Vendor Assessment & Risk Controls Specialist

Guardian Life; Holmdel Township (NJ); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

Guardian Life is seeking a Vendor Assessment & Controls Specialist responsible for ensuring compliance and delivery in vendor assessments. This hybrid role requires strong risk and vendor management expertise, with a salary range reflecting the competitive market for such positions. You will provide leadership and analysis to maintain our high standards in vendor relationships and risk management.

Benefits

Flexible work arrangements

Philanthropic opportunities

Professional development programs

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in business operations or risk management.
• Strong knowledge of risk management principles and industry standards.
• Ability to conduct thorough vendor assessments and analyses.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance for vendor assessment activities and compliance.
• Analyze vendor intake and prioritize assessments for recertifications.
• Collaborate with internal partners to mitigate risks associated with vendors.

Skills

Risk Management

Vendor Management

Business Analytics

Information Security

Project Management

Education

BS/BA degree

Advanced Degree preferred or equivalent experience

Tools

GRC tools

MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio)

Job description

Is the opportunity to join a culture where “We Do the Right Thing,” and “We Courageously Shape Our Future Together” important to you? If so, Guardian is seeking a resolute motivated individual to join our team as a Vendor Assessment & Controls Specialist

This role will be responsible for ensuring delivery and compliance of vendor assessments as part of the Vendor Assessments & Controls function at Guardian.

You will

• Provide guidance and support to vendor assessment activities.

• Analyze intake to prioritize assessments for recertifications of existing vendor relationships and certain new vendor assessments.

• Perform quality reviews of vendor assessments to ensure compliance with process and records and reports are comprehensive and accurately maintained.

• Ensure vendor assessment processes are applied and documented procedures followed.

• Provide virtual leadership and guidance to the analyst level team on best practice and continuous improvements for processes, assessments, and other operational activities.

• Give performance feedback of analyst team to Vendor Assessment leadership.

• Provide guidance to business relationship owners to raise awareness of policy & procedures, as well as reinforce roles and responsibilities, and identify potential risks and mitigants.

• Collaborate with internal business partners to assist in identification of issues associated with vendor engagements.

• Collaborate with internal partners and third parties to mitigate and otherwise resolve third party risks influencing business decisions and apply professional judgment for selecting the appropriate methods and techniques.

• Escalate critical risks and aging items, and present ad hoc reporting to Vendor Assessment leadership.

• Perform periodic third-party risk assessments, through application of Guardian criteria and external information (e.g., SOC reports, Security Scorecard, HITRUST, ISO 27001, etc.).

• Leverage external assessments, data, and monitoring tools to drive efficiency and closure in the delivery of vendor assessments.

You have

• 7 plus years of proven experience in business operations, project/program management, risk management, vendor management, information security, business analytics, and/or similar.

• BS/BA degree, Advanced Degree preferred or equivalent experience.

• Certification in risk management and/or third-party risk management preferred.

• Ability to conduct thorough third-party risk assessments, through application of established criteria.

• Strong understanding of the principles of risk management, information security and their relationship to corporate governance activities such as operational risk assessment and organizational impact

• Clear understanding of industry standards risk analysis approaches: ISO, COBIT, COSO, as well as regional standards and regulations; Sarbanes Oxley, Basel II, GLBA, HIPAA and crisis management/business resiliency practices.

• Demonstrated consistent credibility as a subject matter expert with business partners and leadership while recommending initiatives, identifying gaps, and potential issues.

• Possesses and builds on knowledge of vendor management, operational risks, and trends relevant to financial services and insurance staying abreast of current and pending regulatory and compliance requirements.

• Strong knowledge of and experience in risk management and internal controls required spanning fraud, legal liability, regulatory, privacy, information and cyber security, reputational harm, business resiliency, theft of assets, financial losses, and errors/omissions.

• Demonstrated abilities in problem-solving and analysis including identification of issues, analysis of information to assess root cause and relationships, risks, and potential risk responses.

• Proven ability to synthesize and summarize complex data into concise recommendations and reports.

• Strong computer skills, including MS Office products (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio) and other business software to prepare reports, memos, summaries, and analyses. Experience with GRC tools (e.g., Archer) is a plus.

• Competency in customer focus, change & innovation, strategic thinking, relationship building & influencing, talent management, results focus and inspirational leadership.

Reporting relationship

As our Vendor Controls Specialist, you will report to the Head of Vendor Assessment & Controls.

Location

Hybrid role - 3 days in the office in Stamford CT, Holmdel, NJ or Hudson Yards, NYC office. 2 days WFH

Salary Range:

$80,940.00 - $132,975.00

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise

At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being

As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits . Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities.Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail] .

Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.