geographic reach, our wide variety of functions, businesses, roles and locations reflect the rich diversity of our worldwide customer base. All of which means we offer incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience.
And the chance to learn from a globally diverse mix of colleagues, including some of the very best minds in banking, finance, technology and business. Throughout, we’ll encourage you to embrace mobility, exploring every part of our operations as you build your career.

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