International Trade Operations Manager

About this role

Contract

Permanent ( Full Time

)

Job description

The International Trade Operations Manager is responsible for supporting the Senior Manager in the leadership of the Trade Operations function, ensuring the effective delivery of trade finance services and maintaining high standards of operational performance.

The role provides technical expertise across complex trade finance transactions, trade documentation and ICC rules, acting as a key escalation point for technical and operational matters and ensuring consistent, high-quality decision making across the function.

A core responsibility is maintaining a robust governance and control environment through oversight of operational performance, management information, audit readiness and regulatory compliance. The role works closely with Financial Crime and Risk teams to ensure trade-based financial crime, sanctions and anti-money laundering risks are effectively identified, assessed and managed.

The role also leads operational improvement activity, identifying opportunities to simplify processes, strengthen controls and improve efficiency. This includes supporting automation initiatives, embedding new technologies and helping to implement new systems and ways of working that enhance operational resilience and reduce risk.

In addition, the role supports the development of capability across the International Trade Operations team by providing technical leadership, coaching and guidance to colleagues. Through strong stakeholder management and collaboration, the role helps create a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and operational excellence across the function.

The International Trade Operations Manager sits within Business Banking Financial Risk Solutions , leading the delivery of trade finance services that support customers engaged in domestic and international trade. The role combines operational leadership, technical expertise and risk oversight to ensure trade finance transactions are delivered accurately, efficiently and in line with regulatory requirements.

Working across Operations, Financial Crime, Risk, Product and Relationship teams, the role helps maintain a resilient and well-controlled trade finance service while supporting the function's ongoing development through governance enhancements, operational improvements and technology adoption.

The role has a direct impact on customers and members by ensuring businesses can rely on secure, accurate and timely trade finance services, while protecting Nationwide through effective management of financial crime, regulatory and operational risks.

We are happy to consider flexible working approaches to help you perform at your best.

The working hours (per week) for this role can be between 28 and 35 hours.

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this job you'll spend at least two days per week, or if part time you'll spend 40% of your working time, based at either our Glasgow office. If you’re based at our Glasgow office, this will apply from 1 April 2027 and ahead of that there will be a need to regularly connect with colleagues for collaboration events. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works. You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working here .

Virgin Money is now part of Nationwide

Nationwide acquired Virgin Money in October 2024. Virgin Money continues to serve customers on the high street, and there will be a phased and considered integration over the coming years.

You’ll be employed by Nationwide from day one, delivering real impact and benefitting from a highly competitive range of benefits. We’re a workplace where you’re rewarded, recognised and celebrated.

If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.

What you’ll be doing

You will support the International Trade Operations Senior Manager in overseeing the end-to-end trade finance lifecycle, ensuring transactions are processed accurately, efficiently and in line with agreed service, risk and control standards.

As a subject matter expert, you will provide guidance on complex trade finance transactions, trade documentation and the application of ICC rules, acting as a point of escalation for technical and operational issues.

You will maintain a strong governance and control environment through effective oversight of operational performance, risk management, audit readiness, management information and regulatory compliance. Working closely with Financial Crime, Risk and Business Banking stakeholders, you will help ensure trade-based financial crime, sanctions and AML risks are appropriately identified and managed.

A key element of the role will be driving operational excellence through process simplification, automation and technology adoption. You will lead initiatives that improve efficiency, strengthen controls, reduce operational risk and support the successful implementation of new systems and ways of working.

You will also play an important role in developing capability across the Trade Operations function, providing technical leadership, coaching and support to colleagues while helping to deliver excellent customer outcomes and a culture of continuous improvement.

About you

Significant experience in International Trade Operations with strong technical knowledge of trade finance products for example Letters of Credit, Documentary Collections, Guarantees, Bonds and Trade Loans.

Understanding of trade-based financial crime risk, sanctions compliance, AML requirements and the associated regulatory obligations.

Knowledge of trade regulations, with the ability to resolve complex technical queries and transaction escalations.

Proven experience implementing and operating governance, risk and control frameworks within a regulated operational environment.

Demonstrable experience delivering process automation, operational improvement or technology-enabled transformation initiatives.

Leadership, stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build capability and drive change across teams.

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind

Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand

Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development

Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.

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Operations, facilities and site management roles. Running a shift, a custody suite or an operational unit is people-and-process management employers can use from day one.