Master & Reference Data (MRD) - Delivery Manager

Who we are

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

Business Area

The EMEA Data Office was established 4 years ago within the Operations, Planning and Data Department and is responsible for building out the Bank’s data management capabilities across all EMEA entities (including Securities and Banking subsidiaries) and all datasets.The EMEA Data Office is scaling foundational data capabilities (Data Architecture, Data Governance, Data Quality, Data Platform) and is adopting a product-led model across MRD. MRD underpins Client Lifecycle Management (CLM), risk, finance and regulatory reporting; therefore, robust regional orchestration, adoption, and interlock with global MRD roadmaps are critical. The Delivery Lead will operate through agile ways of working and adhering to IT & Data Governance to ensure MRD increments are delivered, adopted and supported. This MRD Delivery Manager will partner with MRD Adoption Lead to enable business adoption of MRD. The MRD delivery Manager will report to the MRD Product Owner. The Data Office has been formed to really drive data-led transformation through the bank, and this is a great opportunity to join at the early stages of this exciting journey.

Since inception, the EMEA Data Office has grown to a team with permanent headcount of approximately 40 permanent staff and a total team size of c150 people including contractors and consultants engaged on project work. There is an ambition to grow further over the next 1-2 years. The Data Strategy & Advice team within the EMEA Data Office is leading the definition of the EMEA data strategy, while also establishing systems and processes for effective demand and delivery management. The direct team includes business analysts, delivery management, business implementation and data culture staff while our virtual team also includes project managers responsible for key change initiatives. MRD delivery operates across EMEA, Americas (AD MRD team), APAC, East Asia and Tokyo (HO). Multiple consuming domains including CLM/Fen‑X, Risk, Finance, Compliance and Front Office.

Role Summary

The MRD Delivery Manager is a critical role as we execute a new Data Strategy for the EMEA Data Office. The Data Strategy team define and coordinate the execution of the organisation’s data strategy and provide a front office for receipt and acknowledgement of all business data demand. Master and Reference Data team in EMEA is part of the Data Strategy function and lead by the MRD Product Owner.

The MRD Delivery Lead (VP) will drive regional implementation and business adoption of Master and Reference Data products and services in EMEA, supporting the Product Owner by translating prioritised backlog items into executable delivery plans and increments that achieve measurable outcomes. The role holds end-to-end accountability for EMEA delivery—planning, dependency management, RAID, change control, readiness, and benefits tracking—while liaising closely with the Americas MRD delivery capability to interlock cross-regional milestones and releases. The Delivery Lead ensures alignment with EMEA IT, Data Governance, Data Architecture and Engineering so MRD is stewarded, ingested into the Data Platform, and available as a service and as inputs to data products aligned to priority use-cases. This role is execution-focused, supporting MRD Product Owner who owns product strategy, roadmap or backlog prioritisation.This role will combine data & analytics subject knowledge with strong project and portfolio management skills to ensure the effective coordination and delivery of the data roadmap.

It is an exciting time to join the bank and a real recognition of the need to use our data better. If you want to help us drive the change, we would love to speak to you.

Position Description

A. Delivery Ownership (Increments & Outcomes)

• Own end‑to‑end delivery of EMEA MRD increments, managing scope, timelines, quality and delivery outcomes.
• Translate prioritised backlog into executable plans and sprints, maintaining JIRA discipline and tracking KPIs to drive delivery and benefits realisation.

B. Global–Regional Interlock

• Align EMEA delivery with Global/Americas MRD roadmaps, ensuring dependencies and releases are coordinated.
• Represent EMEA in programme forums, coordinating cross-region delivery, defects and change.

C. EMEA Integration & Readiness

• Align with EMEA IT and Engineering to deliver MRD build, platform ingestion and downstream access.
• Ensure governance, stewardship, controls and BAU readiness are in place for EMEA.

D. Business Adoption & Value Realisation

• Partner with business teams to drive use‑case adoption and measurable MRD outcomes.
• Work with Adoption Lead to deliver UAT, enablement and transition into BAU.

E. Service Ownership & Vendor / External Data Liaison

• Ensure MRD operates effectively as a service in EMEA, including SLAs and ownership.
• Manage vendor and external data relationships supporting delivery, platforms and data sourcing.

F. RAID, Controls & Governance

• Maintain RAID and dependencies, driving early escalation and resolution of delivery risks.
• Lead governance forums and provide clear reporting on progress, risks and outcomes.

G. Ways of Working & Team Leadership

• Embed agile delivery discipline and continuous improvement across teams and partners.
• Guide matrix teams, ensuring effective delivery practices and stakeholder alignment.

Experience

Essential:

• Proven delivery leadership in data/MDM or client/reference data programmes in financial services, owning multi-team increments to production.
• Strong programme & dependency management across regions (global–regional interlock) with evidence of RAID management and release governance.
• Experience enabling Data Governance & Stewardship (owners/stewards, glossary/lineage, DQ, KDE/CDE), privacy/controls, data platform ingestion & distribution with operational readiness for BAU.
• Excellent stakeholder management & communication; confident in SteerCo/committee forums with Product, IT, Engineering, CLM and control functions.
• Agile delivery expertise (backlog execution, DoR/DoD, ceremonies, incremental value realisation) combined with pragmatic project management (scope/schedule/cost/benefits).
• Extensive use of Jira as a delivery and execution management tool.

 Desirable:

• Hands-on familiarity with MDM platforms and data governance tooling; experience in master and reference data domains for corporate & investment banking.
• Experience with global bank operating models and CLM/Fen-X or equivalent onboarding/KYC ecosystems.
• Certifications in Agile/SAFe, PRINCE2 or equivalent.

Challenges:

• There is a complex change delivery model involving multiple entities and functions and there will be a need to maintain clear boundaries of this role as discrete from typical project and product management
• Global vs regional: balancing global standards/templates with EMEA regulatory/operational realities; managing time-zone and vendor dependencies.
• Data controls first-time-right: embedding governance & quality at speed without slowing delivery.

Competencies

What we offer

For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.

As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:

• Hybrid and flexible working 
• Competitive paid leave days
• Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance 
• Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services  
• Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities 
• Ambitious remuneration package

So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!