Risk Manager
£67,000 per annum
Bedford
Fixed Term Contract 18 Months
Hybrid Working
Ready to make a real difference? Join us at the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) as our Risk Manager. This is your chance to play a meaningful role in helping people across the UK build stronger financial futures and to do it as part of a supportive, energetic team.
Why this role matters?
The Risk Manager will play a central role within the second line Change Risk Function, sitting between the Change Risk Lead and Risk Officer. The role is responsible for supporting the effective management of risks arising from organisational change, including portfolios, programmes and projects, while ensuring alignment with the organisation's wider enterprise risk management framework.
The role will provide day-to-day oversight and guidance to Risk Officer, ensuring high-quality risk analysis, facilitation and reporting, while promoting effective risk management practices throughout the change lifecycle. Working closely with Programme Managers, Project Managers, Portfolio Management Office (PMO) colleagues and senior stakeholders, the Risk Manager will help embed proportionate, consistent and effective risk management across change initiatives, supporting successful delivery and informed decision-making.
Key Responsibilities:
- Work collaboratively with programme, project and portfolio leaders to support the effective management of risks across change initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic and organisational risks.
- Lead the facilitation, review and ongoing maintenance of portfolio, programme and project risk registers, ensuring risks are appropriately assessed, managed and escalated where required.
- Provide independent second line challenge and assurance on programme and project risk assessments, ensuring effective controls, mitigations and governance arrangements are in place.
- Support investment, business case and mobilisation activities through independent risk assessment and challenge.
- Act as a senior and knowledgeable Subject Matter Expert on change risk management, promoting a positive and proactive risk culture across the organisation.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with Programme Managers, Project Managers, PMO colleagues, change sponsors and risk champions to promote consistent application of risk management practices.
- Support the embedding and communication of the Three Lines of Defence model across change delivery.
- Promote effective dissemination and understanding of risk to support continuous improvement across the change portfolio.
- Deliver risk workshops and facilitate risk assessments with programme and project teams in collaboration with the Risk Lead.
- Provide day-to-day support, guidance and coaching to Risk Officer.
- Support the development and maintenance of risk management frameworks, guidance, templates and training materials relating to change risk.
- Proactively contribute to the continuous improvement of risk management policies, processes and methodologies.
- Oversee and contribute to the analysis of risk using risk management systems and supporting analytical tools.
- Produce thematic reviews and insights on emerging risks, cross-portfolio trends, systemic issues and opportunities for organisational learning.
- Lead or support independent risk assessments of business cases, programmes, projects and portfolio activity, identifying key delivery risks, dependencies and control weaknesses.
- Ensure high-quality analytical outputs from the risk team that support effective governance and decision-making.
- Produce and quality assure reports for management and governance committees, including monthly, quarterly and ad hoc change risk reporting.
- Prepare high-quality insightful reporting for Executive Committee, Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) and Board papers.
- Maintain oversight of programme, project and portfolio risk register updates across the organisation, ensuring reporting is accurate, timely and consistent.
- Produce portfolio-level reporting highlighting delivery confidence, emerging risks, dependencies and thematic issues.
- Line manage Risk Officer, ensuring clarity of objectives, ongoing development and high performance.
- Review and quality assure risk management outputs produced by Risk Officer.
- Support the Risk Lead in coordinating workloads, priorities and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Deputise for the Risk Lead where appropriate.
- Undertake other duties as reasonably required by the Risk Lead or Corporate Director of Risk.
You will need to demonstrate the following experience;
- Demonstrable experience in risk management within a first or second line risk function.
- Proven experience supporting or assuring complex portfolios, programmes and projects through the application of structured risk management.
- Strong understanding of programme, project and portfolio risk management and its integration with enterprise risk management.
- Proven ability to facilitate risk workshops, reviews and assessments with programme and project stakeholders.
- Experience working alongside Programme Management Offices (PMOs), Project Managers, Programme Managers and other change delivery professionals.
- Experience providing constructive challenge on programme and project risks and controls.
- Strong data analysis skills, including the ability to interpret complex information, identify trends and generate meaningful insights.
- High proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence, advise and challenge constructively at all organisational levels.
