Operational Risk Lead

Orion Group; Aberdeen City; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Orion Group is assisting a client in Aberdeen to appoint an Operational Risk Lead. The role is permanent with hybrid working options, reporting to the Process Safety, Risk & Assurance Manager.

You will lead the operational risk framework, turning complex risk data into clear insights for senior leadership and driving risk ownership across engineering, HSE and operations. The successful candidate will bring degree-level engineering education with risk management experience in oil and gas or

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering or related field required or desirable risk qualification.
• Experience in operational risk within oil and gas or high-hazard industries.
• Ability to interpret complex information and communicate insights to senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and enhance the operational risk management framework and processes.
• Identify, assess and manage material operational risks across assets/functions.
• Produce high-quality risk reporting for management and governance forums.
• Promote risk ownership, control assurance and mitigation tracking.

Skills

Operational risk

Stakeholder management

Communication

Leadership

Governance

Education

Engineering degree

Risk management qualification

Tools

None

Job description

Our client is a North Sea operator currently recruiting for the position of Operational Risk Lead based in Aberdeen.

This is a staff role with hybrid working options.

Managing risk effectively is fundamental to protecting our people, assets, environment and business performance. As Operational Risk Lead, you will play a key role in strengthening the way operational and functional risks are identified, understood and managed across our portfolio.

Reporting to the Process Safety, Risk & Assurance Manager, you will provide leadership for the Company’s operational risk framework, ensuring a consistent and practical approach to risk management that supports informed decision‑making at every level of the organisation.

This is a highly visible role that sits at the intersection of operations, engineering, HSE, assurance and business leadership. Through strong Communication, you will translate complex risk information into clear insights, helping leaders understand emerging threats, control effectiveness and mitigation priorities.

You will foster a culture of Empowerment & Accountability, encouraging robust risk ownership while providing constructive challenge to improve the quality of risk assessments, governance and reporting. Your ability to influence without direct authority will be key to building alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.

We are looking for someone who embraces Learning and continuous improvement, using assurance findings, operational performance data and industry good practice to enhance risk visibility and organisational resilience. Above all, you will lead with Respect, building trusted relationships that support open dialogue, sound judgement and effective risk‑based decision making.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Maintain and continuously enhance the Company’s operational risk management framework, tools and processes.
• Support assets and functions in identifying, assessing and managing material operational risks.
• Analyse and consolidate risk information to identify trends, emerging threats and cross-functional exposures.
• Produce high-quality risk reporting and insights for management, executive and governance forums.
• Promote effective risk ownership, control assurance and mitigation action tracking across the business.
• Build risk management capability through coaching, stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Degree-qualified in Engineering, Risk Management or a related discipline, with a recognised risk management qualification desirable.
• Experience in operational risk, enterprise risk, assurance, audit, HSE, operations or engineering within oil and gas or another high-hazard industry. Strong understanding of risk management frameworks, governance processes and control effectiveness principles.
• Proven ability to interpret complex information and communicate clear, actionable insights to senior stakeholders.
• Experience preparing executive‑level reports, risk reviews and governance papers.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing and facilitation skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively.

Permanent position