Lead Risk Specialist

Capital One; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 152,000 - 173,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based incentives

Benefits package

Job summary

Capital One is seeking a Lead Risk Specialist to guide a risk and control team within the Global Payment Network, partnering with business leaders to shape defense strategies and ensure resilience. The role emphasizes strategy, governance, and automation to safeguard the enterprise.

The ideal candidate brings strong leadership, risk management expertise, and excellent communication to collaborate across lines of defense, compliance, IT, and audit functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or military experience.
• 2+ years of Financial Services Risk Management experience.
• 3+ years of Project Management or Process Management experience.
• 3+ years of experience supporting, partnering, and interacting with internal business clients.
• 2+ years of Compliance, Audit, or first and second line Risk Management experience.

Responsibilities

• Guide and empower a team of risk and control specialists.
• Foster a culture of proactive risk awareness and audit readiness.
• Collaborate with multiple lines of defense and other teams to meet objectives.
• Support development and implementation of risk assessment strategies.
• Coach cross-functional partners through operational changes and governance processes.

Skills

Leadership

Risk Management

Project Management

Communication

Relationship Building

Education

Bachelor's Degree or military experience

Job description

Lead Risk Specialist Are you ready to lead from the front line of a top 10 bank? Do you thrive in a high-visibility environment where your strategic relationship-building and deep operational risk expertise translate directly into innovative business solutions? As a Risk Lead in Capital Ones Global Payment Network (GPN) USCM Business Risk and Control organization, you wont just monitor risk—you will partner with business leaders to actively shape our defense strategies, ensuring the company remains stable, resilient, and profitable. We are seeking highly motivated Risk Management professionals who blend sharp organizational prowess, project management acumen, and exceptional communication skills. In this role, you will enjoy strong exposure across lines of business, working collaboratively with teams to design, champion, and implement progressive frameworks and automation that safeguard our enterprise.

Responsibilities:

• Team Guidance & Leadership: Guide and empower a dedicated team of risk and control specialists, driving engagement and execution excellence.
• Audit-Ready Operations: Foster a culture of proactive risk awareness, helping manage horizontal routines to ensure the business is continuously audit-ready.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner and collaborate across multiple organizations—including 1st and 2nd lines of defense, Network Risk, Compliance, Information Technology, Internal Audit, and Regulatory Relations—to navigate program changes and achieve shared objectives.
• Risk Assessment Execution: Support the development and implementation of robust risk assessment strategies that identify operational vulnerabilities, drive efficiencies, and focus on automated control solutions.
• Change Enablement: Coach and guide cross-functional business partners through operational changes using a thoughtful, people-first approach.
• Governance & Reporting: Help establish and manage key governance routines and risk reporting for the Global Payment Network.
• Framework & Documentation Lifecycle: Understand, document, and analyze current-state capabilities against risk methods. Author, review, and refine critical governance documents, including policies, standards, procedures, tools, and presentations that enhance framework usage.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or military experience
• At least 2 years of Financial Services Risk Management experience
• At least 3 years of Project Management or Process Management experience
• At least 3 years of experience supporting, partnering, and interacting with internal business clients
• At least 2 years of Compliance, Audit, or first and second line Risk Management experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least 5 years of Project Management experience leading cross-functional projects and programs within a Risk function
• At least 5 years of Financial Services Risk Management experience
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification or Masters Certificate of Project Management (CPM)
• Demonstrated ability to manage expectations, influence stakeholders, and coordinate cross-functional initiatives

At this time, Capital One will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position.

Salary:

• Chicago, IL: $138,100 - $157,700 for Risk Manager
• McLean, VA: $151,900 - $173,400 for Risk Manager
• Richmond, VA: $138,100 - $157,700 for Risk Manager
• Riverwoods, IL: $138,100 - $157,700 for Risk Manager
• Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.

Incentives:

This role is also eligible to earn performance based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonus(es) and/or long term incentives (LTI). Incentives could be discretionary or non discretionary depending on the plan.

Benefits:

Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well-being.

Learn more at the Capital One Careers website.

Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status, and management level. This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days.

No agencies please.

Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non-discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Capital One promotes a drug-free workplace.

Capital One will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws regarding criminal background inquiries, including, to the extent applicable, Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law; San Francisco, California Police Code Article 49, Sections 4901-4920; New York City's Fair Chance Act; Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Records Screening Act and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding criminal background inquiries.

If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Capital One Recruiting at 1-800-304-9102 or via email at [e-mail]. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations. For technical support or questions about Capital One's recruiting process, please send an email to [e-mail].

Capital One does not provide, endorse nor guarantee and is not liable for third-party products, services, educational tools or other information available through this site.

Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).

At Capital One, we're building a leading information-based technology company. Still founder-led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Fairbank, Capital One is on a mission to help our customers succeed by bringing ingenuity, simplicity, and humanity to banking. We measure our efforts by the success our customers enjoy and the advocacy they exhibit.