Description
Work at the centre of Defence, helping to strengthen how risk and assurance support strategic decision-making, prioritisation and delivery across the Department.
This role sits within Defence Risk and Assurance (DRA), Defence’s Risk Centre of Excellence. DRA supports the Chief Risk Officer in strengthening risk management, assurance and governance across Defence and provides advice, challenge and insight to senior leaders.
As a Risk and Assurance Professional, you will manage a portfolio of Defence business areas, using analysis, judgement and business partnering to help senior stakeholders understand their risk exposure, assurance needs and opportunities for improvement. You will translate complex information into clear insight and contribute to reporting for senior governance forums, including Executive Committee, the Defence Board and the Defence Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee.
This is a stretching opportunity for a high-performing SEO or experienced HEO ready to operate with greater autonomy, build senior stakeholder confidence and develop expertise in risk, assurance and governance at the centre of Defence.
You do not need to be a risk or assurance specialist to apply. We are looking for someone with strong analytical ability, sound judgement, clear communication skills and the confidence to work constructively with stakeholders on complex issues.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage a portfolio of Defence business areas, building effective relationships with senior risk owners, risk teams and other stakeholders to understand their priorities, risks and assurance needs.
- Provide proportionate challenge and practical advice to improve risk assessments, mitigations, assurance activity, governance arrangements and the quality of risk information.
- Analyse and quality assure risk, control, mitigation and assurance information, identifying themes, gaps, interdependencies and issues requiring escalation or senior attention.
- Use evidence and judgement to produce portfolio assessments and contribute to clear, timely and decision-focused reporting for senior governance forums.
- Support stakeholders to improve the maturity and consistency of risk management, drawing on Defence policy, wider government good practice and practical insight from across the Department.
- Contribute to the development of Defence’s Risk Centre of Excellence by supporting improvements to risk and assurance policy, guidance, tools, learning products and ways of working.
Person Specification:
- Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to assess complex evidence, identify key issues and draw clear, balanced conclusions.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, concise and influential advice, briefing or reporting for senior, technical and non-technical audiences.
- Ability to build collaborative relationships, influence stakeholders and provide constructive challenge in a professional and proportionate way.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, work across organisational boundaries and deliver high-quality outputs at pace.
- Experience of using evidence, data or management information to support decision-making, reporting, governance or problem-solving.
- An interest in developing professional knowledge in risk, assurance, governance or a related discipline.
Benefits:
- Salary of £46,040 per year
- Contribution to Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme (£13,337 per year)
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- Flexible working options
- Culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%