Group Risk Director (GRD001)

Foreground LLC; Kuwait City; On-site; KWD 15,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A diversified investment holding group in Kuwait City is seeking a Group Risk Director to design and implement an enterprise risk management framework. The ideal candidate will have over 15 years of experience in risk management and a strong understanding of Kuwait's regulatory landscape. The role involves leading risk assessments and advising the Group CEO and Board Risk Committee. Candidates should have relevant educational qualifications and certification preferences.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in enterprise risk, internal controls, or audit leadership roles.
• Strong knowledge of Kuwait CMA governance guidelines and GCC regulatory standards.
• Ability to lead cross-functional risk functions in varied industries.

Responsibilities

• Design and oversee an enterprise risk management framework across all business units.
• Lead risk assessment activities and identify emerging risks.
• Prepare quarterly risk dashboards for the Group CEO and Board Risk Committee.

Skills

Subsidiaries Management Skills

Compliance

Stakeholder Management

Decision-Making

Risk Management

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, or related field

CIA, CPA, or IRM/FRM certification

Job description

Foreground is partnering with a diversified investment holding group in Kuwait to appoint a governance-oriented and enterprise-mindedGroup Risk Director , based in Kuwait City. With a portfolio spanning financial services, real estate, education, and healthcare, the group seeks to institutionalize its risk management framework to better align with regulatory expectations, shareholder governance, and sustainable growth priorities.

Role Purpose

To design, implement, and oversee a comprehensive enterprise risk management (ERM) framework across all business units and subsidiaries, enabling proactive identification, assessment, and mitigation of operational, strategic, regulatory, and financial risks.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and institutionalization of the groups risk management framework, ensuring alignment with board governance structures and Kuwait Capital Markets Authority (CMA) requirements.
• Oversee enterprise risk assessment activities across all subsidiaries and asset classes, identifying emerging risks and defining acceptable thresholds of exposure.
• Establish internal policies and tools for risk identification, escalation, and mitigation, including scenario planning, stress testing, and incident response procedures.
• Act as the primary advisor to the Group CEO and Board Risk Committee, preparing quarterly risk dashboards, internal audit follow-ups, and board-level reporting.
• Collaborate closely with compliance, internal audit, and legal teams to ensure alignment on governance, financial controls, and regulatory obligations.
• Build and lead a cross-portfolio risk management team, embedding risk awareness across operational, project, and investment functions.
• Lead risk training sessions and awareness programs across the group to strengthen decision-making and accountability at all levels.
• Oversee risk management technology adoption, including risk registers, control libraries, and reporting systems.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 15+ years of progressive experience in enterprise risk, internal controls, or audit leadership roles within diversified groups, investment firms, or regulated entities.
• Strong working knowledge of Kuwait CMA governance guidelines and GCC regulatory standards for group-level risk management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional risk functions with exposure to varied industries and jurisdictions.
• Bachelors degree in Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, or related field; CIA, CPA, or IRM/FRM certification strongly preferred.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with fluency in English; Arabic proficiency is preferred.
• Strategic mindset with the discipline and structure to embed risk controls into high-growth and founder-led environments.

Required Skills:

Subsidiaries Management Skills Compliance Adoption Mitigation Capital Business Units Escalation Financial Services Structures Internal Audit Internal Controls Real Estate Arabic Stakeholder Management Accountability Healthcare Risk Assessment Decision-Making Risk Management Education Accounting Finance Testing Planning Design Business English Leadership Training Management