Risk Lead - Defence

Mace; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Income protection insurance

Pension scheme

Discretionary annual salary reviews

Family-friendly policies

22 days annual leave plus additional M

Job summary

Mace is seeking an experienced Risk Management Lead to join the Defence team in London. This strategic leadership role directs risk management services across major programmes, builds high-performing teams, and fosters trusted client relationships. Security clearance is essential, or eligible for clearance.

You will drive best-in-class risk practices, influence stakeholders, and shape successful delivery of high-profile defence projects in the UK.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of experience delivering risk management on major construction programmes.
• Degree in risk management or engineering; Chartered membership in a relevant professional body.
• Ability to lead and develop high-performing risk teams and engage with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Direct the delivery of risk management services across major commissions and programmes.
• Act as the senior risk management subject matter expert for clients and project teams.
• Develop and implement risk management strategies, frameworks and governance processes.
• Provide strategic risk advice to clients and senior stakeholders to support informed decision-making.
• Manage complex project risks and opportunities across large-scale construction and infrastructure programmes.
• Build and maintain trusted client relationships, delivering against expectations.
• Influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders, including executive and board-level representatives.
• Coach and mentor high-performing risk management teams.
• Drive continuous improvement to enhance capability and service delivery.
• Integrate risk management within wider project controls and programme management functions.
• Support business growth through client engagement and thought leadership.
• Establish networks with professional bodies and stakeholders to promote best practice.

Skills

Risk management leadership

Stakeholder management

Governance

Strategic thinking

Coaching & mentoring

Communication

Education

University degree in risk management or engineering

Chartered membership in professional body

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Risk Management Lead to join our Defence team in London. This is a strategic leadership role, responsible for leading the provision of risk management services across major and complex defence programmes, developing high-performing teams, and building trusted client relationships.

As the Risk Management Subject Matter Expert, you will drive best-in-class risk management practices, influence key stakeholders, and help shape the successful delivery of some of the UK's most important and high-profile defence projects.

Due to the nature of our Defence programmes, Security Clearance (SC) is essential, or candidates must be eligible and willing to obtain SC clearance.

You’ll Be Responsible For

• Directing the delivery of risk management services across major commissions and programmes.
• Acting as the senior risk management subject matter expert for clients and project teams.
• Developing and implementing risk management strategies, frameworks and governance processes.
• Providing strategic risk advice to clients and senior stakeholders to support informed decision-making.
• Managing complex project risks and opportunities across large-scale construction and infrastructure programmes.
• Building and maintaining trusted client relationships, consistently delivering against expectations.
• Influencing and negotiating with senior stakeholders, including executive and board-level representatives.
• Managing and developing high-performing risk management teams through coaching and mentorship.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance risk management capability and service delivery.
• Integrating risk management activities within wider project controls and programme management functions.
• Supporting business growth through client engagement, thought leadership and cross-selling opportunities.
• Establishing strong networks with professional bodies, industry peers and key stakeholders to promote best practice.

You’ll Need To Have

• At least 10-15yrs or equivalent experience as risk management leader delivering a range of project risk management services on major construction programmes.
• Relevant university degree (e.g. risk management, engineering) or equivalent.
• Chartered (or equivalent) membership of relevant professional institution(s) e.g. Association of Project Managers/Institute of Risk Management.
• Actively engages with peers out with Mace within professional bodies and other forum to maintain professional knowledge and work across industry to advance the profession.
• Actively supports professional White Paper development and review.
• Actively promotes Mace Group within professional networks both within the UK and globally.

What's On Offer

• Car allowance.
• Private medical insurance.
• Life assurance.
• Income protection insurance.
• Pension scheme.
• Discretionary annual salary reviews.
• Family-friendly policies.
• 22 days annual leave, plus 2 Mace days, 3 days Christmas shutdown, additional long-service leave, plus bank holidays.

Our values

Safety first - Going home safe and well: We champion a safe, diverse and inclusive working environment, understanding the importance of wellbeing in every team.

Client focus - Deliver on our promise: We own the quality of deliverables, strategic outcomes and build long term relationships with our clients.

Integrity - Always do the right thing: We influence positive outcomes within our industry, while always aligning with our compliance obligations.

Create opportunity - For our people to excel: We champion a continuous improvement culture throughout all activities, inspiring our people and teams to develop.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates.

We are also open to discussing part time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable with-in the role.