- Ability to take a broad organisational perspective and understand the relationship between strategic objectives, change delivery, risks and controls.
- Experience producing high-quality reports for senior management and governance forums.
- Recent line management or supervisory experience.
- Ability to prioritise effectively, manage competing demands and work independently.
- Experience of risk management within a public sector or regulated environment.
- Experience working with enterprise risk management systems and analytical tools.
- Experience developing and delivering risk management training.
- Experience of Portfolio, Programme and Project assurance
- Understanding of benefits realisation, dependency management and change governance.
- Experience supporting major organisational transformation programmes.
- Understanding of statistical or data-driven analytical techniques.
- Experience working with Microsoft SharePoint-based analytical environments.
- Personal attributes
- Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex concepts clearly to a range of audiences.
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
- Resilient, proactive and committed to continuous improvement.
- Collaborative and supportive, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Confident in engaging, influencing and constructively challenging colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
- Comfortable working in a dynamic change environment, balancing assurance with enabling successful delivery.
- Able to build trusted relationships while maintaining appropriate independence as a second line risk professional.
About Us
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is based in Bedford, in a recently renovated modern office. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to become an integral part of a dynamic organisation, working to help people across the UK.
At the heart of the Money and Pensions Service are our values – caring, connecting, and transforming, which are the foundation of our success. They permeate every area of our work and define all our business relationships and the way we work with each other. We’re not only looking for the best people to come and work for us, but we need people who align themselves with our values:
- Caring
We care about our colleagues and the people whose lives we are here to transform.
- Connecting
We will transform lives through our ability to make positive connections.
- Transforming
We are committed to transforming lives and making a positive societal impact.
Our Inclusive Working Environment
By fostering our values, we are immensely proud of the inclusive working environment that we have created. The diversity of our people is a strength that we embrace and wish to build upon, so we are committed to attracting people of all backgrounds. We work hard to ensure that we have a progressive approach to inclusion, equity, and belonging. We really do want our colleagues to “bring their whole selves to work.”
Our colleague and ally networks encompass LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, women’s health, men’s health, ethnicity, and diversity.
What We Offer
- Generous Annual Leave – 30 days plus Bank Holidays
- Pension scheme – contributions matched 2 to 1 (up to 10% of your salary)
- Interest-free loan for season tickets for buses and trains
- Cycle to work Scheme
- Subsidised eye tests & flu jabs
- Life assurance scheme
- Give as you earn scheme
- Employee assistance programme (EAP)
- PAM Assist and PAM Life scheme (Wellbeing)
- Enhanced family and sick pay
- Paid volunteering (2 days a year)
- Recognition Scheme
- Discounts portal to numerous retailers
Flexible Working
At MaPS, we take pride in our flexible approach to work. As standard, we work on a hybrid basis with a minimum of 2 days in the office per month. Hybrid working is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and our headquarters in Bedford will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business needs, but personal and other relevant circumstances will also be considered. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
Career Development
In MaPS, we take career development seriously. We actively encourage and support applications from our existing MaPS colleagues. However, we do follow the Civil Service Commissioner recruitment principles, which means that you will be required to participate in a full, open, and fair process.
Reserve List
If you are successful at interview, we operate a reserve list where your details will be held for up to 6 months. Should a vacancy come available in that time with the same essential criteria, reserve list candidates will be offered that position with no further assessment required.
Application Process
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the Money and Pensions Service via email: [email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.
Step 1: Submit Your Application
Open: 08/07/2026 | Deadline: 22/07/2026
To apply, please submit the following documents:
- A cover letter detailing why you are suitable for the role with specific reference to the essential and desirable criteria on the job advert
Step 2: Telephone Interview
Between 08/07/2026 – 27/07/2026
If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to a telephone interview with one of our recruiters. This is an opportunity to:
- Discuss your experience in more detail
- Learn more about the role and our organisation
- Ask any questions you may have
Step 3: Final Stage Interview
Hosted on W/C 10/08/2026
Successful candidates from the telephone interview will be invited to attend a final stage interview This stage will include:
- A presentation /task
- A series of competency-based interview questions
We follow fair, open, and merit‑based recruitment in line with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.
Job Reference: MaPS01123
Close Date: 22/07/2026
