Head of Model Risk Strategy

What We Offer

• Gross monthly salary between €10,855 and €15,507 (senior kader B) for a 36 hour week
• Thirteenth month's salary and 8% holiday allowance
• 10% Employee Benefit Budget
• EUR 1,400 development budget per year
• Hybrid working: balance between home and office work (possible for most roles)
• A mobility budget: with this, you can tailor your transportation according to your own needs. For example, by leasing a car or receiving the full amount and arranging your own transportation
• A pension, for which you can set the maximum amount of your personal contribution

About the Role

At Rabobank, models are the backbone of our digital transformation, regulatory compliance, and key banking processes such as client due diligence, pricing, capital positioning, and stress testing. They help us achieve more with less—more lending and better client journeys with less capital. But models also come with risks.

That’s where Model Risk Management (MRM) comes in. MRM helps us get the most out of our models and advanced analytics. It supports accurate decision-making, ensures compliance, and protects us from financial and reputational risks. We make sure models across the bank are fit for purpose, accurate, used as intended, and meet both internal and external expectations. We do this through validation, business advice, and strong model risk governance (MRMF and RCF).

We work in a fast-changing world—technological advances, complex regulations, and shifting social and political landscapes. These challenges require a flexible, future-ready team and smart, sustainable ways of working. That’s why we’re looking for forward-thinking leadership to help shape a resilient and mature MRM department.

If you're a leader with broad skills and deep expertise, someone who can bring vision and strategy to new territory, inspire others, and boost team performance—we’d love to hear from you.

You and Your Role

You’re a dynamic leader with a proven track record of leading other leaders. You think strategically, solve problems creatively, and have broad experience across different risk types and lines of defence. You bring a mix of leadership, influence, project and people management, business insight, and cross-functional collaboration. You’re comfortable with uncertainty and always looking for ways to improve.

Practical Examples

• Own and execute the Model Risk Strategy roadmap in line with MRM’s vision.
• Ensure operational excellence, including budgeting, resource planning, and growth strategy.
• Drive model risk governance and strategy across all three model risk domains.
• Collaborate with senior colleagues to shape the future of MRM.

Facts & Figures

• 43,822 Rabobank colleagues worldwide
• Exposure to all risk types across the bank

Your Responsibilities

• Lead with purpose, creating a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, delivering customer-focused outcomes.
• Promote innovation by simplifying and aligning processes across domains.
• Support the Head of MRM in strengthening integrated model risk governance.
• Champion data-driven decision-making and consistent ways of working.

Together We Achieve More

We believe in the power of difference. Diverse perspectives make us a better bank. We’re curious about what you’ll bring to our MRM team.

At Rabobank, we work together as one passionate, results-driven team. We’re a Dutch bank with over 9.5 million customers in 38 countries. Together with our customers, members, and partners, we aim to create a world where everyone has access to enough healthy food. In the Netherlands, we help people live, work, and do business in a way that makes them proud.

You and Your Talent

You’re responsible, results-driven, and skilled at managing a wide range of stakeholders. You understand their needs and create win-win solutions. You also bring:

Key Behaviours

• Professionalism and Respect: Highly regarded and well-respected leader among senior management.
• Leadership and Influence: Demonstrates strong leadership and the ability to influence others.
• Strategic Planning: Led large projects and skilled in developing and executing strategic plans.
• People Management: Expertise in managing and developing teams.
• T-Shaped Leadership: Exhibits a broad range of skills with deep expertise in specific areas.
• Balanced Leadership Style: Maintains a good balance of accountability and empowerment.
• Independent and Creative Thinking: Independent thinker with a proactive and creative mindset.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Values collaboration and demonstrates strong teamwork skills, focusing on pragmatic solutions.
• Adaptability: Comfortable working with ambiguity and thinking outside the box.
• Effective Communication: Strong communication skills with a balance of diplomacy and persuasion.
• Pragmatism: Ability to convey complex risk concepts to stakeholders at various levels to achieve win-win situations.
• Leadership Experience: Successfully led other leaders for at least 3 years.

Key Skills

• Master’s or PhD in a relevant field (e.g., law, change, STEM, international relations)
• 12+ years of experience in banking and risk
• Proven change/transformation leadership
• Experience across the three lines of defense (business, model development, validation, audit)
• Willingness to grow in emerging risks like ESG and AI
• Ability to connect policy with business needs and create practical, customer-focused solutions
• Strong systems thinking and a big-picture view
• Excellent command of English
• Consulting experience is a plus