Director – TAD (Technology Application Development) Risk Standard Owner

Person Specification

• Proven experience in owning and managing Risk Controls Standards for  number of years, with expertise in continuously evolving them to meet innovation and upcoming regulatory requirements.
• Strong understanding of technology risk, operational resilience, governance and regulatory expectations within complex technology environments.
• Proven experience managing audit findings, risk issues, control weaknesses and remediation programmes, with a strong focus on root-cause resolution and sustainable control improvement.
• Deep understanding of software engineering, application development, technology governance, technology risk management or SDLC controls within a large and complex organisation.
• Deep understanding of how modern software is developed, tested, deployed and operated, with practical experience across development methodologies, release management and production support.
• Ability to bridge the gap between engineers, architects, risk professionals and senior executives, translating technical complexity into practical business outcomes.
• A passion for simplification, innovation and continuous improvement, with an interest in leveraging automation and Artificial Intelligence to modernise governance and improve technology delivery.

This is a unique opportunity to influence the standards that govern software delivery across Barclays, working at the intersection of engineering, risk, governance and innovation while helping to shape the future of technology change across the organisation.

Purpose of the role

Technology Application Development (TAD) defines the minimum requirements, controls and governance expectations that ensure technology solutions are designed, built, tested, approved and released safely into production. The standard plays a critical role in managing technology risk whilst enabling Barclays to deliver change efficiently and at scale.

We are seeking an experienced technology professional to lead the evolution of this risk standard and help shape the future of software delivery, governance and engineering excellence across Barclays.

Accountabilities

• Own and continuously evolve the Technology Application Development (TAD) Risk Standard, ensuring it remains fit-for-purpose, reflects industry best practice, regulatory and 2nd/3rd Line of Defence requirements and supports safe, efficient and scalable delivery across the software development lifecycle.
• Provide governance and oversight across the end-to-end software delivery lifecycle, ensuring that appropriate controls are embedded and effective in the SDLC and  release management activities across the Bank.
• Drive effective management of technology risk, ensuring the standard appropriately addresses operational, security, architecture, resilience, compliance and delivery risks whilst remaining practical and efficient for engineering teams to adopt.
• Lead the identification, assessment and remediation of issues arising from audits, risk reviews, control assessments, incidents and operational events, ensuring root causes are correctly identified, assigned to the controls in the Standard if appropriate and addressed with sustainable improvements.
• Partner with engineering, architecture, cybersecurity, cloud, infrastructure, resilience and risk teams to ensure the TAD Standard aligns with the wider Barclays technology control framework and supports a consistent approach to technology governance.
• Use data, insights and performance metrics to measure adoption and effectiveness, ensuring that Standard metrics are correctly reported, identifying opportunities to simplify processes, reduce delivery friction and improve technology outcomes across the organisation.
• Champion operational excellence and continuous improvement, driving improvements in release quality, production stability, development practices and control effectiveness, by establishing tight relationships with the Business teams and ensure their adherence to the controls in the Standard.
• Help shape the future of software delivery at Barclays, promoting modern engineering practices, automation, DevSecOps approaches and the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence to improve both developer experience and governance effectiveness.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior technology and business stakeholders, influencing decision-making, driving adoption of standards and fostering a culture of accountability, quality and continuous learning.
• Operate at the forefront of Barclays' technology transformation agenda, helping define how future development practices, engineering platforms, automation capabilities and AI-enabled solutions can be introduced safely and responsibly within a highly regulated environment.

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.