Senior Specialist – Governance and Risk

Confidentiel; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidentiel in Abu Dhabi seeks a Senior Specialist - Governance and Risk to strengthen our risk culture and support informed decision-making. You will lead design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the GRC framework, collaborating with senior leadership to identify, assess, and mitigate risks and ensure controls meet regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities include maintaining ERM framework, risk identification and reporting, policy management, and coordination with internal audit,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management, Business Administration, Finance, Law, or related field.
• 7-10 years of governance, risk, or compliance experience in large or regulated organizations.
• Professional certification such as CRMP, FRM, CRISC, CIA, CISA, or ISO 31000 / ISO 37301 Lead Implementer is an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of ISO 31000, COSO ERM, and corporate governance best practices.
• Familiarity with the UAE and Abu Dhabi regulatory environment.
• Experience with GRC platforms; strong Excel and PowerPoint skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and enhance the enterprise risk management framework, policies, and methodologies.
• Lead risk identification, assessment, and reporting across units with KRIs.
• Support governance structures, delegation of authority, and policy management.
• Monitor compliance with UAE and Abu Dhabi laws, regulations, and internal policies.
• Prepare risk and governance reports for senior management, the Board, and committees.
• Coordinate with internal audit, compliance, legal, and IT security on controls testing and remediation.
• Support business continuity, operational risk, and third-party risk activities.
• Promote risk awareness through training, workshops, and advisory support.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to process/tools improvement.

Skills

Risk management

Governance

Compliance

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

GRC platforms

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Department: Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC)

Employment Type: Full-time, permanent

About Us

We are a leading organization in Abu Dhabi, committed to excellence, integrity, and sustainable growth. We are looking for a Senior Specialist - Governance and Risk to strengthen our risk culture and help the business make well-informed decisions.

Role Overview

You will lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of our governance and enterprise risk management frameworks. You will work with senior leadership and business units to identify, assess, and mitigate risks, and to make sure policies and controls meet regulatory and corporate governance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and enhance the enterprise risk management (ERM) framework, policies, and methodologies.
• Lead risk identification, assessment, and reporting across business units, including maintaining risk registers and key risk indicators (KRIs).
• Support the implementation of governance structures, delegation of authority, and policy management processes.
• Monitor compliance with applicable UAE and Abu Dhabi laws, regulations, and internal policies.
• Prepare risk and governance reports and dashboards for senior management, the Board, and relevant committees.
• Coordinate with internal audit, compliance, legal, and IT security on control testing and remediation of findings.
• Support business continuity, operational risk, and third-party risk management activities.
• Promote risk awareness through training, workshops, and advisory support to stakeholders.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to the continuous improvement of GRC processes and tools.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management, Business Administration, Finance, Law, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• 7-10 years of relevant experience in governance, risk, or compliance, ideally in a large or regulated organization.
• Professional certification such as CRMP, FRM, CRISC, CIA, CISA, or ISO 31000 / ISO 37301 Lead Implementer is an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of risk frameworks and standards (ISO 31000, COSO ERM) and corporate governance best practices.
• Familiarity with the UAE and Abu Dhabi regulatory environment.
• Experience with GRC platforms and strong skills in Excel and PowerPoint.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English; Arabic is an advantage
• Ability to influence and collaborate with senior stakeholders
• High level of integrity, discretion, and attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment