Risk and Assurance Manager (Hybrid) in Milton Keynes

James Stevens Associates are delighted to be working with a Social Housing organisation based in Buckinghamshire that are now looking to bolster their Governance department with a Risk & Assurance Management Professional on a 12 month fixed term contract.

Overview:

• Role: Risk & Assurance Manager
• Hybrid (Buckinghamshire – minimum 2 days onsite)
• 12-month Fixed Term Contract – Potential to move permanently
• Salary: £54,778
• 35-hour week with reduced Hours on Fridays: 1.00pm Finish

Why Work for them:

Joining the organisation as a Risk & Assurance Manager means more than managing frameworks and compliance, it’s about making a tangible difference in people’s lives. As a community-based / charitable housing organisation, they are committed to building sustainable communities and working with tenants.

Benefits Include but not limited to:

• Flexible & hybrid working options to balance work and personal priorities
• Ad hoc flexibility: extended day, school run, life admin breaks, making up time later
• 35-hour week pilot: Mon–Thu full days, Fri finish at 1pm
• 26 days annual leave + 8 UK Bank Holidays, increasing with service up to 29 days
• Carry forward up to 5 days leave; buy/sell up to 5 days annually
• Pension: 3% employee + 8% employer; 4%+ employee = 10% employer
• Staff development via training and Video Arts platform
• Simplyhealth cashback: dental, eye care, GP visits, diagnostics, prescriptions, chiropody, hospitalisation, baby payment
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) via Health Assured
• Occupational Health support for illness/injury
• Life Assurance: 3x salary to nominated beneficiary

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Risk & Assurance Manager to join the organisations Governance team, playing a pivotal role in strengthening organisational risk management and ensuring GDPR compliance. This role is approximately 70% Risk Management and 30% Data Protection, operating within the Three Lines of Defence model.

The successful candidate will provide assurance to the Board, challenge senior leaders, and embed best practice across the organisation.

• Lead and enhance organisational risk management activities, including ownership of the Risk Management Framework
• Oversee strategic risks, appetite and tolerance statements, and operational registers
• Challenge and validate existing risk mitigations and controls; verify that stated controls genuinely exist
• Conduct business assurance work, including risk mapping, testing, and embedding operational risk practices
• Prepare and present reports to the Board, Audit & Risk Committees, and Senior Leadership Team
• Provide evidence-based challenge on real vs perceived risks
• Oversee GDPR compliance: advise on legislation, manage subject access requests, review practices, and deliver training programmes
• Collaborate with internal audit to bridge gaps between audit findings and risk reporting
• Keep abreast of regulatory and legislative changes, advising on impact and compliance ahead of change
• Report on external benchmarking data (housing market analysis, sector risk profile, Ombudsman reports, legal updates) to inform policies and service delivery
• Assist in delivering training and briefings on statutory and legislative issues to leadership and committees
• Design and implement a comprehensive Business Assurance Framework

Candidate Profile

• Significant risk management experience is mandatory
• Graduate calibre or relevant risk management qualification
• Strong knowledge of GDPR legal and regulatory requirements, with proven compliance experience
• Preferred: housing sector experience; transferable sector experience considered (well regulated sectors)
• Background in internal audit acceptable
• Gravitas and confidence to challenge senior leaders and present at board level
• Resilient, with the ability to push back appropriately
• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to prioritise in a busy environment
• Constructive communicator with strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach