Operational Risk Manager

Purpose of Role
The ISP Operational Risk Manager supports the Group Head of Operational Risk and Senior Operational Risk Managers to ensure effective management of safeguarding, health & safety, and wider operational risk across ISP schools. The role provides independent assurance, professional challenge and support to schools and regions, ensuring consistent application of the ISP operational risk framework, effective escalation of material risks, and clear group-level visibility of safeguarding, health & safety and operational risk exposure. The role will be based in the Americas covering Brazil and other parts of the Americas.

Key Responsibilities

• Group & Governance
  • Champion ISP’s safeguarding, health & safety and operational risk agenda across the group.
  • Operate with sufficient independence to provide credible challenge and escalation through regional and group governance structures.
  • Support the periodic review and development of group safeguarding, health & safety and operational risk policies and frameworks.
  • Maintain reporting structures that provide senior leadership with oversight of significant risks, emerging themes, non-compliances and mitigation actions.
  • Ensure unresolved or systemic risks are escalated appropriately.
  • Work with regions and schools to identify persistent or systemic risks, ensuring accountability and timely remedial action.
  • Promote inclusive safeguarding practices, including effective protection and support for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN).
• Audits & Assurance
  • Conduct the annual audit programme across safeguarding, health & safety and operational risk, producing clear reports and prioritised action plans.
  • Ensure learning from audits and serious incidents is synthesised and shared across regions.
  • Monitor high-risk and overdue actions, supporting schools and regions to drive completion and sustainable improvement.
  • Ensure audit findings inform school improvement planning and regional risk oversight.
• Reporting & Data Management
  • Produce regular operational risk, safeguarding and safety reports at school, regional and group level.
  • Use trend analysis and Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) to identify emerging and cross-cutting risks.
  • Identify and escalate significant negative trends, incidents or data quality issues.
  • Undertake periodic data quality reviews, providing feedback and targeted support where required.
  • Ensure reporting enables effective interrogation of data and informed decision-making.
• Safeguarding & School Support
  • Provide advice, guidance and challenge to Principals/Heads of School, DSLs and regional leaders.
  • Provide professional challenge and hold leaders to account for timely remediation of high-risk issues.
  • Support schools with safeguarding reporting, incident management and regulatory compliance.
  • Contribute to the development of curriculum and pastoral initiatives (e.g. PHSE) that strengthen safeguarding culture and awareness.
• Systems & Access
  • Manage user access, permissions and authorisations for group risk, safeguarding and safety systems.
  • Troubleshoot access and system issues, ensuring appropriate controls and segregation of duties.
• Training & Capacity Building
  • Identify training needs and support the development of regional and group training strategies.
  • Deliver or support targeted training in safeguarding, health & safety, incident reporting and risk management.
  • Work with HR and schools to ensure safer recruitment training and practice meets recognised best practice.
• Other
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues, partners, contractors and consultants across multiple regions.
  • Adhere to ISP policies, procedures, codes of conduct, and all relevant legislative and governance requirements.
  • Undertake other related responsibilities as required to support operational risk objectives.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• Previously worked at senior level in a school or equivalent in either a local authority/government or a multi-school business.
• Previously worked as a Designated Safeguarding Lead and have a good working knowledge of Health & Safety in a school environment.
• International education experience is desirable.
• Fluency in English and Portuguese; fluency in Spanish, French or Italian is desirable.
• Excellent communicator.
• Disciplined and focused on targets and able to work in isolation.
• Be driven and able to meet realistic deadlines.
• Adaptable to different cultures and situations.
• Flexibility in travel, happy to spend periods away from home.

ISP Leadership Competencies

• Collaboration: Takes an active part in leading their school or region; is cooperative and a genuine team player, developing positive, supportive relationships with colleagues to solve problems and maximise opportunities.
• Learning & Getting Better: Continually demonstrates personal commitment and passion for learning and getting better using evidence and feedback; supporting others in their continual learning, development and growth.
• Innovation Leadership: Is good at creating an environment where ideas for learning initiatives and services are generated and is able to motivate and inspire others through the process of creation through to completion.
• Outcome driven: Can be counted on to find solutions. Is consistently looking to exceed goals and is focused on KPIs.
• Resilience: Can deal with setbacks and challenges calmly and effectively.
• Community Focus: Is committed to meeting and exceeding the needs and expectations of our students and their families.
• Integrity & Ethical Management: Has the ability to work ethically and with integrity; helps others feel valued; upholds and models the ISP Vision, Purpose and Principles.

About ISP
The International Schools Partnership (ISP) is a growing group of committed colleagues, in financially responsible schools around the world, all of which aim to be the school of choice in their local area. Learning is at the heart of everything we do for our students, colleagues and parents. We are committed to getting better, all the time.

ISP was founded by an experienced team of committed educationalists and operators who have worked together over many years. Our growing group of private schools located across the globe educates children and students from 2–18 years of age. We have now expanded to 116 schools that employ over 10,000 staff and deliver multiple curricula to over 116,000 students.

We believe that successful schools are the ones that put learning at the heart of everything they do, always aiming to create rounded individuals that can forge successful careers and lives, in a rapidly changing world. Our goal is to enable our schools to be the leading school of choice in their local area. At ISP we continue to engage with schools around the world that are interested in becoming part of our global.

ISP Principles

• Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.
• Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.
• Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.
• Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.
• Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles
ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.