Head Of Operations - Center Of Excellence

We are partnering with a global financial institution to appoint a Head of Operations for their Center of Excellence (CoE) in the Philippines.

This role is pivotal in driving operational excellence, team performance, and cross-border alignment with senior stakeholders based in Europe.

The successful candidate will lead a large team, elevate productivity standards, and act as a key interface between local operations and global leadership.

Key Responsibilities Operational Leadership Oversee all day-to-day operational activities, ensuring service delivery aligns with global benchmarks and regulatory expectations.

Translate strategic directives from European HQ into clear, actionable, and measurable execution plans.

Performance Management Establish a strong performance culture across teams by introducing best-in-class KPIs, dashboards, and accountability frameworks.

Inspire, develop, and mentor team leads and high-potential talent to support succession planning and operational depth.

Stakeholder Engagement Serve as the main bridge between the CoE and Europe-based leadership, communicating priorities, progress, and challenges proactively.

Anticipate and manage stakeholder expectations through timely reporting, issue resolution, and forward-looking analysis.

Process Improvement Identify and drive initiatives focused on workflow optimization, automation, and cost-effective scaling.

Challenge legacy processes and introduce continuous improvement methodologies Governance & Risk Uphold strong internal controls and compliance protocols across all operational functions.

Contribute to global risk and governance reviews, audits, and regulatory assessments.

Ideal Candidate Profile Experience Minimum 12 years in operations or shared services leadership within financial services or professional services.

Demonstrated ability to manage large teams and deliver results in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.

Prior international exposure, ideally with experience working with or in Europe.

Strong preference for : A Filipino national with significant overseas experience, or An expatriate with deep familiarity with Philippine workplace dynamics.

Capabilities Commercially aware and operationally hands-on.

Comfortable driving change and performance in culturally diverse teams.

Influential communicator, adept at managing senior stakeholders remotely.

Resilient, pragmatic, and able to lead with clarity in complex environments.

Why Consider This Role?

Lead the operational transformation of a strategically important CoE within a global institution.

Shape culture, improve performance, and build a future-ready team.

Work directly with senior leadership across Europe and Asia, with strong visibility and impact.

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