Operational Risk Lead (UAE National)

Aventus; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Aventus in Abu Dhabi is seeking an Operational Risk Lead (UAE National) to strengthen governance across the group's risk framework. You will lead risk assessments, design controls, and partner with Finance, IT and Operations to safeguard assets and ensure regulatory alignment.

The role requires extensive experience in RCSA, business continuity, resilience, and insurance risk, with strong stakeholder engagement and ability to present to senior management and boards.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in operational or enterprise risk, including RCSA, continuity, resilience and ICFR.
• Experience in large diversified corporate, asset manager, or government-linked entity preferred.
• Strong stakeholder communication and governance committee presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead risk identification, assessment and governance across the group.
• Run risk reviews and monitor key risk indicators for early exposure signals.
• Oversee continuity and resilience planning, stress testing and emergency readiness.
• Collaborate with Finance and Internal Audit on controls and reporting alignment.
• Benchmark maturity and drive adoption of group risk standards.
• Prepare risk insights for senior leadership and Board committees.

Skills

Operational risk

Enterprise risk

RCSA

Business continuity

Crisis management

Internal controls

ICFR

Stakeholder management

Job description

Title: Operational Risk Lead (UAE National)

About the Company

Our client is an investment management conglomerate backed by a SWF, with a diversified portfolio spanning both regional and international markets. It takes an integrated approach to investing, building and managing assets and projects across a broad mix of sectors - from infrastructure, real estate and utilities, to transport and supply chains, agriculture, healthcare and financial investments.

Key Responsibilities

• Play a lead role in building and refining how the group identifies, assesses and governs operational and enterprise risk, from framework design through to the practical tools teams use day to day
• Run structured risk and control reviews across corporate functions, keeping a live view of key risk indicators and flagging emerging exposures early
• Lead continuity and resilience planning - mapping what the business depends on (talent, tech, third parties, physical sites) and stress-testing how it would hold up under disruption, including crisis and emergency response readiness in line with UAE regulatory expectations
• Work alongside Finance and Internal Audit to tighten internal controls and financial reporting controls, and sense-check whether insurance cover matches actual risk exposure
• Benchmark risk and resilience maturity across portfolio companies, pushing adoption of group standards and helping close any gaps found
• Package up risk insight for senior leadership, the Audit & Risk Committee and Board, acting as the connective tissue across Finance, Investments, HR, Technology and Facilities

Requirements

• 8+ years in operational or enterprise risk, ideally spanning RCSA, business continuity, resilience, crisis management, internal controls/ICFR or insurance
• Background in a large diversified corporate, sovereign investor, financial institution, asset manager, government-linked entity or top-tier professional services firm
• Comfortable working across multiple business units or portfolio companies rather than a single entity
• Strong stakeholder and communication skills, with comfort presenting to senior management and governance committees