Full Time 12 Months Fixed Term Contract position
Hybrid role based in our City Centre offices, with on-site attendance three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday).

What we offer
We have embraced a hybrid working model for most of our positions, which means that you can enjoy a balanced approach of working from home for part of the week and working from the office for the remainder of the week.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including competitive salaries and bonuses, robust Learning and Development support, excellent Defined Contribution pension and comprehensive Wellbeing initiatives and support to name but a few.

Further details on our benefits package can be accessed here Benefits (life-careers.com)

Role Overview

We are seeking an Operational Risk Manager to work on a full-time 12 months fixed term contract basis to provide maternity leave cover in our Dublin office.

The role offers an excellent opportunity for a motivated candidate to develop and strengthen their operational risk expertise within a dynamic and evolving reinsurance environment across CRS (Capital & Risk Solutions). Operating within the second line of defence, you will play a key role in managing core operational risk activities across CRS, leading regulatory‑driven initiatives, and acting as a point of contact and co-ordinator for the implementation of Lifeco frameworks and standards.

This role sits within the CRS Risk team and reports to the Head of Risk, CRS. You will work closely with colleagues across Risk and Compliance and will have regular engagement with senior management in CRS, reinsurance risk teams in Dublin, Toronto and Barbados, as well as operational risk functions across Lifeco and Europe. The role involves interaction with CRS employees in Canada, Dublin, Barbados, Bluebell USA and Bermuda.

Responsibilities

As Operational Risk Manager, this role will involve:

Overseeing the CRS operational risk management framework, including providing guidance, training and education to stakeholders on operational risk requirements and expectations.
Acting as point of contact and co-ordinator for the delivery and rollout of Lifeco‑led initiatives across both CRS and Canada Life Reinsurance Ireland dac (CLReI), including new or updated frameworks, policies, methodologies and regulatory‑driven developments (e.g. OSFI E21).
Liaising with business units on internal operational risk events, including capturing and maintaining a comprehensive event log and ensuring timely follow-up on agreed actions and implementation of new or enhanced controls.
Planning, executing and tracking of annual CRS Risk Function activities and action plans, ensuring timely and accurate delivery.
Maintaining and updating CRS and Reinsurance Division Risk Charters and Mandates, ensuring alignment with evolving governance and regulatory expectations.
Supporting compliance monitoring and reporting on risk policies, escalating issues as appropriate.
Co‑ordinating the quarterly Reinsurance Division Operational Risk Committee, including preparation, collation and presenting of meeting materials, tracking of deliverables, and management of follow‑up actions.
Overseeing the preparation of operational risk assessments and reporting, including RCA updates, operational risk scenario analysis and thematic reporting.
Preparing operational risk reports for GWL Lifeco and CRS and contributing to the development and completion of operational risk reporting for CLReI.

What you’ll need to be successful in the role:

The ideal candidate will have:

Experience in audit, operational risk or another internal controls-related role.
Minimum five years of experience in financial services, preferably in insurance or reinsurance.
Well-developed verbal and written communication skills, and in particular, an ability to effectively communicate complex concepts.
A minimum of an honours bachelor’s degree in finance, Economics, Business, Accounting, Risk Management, or a closely related discipline.
Assertive, self-motivated with the capacity to work autonomously, as part of a team and across teams.
Experience of effectively balancing and delivering on competing priorities.
Competent user of MS Excel, MS Word and MS PowerPoint.
Excellent attention to detail and high integrity.
Champions simplification and efficiency, continuously seeking ways to improve processes and outcome.

About us

Canada Life Reinsurance (CL Re) is a division of Great-West Lifeco Inc. (Lifeco) and a leading provider of client focused reinsurance solutions in the United States, Europe and, more recently, Asia. CL Re offers a range of innovative risk and capital management solutions covering mortality, longevity, health, lapse, investment, non-life and P&C risk for insurers, reinsurers, and pension funds. CL Re is continuing to expand the reinsurance solutions it offers to new and existing clients in many global markets.

CL Re has offices in Dublin, Toronto, Philadelphia, Bermuda, Barbados, and Regina. The Dublin office is the base for CL Re’s European and Asian operations as well as the Irish reinsurance entity, Canada Life Re Ireland dac (CLReI). It comprises approximately 160 reinsurance professionals, including 115 actuaries and trainee actuaries. It is a proactive, inspiring, and friendly environment where talent and hard work are recognised and rewarded.

Lifeco and its companies have approximately $3.3 trillion in consolidated assets under administration and a capital ratio (LICAT) of 131% (as at 30/09/2025).

As a Company we are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and reach their full potential.

The company reserves the right to draw up a shortlist as part of the selection process. Where Agency assistance is required the Canada Life Recruitment Team will engage directly with suppliers. Unsolicited CVs / profiles supplied to Canada Life Reinsurance by Recruitment Agencies will not be accepted for this role.

Canada Life Group Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunities employer. We have created an environment of inclusion and growth to help people achieve their potential, to ensure they can bring their whole selves to work and to feel valued. We celebrate diversity of thought and perspective and want all of our employees to feel valued, respected and supported. We have built a culture that promotes equality and inclusion for all of our current and future employees and strive to ensure that our behaviours, processes and practices are aligned to this culture.

If you require any accommodations during the recruitment process please contact Lifecareers@irishlife.ie and we will be delighted to ensure you are fully supported to be your best.

CLGS supports Equal Opportunity and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Operational Risk Manager

Benefits

Job Description