Head of Risk & Resilience

Help us redefine what’s possible. Be part of something bigger. We are working in partnership with the University of Edinburgh to find an outstanding individual to join their team as the Head of Risk & Resilience. This is a rare opportunity to shape how a world-class institution manages complexity and uncertainty, ensuring that the University remains resilient, innovative, and ready for the future.

Salary £81,016 to £116,575 (with potential supplement). The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s leading universities. For more than 400 years, our staff and students have shaped the modern world — pioneering research, driving innovation, and inspiring discovery. Today, with 18,000 colleagues, 50,000 students (from over 150 countries), and an annual turnover of £1.4bn, they are one of Scotland’s largest and most complex organisations. They are proud of their role as a global institution with local impact, contributing to knowledge, progress, and the wellbeing of communities worldwide.

The Opportunity: As Head of Risk & Resilience, you will play a visible and influential role at the heart of the University’s governance and leadership. This is a high-profile appointment with responsibility for leading strategy, embedding culture, and ensuring preparedness. In this role, you will:

• Set strategic direction: Lead the University’s risk management, business continuity, and resilience frameworks, aligning them with institutional ambition and appetite for intelligent risk‑taking.
• Influence at the highest levels: Provide trusted advice and constructive challenge to senior leaders, governance committees, and the University Court.
• Drive resilience: Oversee crisis management planning, business continuity frameworks, and horizon scanning — ensuring the University can adapt and thrive in an evolving risk environment.
• Shape culture: Inspire a confident, positive approach to risk by developing training, awareness, and engagement across the colleges and schools, and professional services.
• Lead with impact: Manage and develop a small, specialist team, while building consensus and influence across a devolved organisation.

This is a role of genuine visibility and strategic influence, balancing operational delivery with thought leadership. It offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact in one of the world’s great universities.

About You: We are seeking an exceptional leader who can combine strategic influence with hands‑on expertise. You will bring:

• Proven leadership in risk and resilience: Substantial senior‑level experience in risk management, business continuity, crisis management, and resilience within large, complex organisations.
• Governance credibility: Confidence and authority to advise and challenge at the highest levels, including governance committees, senior executives, and external stakeholders.
• Strategic and operational balance: The ability to design frameworks, policies, and processes while also ensuring practical, effective delivery across a devolved and diverse institution.
• Problem‑solving and judgement: A strong record of recognising emerging risks, horizon scanning, and developing pragmatic solutions to complex organisational challenges.
• Influence and collaboration: Exceptional interpersonal skills, political acumen, and the ability to build consensus across varied stakeholder groups.
• Communication and culture building: Skilled in engaging colleagues through training, awareness, and dialogue to embed a positive, forward‑looking risk culture.
• Professional credibility: Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience); membership of the Institute of Risk Management or other relevant professional body is desirable.

Higher education experience is not required, although belief in the sector’s purpose and empathy with its challenges will be important. We welcome applications from senior leaders in financial services, consulting, professional services, public sector, critical infrastructure, or the armed forces who can demonstrate transferable expertise and the readiness to thrive in one of Scotland’s most complex organisational environments.

Why Join the team? At the University of Edinburgh, you will:

• Operate at the heart of governance in one of the world’s top universities, shaping decision‑making at the highest level.
• Gain exposure to one of Scotland’s most complex and high‑profile organisational contexts, offering significant personal and professional growth.
• Contribute to a mission that spans research, education, and global impact, while helping to shape the future of higher education.
• Live and work in Edinburgh — a city of culture, history, and innovation — with a global outlook and exceptional quality of life.
• Enjoy challenge, variety, and autonomy every day in an environment that values collaboration, ambition, and innovation.

As a valued member of their community, you will benefit from:

• 40 days annual leave (including public holidays).
• A highly competitive pension scheme.
• Hybrid and flexible working options.
• Family‑friendly policies and staff discounts.
• Opportunities for personal and professional development.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: The University of Edinburgh is proud to hold a Silver Athena SWAN award, and are active members of the Race Equality Charter and Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions. They actively celebrate diversity, promote inclusion, and strive to create a community where everyone feels they belong. We particularly welcome applications from candidates who bring fresh perspectives, diverse backgrounds, and lived experiences to the leadership team.

Interested? If this sounds like the kind of challenge that excites you — and you have the skills and experience to make a strong impact — we’d love to hear from you. To find out more and discuss the role in confidence, please get in touch!