Job Introduction

Handelsbanken combines a long-established relationship banking model with secure, resilient, and customer-focused technology. Our technology teams enable the Bank's decentralised way of working, delivering systems built for stability, trust, and long-term value.

We are on a multi-year technology and digital transformation journey to enhance customer experience and improve how colleagues work together. By modernising platforms, simplifying processes, and better connecting data and systems, we help relationship teams focus on customers and less on complexity.

Our decentralised culture extends to technology. Teams are trusted to take ownership, make informed decisions, and deliver sustainable, high-quality solutions. We value engineering excellence, pragmatic problem-solving, and strong collaboration across technology, business, and risk.

We offer technologists the opportunity to build lasting careers, deepen their expertise, and contribute to meaningful change. We look for people who care about quality, security, long-term impact, and who want to shape the future of a relationship-led bank.

Check our Handelsbanken website for further information

The opportunity

Business Change - Business Planning Lead (9 month day rate contractor)

We are looking for a Business Planning Lead on a 9 month day rate contract basis to provide support to the Head of Business Change.

Key responsibilities
• Planning responsibilities; including supporting portfolio structure work, and key roles and responsibilities in the portfolio and the annual planning cycle for 2027 in H2 2026.
• Group engagement management; supporting a clear engagement model with Group teams designed and testing initial execution.
• Business Management responsibilities; including benefits and cost management with a business lens, creation and refinement for definitions of cost / investment for the UK for the Portfolio.
• Team structure; support in operationalising the key pillars of Business Change (Planning, Delivery, Management, Branch Strategy and Process re-engineering and AI). Design for this will be complete.
• Support the ways of working agenda with the creation of relevant artefacts in conjunction with Technology and where required, support in sessions to reach consensus.
• Co-ordination and prioritisation of Portfolio stewardship tasks (planning, delivery and management) across the department and creation of the functional narrative bringing together the holistic view of the function, this is a key requirement and important to partner with Technology function including PMO, Head of IT Transformation and delivery and the Technology Head of Strategy.
• Prioritise and co-ordinate critical issues and source essential information which is pertinent for the Head of Business Change and other senior stakeholders as necessary to enable sound business decisions including committee and steerco preparation as required and the relevant dissemination of actions and timely follow up to close the loop.
• Support Head of Business Change to develop the design for the annual, quarterly and monthly planning cycle for the portfolio and work with key stakeholders to align (including Strategy, Technology, COO senior leadership)
• Business management / projects including the Portfolio ROI and branch impact of change.
• Support in creating streamlined ways of working by partnering with existing Business Change leadership and cross functional teams involved in Change.

What we're looking for

Research (by Harvard University) shows that women are particularly likely to second guess themselves and not apply - so if you are worried you don't meet all the criteria, get in touch anyhow and let us do the worrying...

• Business Change professional, ideally in UK Financial Services with experience in Retail, Corporate and Wealth Management (or a combination of this)
• Strong Communication skills
• Experience presenting to Stakeholders at all levels (up to Executive/Board level)
• Ideally possess a data influenced decision making style
• Excellent judgement and adapt at working in confidential situations (i.e. Financial Services)
• Building relationships - ability to build relationships across functions supporting a common goa
• Ability to work in a fast pace environment

Why join Handelsbanken

We want everyone at Handelsbanken to feel supported, motivated, and able to do great work. As a contractor, you will work alongside brilliant colleagues and contribute your expertise in a collaborative and professional environment.

Application next steps

Your journey with us begins once you have submitted your application. One of our Handelsbanken Talent Acquisition Partners will be reviewing your details and will later organise a phone conversation if your experience aligns with our requirements, we will extend an invitation for you to participate in an interview.

This advert will be live for a minimum of one week. However, please note that after the one week, the closing date could change at any time depending on the number of responses received.

The Bank is deeply committed to embedding good equality and diversity practice into all of our activities. This is so that we are an inclusive, welcoming and inspiring place to work that encourages everyone to apply, regardless of socio-economic background, age, disability, pregnancy and/or parental status, race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin), veteran status, marital and civil partnership status, religion or belief, sex, gender reassignment or sexual orientation.