Senior Risk Manager

DfT Operator; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector rail organization is seeking a Senior Risk Manager to establish governance and risk management across its operations. This role includes promoting risk management culture, managing the Corporate Risk Register, and producing reports for senior management and committees. The ideal candidate will have experience in risk management within complex organizations and a degree level education. This position offers a hybrid work model, encouraging travel across the UK, with a salary up to £72,000.

Benefits

25 days annual leave, increasing with service

10% employer pension contribution

Opportunities for professional networking

Qualifications

• Experience applying risk management principles in a complex organization.
• Track record working with senior stakeholders on risk management.
• Ability to produce high-quality reports.

Responsibilities

• Promote DFTO’s approach to risk management across the organization.
• Manage and maintain the Corporate Risk Register.
• Provide reports to the Board and Audit Committee.

Skills

Planning

Communication

Negotiation

Attention to detail

Education

Degree or equivalent professional experience

Job description

Senior Risk Manager

Duration: 2 Year FTC | Location: London/Hybrid – willingness to travel across the UK | Salary: Up to 72,000K | Reports to: Head of Internal Audit | Closing date: 4th January 2026 (We have increased the length of time on this advert due to the Xmas period)

Note: responses may take longer than normal due to the Xmas Break.

About DFT Operator

DFTO is the government’s public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately‑owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027 – and deliver improvements in the here and now by unifying and integrating train operations under common public ownership.

DFTO has over 24,000 employees, runs over 6,500 services a day and delivers over 450 million customer journeys across its networks every year. This accounts for 28% of total UK passenger journeys and 32% of passenger miles.

Major improvements are being delivered by DFTO train operators (TOCs) that are already under public ownership – these are LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express (TPE), S.E., South Western Railway (SWR), c2c and Greater Anglia.

Our vision is to unify and strengthen train operators under the DFTO banner. By working collaboratively, we aim to become industry‑leading in safety, customer service, financial and operational performance.

Purpose of the Job

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in establishing and shaping the effective governance and risk management across DFTO and the Train Operating Companies.

The Senior Risk Manager will play a dual role in developing our risk management culture and maturity. You will develop and ensure a consistency of approach in delivering DFTO’s risk management expectations whilst supporting/coaching the Risk Management Teams across the TOCs.

Experienced in applying risk management tools and techniques and acting a critical friend to colleagues at all levels in a large, complex organisation, you will deliver an ongoing programme of learning, development, reporting and assurance to support continuous learning and improvement from operational teams through to our Audit and Risk Committee.

Key Competencies

• Excellent planning, prioritisation, and organisation skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage a range of different work activities concurrently.
• Good facilitation and negotiation skills.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to influence, advise and equip teams to achieve risk management expectations and continuously improve in a changing environment.
• Ability to build effective relationships with colleagues at all levels.
• A flexible and outcome focused approach to work with a commitment to innovation, continuous improvement, and collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

Risk Management

• Promote DFTO’s approach to risk management so that it is dynamic and fully embedded across the organisation.
• Provide professional and expert advice on risk management across DFTO.
• Manage and maintain the Corporate Risk Register and, working with the Executive Team, provide risk and assurance reports to the Board and the Audit and Risk Committee.
• Review and collate the TOC risk reports to present to the DFTO Audit and Risk Committee.
• Support all DFTO TOCs in improving risk management impact, and maturity.
• Advise and act as a critical friend to functions and their teams in developing and maintaining functional risk registers.
• Embed a consistent and objective approach to the assessment and measurement of risk, both at DFTO and across the TOCs.
• Manage the maintenance, development and communication of all risk management templates and supporting tools, keeping them under review to reflect best practice.
• Identify organisational training needs and deliver and commission suitable training and education to meet DFTO needs.
• Lead on the review and revision of the Risk Management Policy, Risk Appetite Statement and Assurance Framework in response to the annual planning process and agreement of strategic objectives.

Corporate Assurance

• Produce reports for directorates, senior managers and the Audit and Risk Committee on a routine basis.
• Attend Audit and Risk Committee meetings to provide an independent view, expertise and assurance to senior managers and directors on risk management processes.
• Work with the Group Head of Internal Audit and key stakeholders to maintain an effective Assurance Framework which enables the DFTO Board and its committees to have confidence that the necessary control to manage risk to the achievement of strategic objectives is in place.
• Ensure a business continuity plan is in place to mitigate the prolonged failure of the enterprise risk management system/software as part of the wider business continuity plan for DFTO.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications

• Degree level or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience in applying risk management principles, tools, and techniques in a large, complex organisation.
• A successful track record of working with senior stakeholders in the management of risk and assurance.
• A track record of assimilating, interpreting, and summarising complex discussions clearly and succinctly.
• Experience of policy development and review.
• Understanding of a Board Assurance Framework as a risk management and assurance tool.
• Experience of applying knowledge and expertise to support others across a broad range of subject areas.
• Experience of designing and delivering training to staff at all levels.
• Experience of managing a small team.
• Experience of producing and presenting high quality reports and briefing materials to a varied audience.

DFTO Benefits

• Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to an additional day per year of service completed within the first 5 completed years up to a maximum of 5 additional (30 days).
• DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution, 5% Employee contribution.
• Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application. This is to ensure transparency and facilitate any necessary discussions regarding workload and responsibilities.

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

Contact

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