Director of Risk Management

Fortrex; Atlanta (GA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Basic Life Insurance

Paid Holidays

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Fortrex seeks a Director of Risk Management to lead our enterprise risk program, overseeing workers’ compensation, insurance, and enterprise risk across the organization. You will develop an ERM framework, risk appetite, and risk registers while guiding a cross‑functional team to implement proactive controls.

You’ll work with senior leaders to optimize risk and safety performance, report outcomes, and drive continuous improvement in a hybrid role that combines office and remote work across North

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years’ risk mgmt experience with ERM frameworks.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder collaboration skills.
• Experience in workers’ compensation and insurance programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise risk management (ERM) program and framework.
• Oversee workers’ compensation, insurance, and risk controls.
• Develop risk appetite, risk register, and governance.
• Chair cross‑functional risk committee and report to leadership/board.
• Manage external brokers/TPAs and optimize loss costs.
• Drive incident analysis, root‑cause actions, and cost containment.
• Collaborate with Legal, Finance, Safety, and HR on policy impacts.
• Develop business continuity and crisis management plans.

Skills

Enterprise risk management

Risk analysis

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Communication

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Graduate degree preferred

Industry certifications (AIC/ARM/CPCU CRM desirable)

Tools

MS Excel

Job description

Are you an experienced risk management professional who thrives on building enterprise-wide strategies that protect an organization's people, assets, and bottom line? We are seeking a dynamic Director of Risk Management to lead our enterprise risk management program, spearheading our team in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risk across the organization while implementing efficient processes and optimizing outcomes. This role owns the organization's overall risk strategy, including workers' compensation, insurance, and enterprise risk, and will directly shape how the Company anticipates, prioritizes, and responds to risk. Elevate your career and make a significant impact by applying today to join our organization at the forefront of enterprise risk management, team member well-being, and compliance.

WHO WE ARE:

• Leader in food safety solutions for both contract sanitation and chemistry in the food processing industry.
• Over 10,000 dedicated team members across North America.
• Corporate headquarters in Atlanta, GA with team members working in over 250 plants throughout North America.
• Over 50+ years of experience in creating long-lasting partnerships.

OUR MISSION:

• Protect What Matters:We are in service of safety at every step, ensuring the health of everyone is central to all we do – from plant team members to consumers.
• Deliver On Our Promises: We speak honestly and are dedicated to doing the right thing by upholding ethical standards and following through on our commitments to our teams, our customers, and our business.
• Win as a Team: We believe in the power of collaboration, uniting our diverse strengths while working hand-in-hand with our team members and customers to unlock potential and achieve stronger results together.
• Advance a Safer Future: We are committed to innovating more effective, sustainable, and cost-efficient food safety solutions to develop a safer world for all.

JOB DESCRIPTION

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

The Director of Risk Management is an experienced and hands‑on leader who will build and drive the Company's enterprise risk management (ERM) program, fostering a safe and healthy work environment while proactively identifying, assessing, and mitigating risk across the organization, including workers' compensation claims, insurance, and operational risk. In this role, the priority will be developing and executing a comprehensive risk management strategy and roadmap for the future, including a formal enterprise risk framework, risk appetite, and risk register. Job duties include:

