Operations & Change traineeship
Delivering on ING’s Think Forward strategy
ING’s transformation into a digital bank of the future doesn’t just happen on its own. It requires talented people like you, with a ‘can-do’ attitude and with the insight and dedication to design and implement a new organisational structure and efficient processes. As a trainee on the Operations & Change track you’ll help to think up, initiate and implement critical changes. You’ll have a strategic role in providing input that determines the company’s future direction.
At the same time, you’ll use your keen attention to detail and your desire to solve problems to keep our day-to-day operations running seamlessly and support the business as it delivers on the Think Forward strategy.
The agile approach, just like at Spotify, Netflix and Google
One of the major transformations for us as a bank has been the transition to ‘The ING Way of Working’. Since the summer of 2015 we’ve been largely working in line with ‘agile’ methodology. This is the same method used by companies like Spotify, Netflix and Google, in which teams of specialists from various disciplines are jointly responsible for a project from start to finish. This enables us to respond to customer needs much more rapidly. ING is the first bank to have embraced this way of working.
Your profile
If you have a master’s degree in Business Information Management, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Change Management or Operations Management, this track could be ideal for you. Technical engineering or econometrics also provide a good foundation, as do many other master’s subjects. However, your business sense is probably even more important than your degree. You need an understanding of what drives people and organisations and must be keen to manage real changes. If you really want to test your analytical skills, are fascinated by digital innovation and aren’t afraid to put your perseverance and powers of persuasion to good use – because that’s all part of an organisational change process – then you’re already halfway there. And if on top of that you find it easy to get along with people from different cultures or backgrounds, are collaborative and can convince teams of the benefits of change, then you’ll have the time of your life during this traineeship.
Countless challenges to tackle
As an Operations & Change trainee you will spend a few months working in an agile environment, such as within a squad at ING in Belgium, a local change team or within a Customer Loyalty Team. As a Blackbelt you can tackle an endless variety of projects, including working at Model Bank, either in the Netherlands or abroad. Model Bank is one of ING’s major change programmes which involves us providing a single digital financial platform for use by 6 million customers in countries including France, Spain, Poland and Italy. Throughout the whole banking organization, there are numerous transformation-related challenges for you to get your teeth into.
Responsibility from day one
Your first 18 months: rotations in Belgium and abroad
Your personal Talent Manager from HR will help you to decide on your first rotation, during which you will set to work on a concrete challenge within the domain Chief Operations Office (COO).
It’s up to you to arrange your second rotation. Now it’s a matter of making use of your network and your own initiative. Many trainees choose to go abroad for their third rotation, and that’s a particularly logical decision in case of the Operations & Change track, because of the international nature of the work. After all, the changes we’re involved in cannot be viewed separately from the international context of ING’s operations.
Your first ‘real’ job: continuing to grow
In your first ‘real’ job, which lasts approximately two years, you’ll enhance your knowledge and hone your skills. You can work on your further development within a specific area of the Chief Operations Office, as a business analyst, junior consultant, Blackbelt or Lead of a Customer Loyalty Team or other operational team, for example.
General and specialised training courses
All ING trainees participate in our global learning events. You learn about every aspect of core banking, such as the role of a bank, the bank balance sheet, bank funding, IT processes and risk management. Needless to say, these events also help you to develop your soft skills such as business partnering, stakeholder management and presentation techniques. Furthermore, we offer a broad spectrum of training opportunities that are aligned with your specific development needs. These include training sessions to support your personal growth and development of particular competencies as well as courses to help you develop as a business and banking professional. You decide which kind of training you need in consultation with your manager.
Leadership skills and content-driven training
The Operations & Change traineeship revolves around developing your leadership skills. Needless to say, there is also a lot of attention for work-related training, such as Scrum Agile and Black Belt and for courses on topics such as artificial intelligence, technology and data management. Further training courses on the agenda include an Introduction to Banking and Chartered Financial Analyst Level.