Director, Risk

Sunrise Credit Union; Brandon; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading credit union in Manitoba seeks a Senior Risk Manager to support the CFRO in executing the enterprise risk management framework. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in risk management, particularly in the credit union sector, and demonstrate strong leadership capabilities. This role involves developing risk policies, overseeing compliance programs, and preparing reports for the CEO and Board. Join a reputable organization to foster a culture of risk awareness and integrity.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8–10 years of risk management and/or finance experience.
• At least 5 years in a leadership capacity.
• Direct experience in the credit union or cooperative financial services sector.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and integration of risk policies and procedures.
• Provide risk insights and recommendations to the CFRO.
• Prepare risk-related reports for the CEO and Board.

Skills

Enterprise and credit risk management

Communication and presentation skills

Strategic problem-solving

Leadership and team management

Compliance frameworks

Education

Post-secondary degree in Finance, Business Administration, or Economics

Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, or Risk Management preferred

Job description

Support the CFRO in executing Sunrise’s enterprise risk management (ERM) framework.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the development and integration of risk policies, procedures, and reporting structures.
• Ensure risk appetite and tolerances are applied consistently across business lines.
• Provide risk insights and recommendations to the CFRO and senior leadership.
• Oversee risk governance, escalation pathways, and internal audit coordination.
• Provide leadership for credit risk management through the Senior Manager, Credit Risk and their adjudication and specialist teams.
• Ensure adherence to credit policies, adjudication limits, and risk-adjusted pricing across retail, commercial, and agricultural lending portfolios.
• Monitor credit performance, portfolio concentrations, and delinquency trends, escalating significant issues to the CFRO.
• Support the development of consistent underwriting, collections, and recovery practices.
• Lead compliance programs to ensure adherence to Provincial and Canadian credit union regulations, including AML, privacy, and consumer protection standards.
• Oversee AML and anti-fraud strategies through analysts dedicated to detection, investigation, and prevention.
• Ensure Fraud & Loss Prevention practices effectively protect members and the credit union.
• Maintain relationships with regulators, auditors, and law enforcement as appropriate.

Enterprise & Third-Party Risk Management

• Provide oversight of vendor risk, operational risk, and business continuity programs through the Manager, Enterprise & Third-Party Risk Management.
• Ensure third-party/vendor risk assessments align with policy and regulatory expectations.
• Guide the continuous improvement of risk tools, reporting, and monitoring systems.

Board & Executive Reporting

• Prepare risk-related reports and recommendations for review by the CFRO and subsequent presentation to the CEO, Board, and committees.
• Provide analysis on emerging risks and regulatory changes, ensuring timely escalation of key issues.
• Build a culture of risk awareness throughout the organization by utilizing available opportunities.
• Lead, mentor, and develop risk team, including managers, senior managers, adjudicators, and analysts.
• Build technical expertise and leadership capacity within the risk function.
• Foster a culture of integrity, accountability, and risk awareness across the credit union.

Education & Qualifications

• Minimum 8–10 years of risk management and/or finance experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership capacity, with direct experience in the credit union or cooperative financial services sector.
• Post-secondary degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, or Risk Management preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian regulatory requirements, credit risk practices, and enterprise risk frameworks preferred.
• Professional designation such as FRM (Financial Risk Manager), CFA, or CPA with risk specialization preferred.

Core Skills and Competencies

• Strong expertise in enterprise and credit risk management.
• Deep understanding of Canadian AML, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead managers and multi-layered teams.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for executives, regulators, and boards.
• Strategic problem-solving skills with sound judgment and decision-making capability.
• Familiarity with credit union financial models and cooperative governance.
• Experience implementing risk management technology platforms and analytics tools.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with cross-functional leaders.
• Experience leading organizational change initiatives.
• Critical thinking skills with the ability to evaluate complex situations and develop effective solutions.
• Highly motivated self-starter with strong self-management and accountability; demonstrates initiative and acts proactively without the need for direction.
• Advanced communication and interpersonal skills to foster collaboration and trust.