On behalf of the FCDO, we are looking for a Head of Risk Management (Inside IR35) for a 6 month hybrid contract based in London or Glasgow.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) pursues our national interests and projects the UK as a force for good in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK's security, defend our values, reduce poverty, and tackle global challenges with our international partners.
As a Head of Risk Management, your main responsibilities will be to:
- Lead the roll out of the revised Risk Management Framework, including communications, training and the specification of risk management tools and platform requirements.
- Provide strategic direction and advice on organisation-wide decisions on key aspects of the framework including risk identification, assessment, monitoring, escalation, and reporting.
- Set expectations for risk management across the organisation, including roles and responsibilities, minimum standards, and the link between risk, controls and assurance.
- Ensure high-quality reporting and advice to Accounting Officers and governance bodies, enabling effective oversight of the organisation’s risk profile and emerging risks.
- Lead the diagnosis of systemic weaknesses in governance, assurance, and risk management; determining priorities and delivery approaches; designing interventions that balance risk appetite, strategic objectives, and operational needs across the department.
- Engage and influence senior leadership, governance committees, and external stakeholders, delivering expert advice and authoritative reports on complex and sensitive risk issues.
Essential:
- Expertise in designing, implementing, and maintaining risk management frameworks aligned to the Orange Book and HM Treasury standards.
- Advanced leadership and influencing skills, with a track record of leading large-scale organisational change and managing specialist risk teams to deliver high-impact outcomes at pace.
- Strong technical authority in setting risk management standards, determining requirements for risk tools and data, and ensuring consistency and assurance across the organisation.
- Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, confidence working with risk data and management information to drive insight and action.
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills, able to influence and advise senior leaders, governance bodies, and external partners on complex and sensitive risk issues.
- SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.
Disability Confident
As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, FCDO guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.
Armed Forces Covenant
FCDO guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.
In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".
