Principal Risk Specialist

Babcock International; Helensburgh; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense contractor in Helensburgh is looking for a Principal Risk Specialist to lead risk management practices across critical national security projects. The role involves managing a team, designing frameworks, and collaborating with stakeholders to influence decision-making. The ideal candidate will have extensive risk management experience, expertise in methodologies, and strong analytical skills. Benefits include a generous holiday allowance and hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Matched contribution pension scheme

Access to a Digital GP

Employee share scheme

Holiday Trading benefit

‘Be Kind Day’ for volunteering

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in risk management within complex, high-value programmes.
• Hands-on experience across the full project lifecycle.
• Strong knowledge of qualitative and quantitative risk analysis techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of risk management professionals.
• Design and implement risk strategies, frameworks, and governance.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to influence decision-making.

Skills

Risk management experience

Risk methodologies expertise

Risk analysis techniques knowledge

Management experience

Proficiency with risk management software

Education

APM Risk Management Level 2 or Management of Risk Practitioner

APM Project Fundamentals Qualification

APM Project Planning & Controls – Foundation

Tools

Risk management software

Data analytics tools

Job description

Job Title: Principal Risk Specialist

Location: Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute + Hybrid Working Arrangements

Compensation: £59,000 - £69,400 + Bonus, Healthcare and Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Join us and take the lead in shaping risk strategies that safeguard projects of national importance.

At Babcock we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as a Principal Risk Specialist at our HMNB Clyde Faslane site.

The role

As a Principal Risk Specialist, you’ll have a role that’s out of the ordinary. You’ll lead and evolve risk management practices across complex, high-value programmes that are critical to national security. This is a unique opportunity to influence risk culture, drive innovation, and make a tangible impact on projects that matter. You’ll manage a growing team, shape governance frameworks, and provide strategic insight that supports decision-making at the highest level.

Day-to-day you’ll be:

• Leading and developing a team of risk management professionals
• Designing and implementing risk strategies, frameworks, and governance
• Driving cultural change and embedding best practices across projects
• Managing risk outputs assurance, including data analysis and reporting
• Collaborating with senior stakeholders to influence decision-making

This role is full time, 36 hours per week Monday to Thursday 07:15 – 16:45 and provides hybrid working arrangements.

Essential experience of the Principal Risk Specialist

• Extensive experience in risk management within complex, high-value programmes
• Expertise in risk methodologies, processes, systems, and tools
• Strong knowledge of qualitative and quantitative risk analysis techniques
• Hands‑on experience across the full project lifecycle
• Proficiency with risk management software and data analytics tools

Qualifications for the Principal Risk Specialist

• Time‑served in risk management
• Ideally qualified in APM Risk Management Level 2 or Management of Risk Practitioner but not essential
• APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (preferred but not essential)
• APM Project Planning & Controls – Foundation (preferred but not essential)

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

What we offer

• Generous holiday allowance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee share scheme
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually.
• ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

Babcock International

For over a century Babcock has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal.

We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email [e-mail] with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing date: 20/01/2026

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