Group Risk and Retail Protections Manager

The Next Step Recruitment Company; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Next Step Recruitment Company seeks an experienced Group Risk and Retail Protections Manager to lead enterprise risk, retail protection and asset protection across our large Australian retail network. You will partner with the executive team to reduce loss, strengthen controls and drive strategic risk initiatives.

You will manage a specialist team, deliver integrated risk programs, and collaborate with Property, Operations, Finance and Safety to enhance security and business resilience.

Qualifications

• Senior experience in retail risk, loss prevention, asset protection or retail protection.
• Strong knowledge of store operations.
• Experience with internal and external theft investigations.
• Strong understanding of audits, compliance and operational controls.
• Experience using data to influence operational decisions.
• Leadership of experienced specialist teams. Exposure to enterprise risk, insurance or safety would be advantageous.
• Exceptional leadership, stakeholder engagement and change management capability.
• A strategic, collaborative approach with a focus on delivering practical business outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Leading the risk and retail protection function across a large retail network.
• Driving initiatives to reduce shrink, theft, fraud and total retail loss.
• Strengthening operational controls, governance and accountability for risk across the business.
• Leading enterprise risk management, business continuity and crisis preparedness.
• Partnering with Property, Operations, Finance and Safety to improve physical security, asset protection and operational resilience.
• Leveraging data, analytics and technology to identify trends, improve reporting and support better business decisions.
• Presenting risk and performance reporting to Executive, Board and Audit & Risk Committees.
• Building a high-performing team and fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and commercial risk management.

Skills

Retail risk management

Asset protection

Governance & compliance

Data analytics

Leadership

Job description

Group Risk and Retail Protections Manager

The Next Step Recruitment Company – Melbourne VIC

About Them
Our client is one of Australia's largest and most successful specialty retail groups, with a diverse portfolio of well-recognised consumer brands operating across the country. Serving millions of customers each year through an extensive store network of specialty brands, and growing digital channels, the business has built a strong reputation for delivering quality products, exceptional customer experiences, and trusted brands.
With a long history of success, the organisation continues to invest in innovation, technology, and operational excellence to support its next phase of growth. Its collaborative and high-performing culture encourages fresh thinking, continuous improvement, and strong leadership, creating an environment where people are empowered to make a meaningful impact.
An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced Group Risk & Retail Protection Manager to lead the organisation's enterprise risk, retail protection and asset protection strategy. As the business continues to evolve, this role presents an outstanding opportunity to join a high-performing leadership team and make a genuine impact. This is a rare opportunity to join a dynamic organisation at an exciting point in its evolution, influence strategy, build strong stakeholder relationships, and contribute to the ongoing success.

About the Role
This leadership role will partner closely with the executive team to reduce retail loss, strengthen operational discipline and embed practical risk management across the business. This is a commercially focused role where success will be measured by tangible improvements in shrink, loss prevention, risk management, and business performance and continuity.
Leading a specialist team, you will develop and deliver an integrated risk and retail protection strategy that protects people, property and assets while supporting informed commercial decision-making.

• Leading the risk and retail protection function across a large retail network.
• Driving initiatives to reduce shrink, theft, fraud and total retail loss.
• Strengthening operational controls, governance and accountability for risk across the business.
• Leading enterprise risk management, business continuity and crisis preparedness.
• Partnering with Property, Operations, Finance and Safety to improve physical security, asset protection and operational resilience.
• Leveraging data, analytics and technology to identify trends, improve reporting and support better business decisions.
• Presenting risk and performance reporting to Executive, Board and Audit & Risk Committees.
• Building a high-performing team and fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and commercial risk management.

About You
You are an experienced leader with a strong background in retail risk, asset protection, or enterprise risk (in a retail operating environment). You have a proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and translate risk management into measurable commercial outcomes.
You will bring:

• Senior experience in retail risk, loss prevention, asset protection or retail protection
• Strong knowledge of store operations.
• Experience with internal and external theft investigations.
• Strong understanding of audits, compliance and operational controls.
• Experience using data to influence operational decisions
• Leadership of experienced specialist teams.Exposure to enterprise risk, insurance or safety would be advantageous
• Exceptional leadership, stakeholder engagement and change management capability.
• A strategic, collaborative approach with a focus on delivering practical business outcomes.

This is an outstanding opportunity to influence organisational performance, protect enterprise value and shape the future direction of risk and retail protection within a dynamic retail environment.

• Shape strategy and embed risk as a driver of commercial performance
• Influence executive strategy and commercial outcomes
• Drive meaningful change across a national retail network