• Build and oversee a high performing Worker’s Compensation team; while ensuring the highest standards of safety are followed and claims are managed with urgency.
• Function as a senior advisor to Leadership Group and operational teams on policy issues that have risk and safety implications.
• Provide guidance to Finance, Legal, Safety, HR, and other internal resources on policy and financial implications of claims.
• Manage all claims related matters as well as the negotiations, analysis, reserve development and execution of claims strategies to deliver optimal loss cost management and customer satisfaction in support of overall business goals. Ensures compliance with all local, federal, and state regulation related to claims while minimizing risk/exposure to the organization.
• Appoint and manage external Third-Party Administrators (“TPA”), ensuring that robust data is provided to them and that their output is fully evaluated and understood.
• Provide leadership and operating divisions with risk and financial reports, both to inform and to assist in improving safety performance incorporating data to help drive discussions on improved performance across the Company.
• Collaborate regularly with Safety Leadership to ensure that root causes are identified, and corrective actions are taken on claims situations.
• Ensure that all claims are managed to the highest standard, whether by external TPA or internal staff, eliminating unnecessary payments and minimizing the costs of handling claims.
• Develop and execute claims management strategies, including optimum balance between internal and TPA staff, and the appropriate selection and performance management of TPA.
• Collaborate with legal team where appropriate, develop and maintain a high-quality litigation management strategy, including the appointment and performance management of external counsel when appropriate.
• Maintain particular focus on large losses and ensure an appropriate reporting and communication strategy for these claims.
• Maintain excellent working relationships with senior management in each operating division, ensuring divisions are provided with a high-quality risk and insurance service, including a robust cost allocation model.
• Identify new business risks and evaluate the need to purchase additional insurance or recommend self-insurance.
• Review contracts and agreements as requested to ensure that liability and insurance conditions are reasonable and can be met.
• Collaborate with legal team and external brokers in developing standard guidelines for contractual insurance requirements.
• Alert senior management to areas of risk exposure in the company’s practices.
• Manage the design and placement of external insurance programs, including consideration of the optimum balance between self-insurance and insurance.
• Execute the appointment and performance management of insurance brokers and other advisors, while holding brokers and other advisors accountable based on contractual terms.
• Define and execute the organization's enterprise risk management (ERM) strategy, including a formal ERM framework, documented risk appetite, and enterprise risk register.
• Lead enterprise-wide risk assessments to identify, evaluate, and prioritize operational, financial, strategic, and compliance risks, and partner with cross-functional leaders to develop and monitor mitigation plans.
• Establish and chair a cross-functional risk management committee, providing regular risk reporting and recommendations to senior leadership and, as needed, the Board of Directors.
• Develop and maintain business continuity and crisis management plans in partnership with operational leadership to safeguard the organization against emerging and evolving risks.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes, create new procedures where necessary, enhance efficiency, and reduce costs in the management of worker's compensation claims.
• Stay informed about developments in worker's compensation laws, regulations, and best practices, and make recommendations for updates to policies and procedures accordingly.
• Provide training and support to team members and managers on worker's compensation claim procedures and protocols.
• Other duties as assigned.

YOUR MUST HAVES:

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent) with graduate level preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years' experience in risk management and general claims experience, with in-depth knowledge of enterprise risk management frameworks and industry best practices for Risk Management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to build rapport and collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability in the use of metrics and data to drive and assure continuous improvement and increased efficiencies.
• Strong working knowledge of all classes of insurance and experience of self-insurance programs, as well as demonstrated experience designing or maturing an enterprise risk management program (e.g., risk appetite, risk registers, risk committees).
• High degree of numeracy and well-developed financial analysis skills.
• High quality analytical and presentation skills, including report writing.

WHAT WE PREFER YOU HAVE:

• Professional Designations Desirable: AIC, ARM, CPCU, or CRM (Certified Risk Manager).

OUR ENVIRONMENT:

This is a hybrid role, partially based at the Corporate Headquarters, combining time in a traditional office setting with remote work from your professional home office. You will be expected to work on-site at minimum three days a week. The position requires sitting for extended periods of time while working on a computer.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Basic Life Insurance
• Paid Holidays (Varies by Location)
• Employee Assistance Program ("EAP")

EEO DISCLAIMER

Fortrex and Safe Foods, a division of Fortrex, are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, creed, sex, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, uniform service member status, veteran status, age, genetic information, disability, or any other protected status, in accordance with all applicable federal state, and local laws. Fortrex and Safe Foods are committed to complying with the laws protecting qualified individuals with disabilities.

Fortrex and Safe Foods will provide a reasonable accommodation for any known physical or mental disability of a qualified individual