Head of Legal and Risk in Edinburgh

The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) is the UK's chartered professional body dedicated to educating, developing and regulating actuaries based both in the UK and internationally. The IFoA regulates and represents over 34,000 members worldwide, overseeing their actuarial education at all stages of qualification and development throughout their careers. We set examinations, continuing professional development, professional codes and disciplinary standards for our members.

We are currently recruiting a Head of Legal and Risk for a Permanent contract. This role is hybrid, both working from home and in our Oxford or Edinburgh hub. We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly between home and the hub to suit their needs and preferences, in line with our hybrid working policy. Colleagues are able to work their hours flexibly, in line with core business hours and requirements. We also offer formalised flexible working agreements. The starting salary is £94,050.

• As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contribute to the leadership of the IFoA, supporting the Executive Leadership Team, Board and Council in delivering the organisational strategy.
• Lead and manage the Legal and Risk Team (comprising the corporate legal, commercial and risk management functions) creating a culture of high performance, continuous learning, and professional excellence.
• Lead and develop the in-house legal function to ensure that it provides pragmatic, business focused advice to the IFoA on all legal, quasi-legal and compliance matters in order to assist delivery against strategic objectives.
• Oversee the facilitation of robust risk management and business continuity systems and appropriate risk reporting, leading a comprehensive assurance framework, and ensuring legal services are professional, credible, and responsive to organisational needs.
• Support Council in setting the organisational risk appetite.
• Ensure that key legal, risk and compliance processes, contractual frameworks and procurement procedures are effectively implemented across the organisation.
• Drive forward strong commercial relationships with third party suppliers and customers, ensuring strong value for money for IFoA members, leading to reduced supplier costs and increased commercial income.
• Provide expert legal, risk and compliance advice to the executive, relevant Boards and Committees, including IFoA Board, Audit & Risk Committee and Council.
• Oversee the work of the IFoA’s data and information governance function.
• Manage a team of senior professionals, ensuring that the team work collaboratively with a “one IFoA” ethos.
• Oversee relationships with external law firms and ensure that any external legal resource is appropriate for the advice sought and cost effective.
• Hold budgetary responsibility for the corporate legal, commercial and risk management functions.
• Support the CEO in managing the IFoA’s legal and reputational risk, including the management of any litigation involving the IFoA.

• Qualified lawyer with significant relevant experience.
• Proven experience of leading a team.
• Excellent analytical skills and capacity to think strategically.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Strong commercial and strategic awareness.

The ‘Apply’ link will take you to the full job description, which is available on https://actuaries.org.uk/ifoa-jobs/head-of-legal-and-risk/. To apply, please send a CV and covering letter before the closing date of 2 April 2026.

Alternative format and adjustments: Please email the HR Team if you require any information regarding our vacancies in an alternative format or any adjustments to support you to fully participate in any part of the application and recruitment process. Any information shared will be used only to enable us to make reasonable adjustments to support candidates to participate in the recruitment process. It will not inform selection decisions.

The IFoA encourages applicants from a variety of backgrounds and experience and welcomes diversity with regard not only to protected characteristics but also diversity of thought. Diversity, equity and inclusion are more than just words for us. That’s why we promote diversity at all levels. Read more on working for the IFoA: https://actuaries.org.uk/ifoa-jobs.