At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and lead loveholidays' risk management function from the ground up.
- Company: Join a fast-growing travel-tech company focused on customer trust and safety.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, pension contributions, training budget, and discounted holidays.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive culture that values diverse perspectives and personal growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of risk management in a dynamic online travel environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in building risk functions and understanding of digital platform risks.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 € per year.
About The Team
Our Risk function is being established to protect loveholidays' customers, reputation, and business operations in the fast-paced online travel sector. This new team will identify, assess, and mitigate risks across our platform, from transaction security and fraud prevention to customer health & safety, operational resilience and regulatory compliance. As we scale our tech-driven marketplace connecting millions of travelers with holidays worldwide, the Risk function will ensure we continue our fast growth sustainably while maintaining trust and reliability.
The Impact You’ll Have
Reporting to the General Counsel, the Head of Risk will be our first dedicated risk hire, establishing loveholidays' risk management capability from the ground up. You'll define and lead our risk strategy, build frameworks and controls, and embed a risk‑aware culture across the organisation. This is a rare opportunity to architect an entire risk function tailored to a high‑growth travel‑tech business, balancing innovation with robust protection and positioning risk as a strategic enabler.
Your Day-to-day
- Building loveholidays' risk management function from scratch, including strategy, frameworks, processes, and future team structure.
- Developing principal risk management frameworks covering strategic, operational, financial, technology, supply side, and compliance risks.
- Designing and rolling out material controls across the business to mitigate identified principal risks.
- Deliver forward‑looking risk insight: Oversee principal risk identification, horizon scanning and emerging risk analysis (including geopolitical and macroeconomic factors), providing clear reporting and actionable recommendations to senior stakeholders.
- Embed a strong risk culture and shape strategic decisions: Work closely with the Board, Executive Committee, and senior leaders to integrate risk thinking into strategic planning, major programmes, and everyday business operations whilst building credibility for the risk function.
- Drive innovation and proactive risk management: Implement advanced analytics, dashboards and KRIs, leveraging technology and data to enable agile, forward‑looking risk oversight.
- Lead and develop a high‑performing team: Build capability and foster a collaborative, inclusive culture while partnering with Technology, Product, Finance, Internal Audit and Legal teams to deliver a holistic approach to assurance.
Your Skillset
- Demonstrated experience building a risk management function from the ground up or leading significant transformation of risk capabilities.
- Deep understanding of operational and technology risks in digital platforms, including cybersecurity, data protection and system resilience.
- Proven experience in enterprise risk management, including frameworks, risk appetite development and embedding risk into strategy and operations.
- Strong knowledge of risk governance, internal control frameworks and regulatory expectations, with experience presenting high‑quality risk reporting to Boards or Audit & Risk Committees.
- Experience navigating regulatory requirements in travel sectors or payments.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to work autonomously, prioritise effectively and influence without established authority.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills to build credibility and embed risk awareness across the organisation.
Desirable
- Experience in online travel, marketplace platforms or high‑transaction volume e‑commerce.
- Familiarity with travel industry regulations (ATOL, Package Travel Regulations, consumer protection frameworks, health & safety issues, climate related risks).
- Professional risk management and/or audit qualifications.
- UK plc experience including preparing the risk section of the Annual Report and Accounts.
Perks Of Joining Us
- Company pension contributions at 5%.
- Individualised training budget for you to learn on the job and level yourself up.
- Discounted holidays for you, your family and friends.
- 25 days of holidays per annum (plus 8 public holidays) increases by 1 day for every second year of service, up to a maximum 30 days per annum.
- Ability to buy and sell annual leave.
- Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan and eye care vouchers.
At loveholidays, we focus on developing an inclusive culture and environment that encourages personal growth and collective success. Each individual offers unique perspectives and ideas that increase the diversity and effectiveness of our teams. And we value the insight and potential you could bring on our continued journey.
Head of Risk in London employer: Limelight Health
At loveholidays, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, particularly for the Head of Risk role, where you will have the unique opportunity to build a risk management function from the ground up in a dynamic and fast-paced online travel environment. Our inclusive culture fosters personal growth and collaboration, supported by generous benefits such as a competitive pension scheme, individualised training budgets, and discounted holidays for you and your loved ones. Join us in shaping a robust risk strategy that not only protects our customers but also positions risk as a strategic enabler for our continued success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Risk in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the travel and risk management sectors on LinkedIn. Join relevant groups and engage in discussions to get your name out there and show your expertise.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching loveholidays and its risk landscape. Understand their current challenges and think about how you can contribute to building their risk management function from scratch.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your experience with real-life examples during interviews. Talk about specific situations where you've successfully identified and mitigated risks, especially in tech-driven environments.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed and shows your genuine interest in joining the loveholidays team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Risk in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in building risk management functions. We want to see how your skills align with our needs, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Understanding of Risk:In your application, demonstrate your deep understanding of operational and technology risks, especially in digital platforms. We’re looking for someone who can articulate these concepts clearly, so use examples from your past roles to illustrate your points.
Highlight Stakeholder Management Skills:Since you'll be working closely with senior leaders and the Board, it’s crucial to emphasise your stakeholder management and communication skills. Share specific instances where you’ve successfully influenced decisions or built credibility in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to shape our risk function from the ground up!
How to prepare for a job interview at Limelight Health
✨Know Your Risk Frameworks
Before the interview, brush up on various risk management frameworks and how they apply to the travel sector. Be ready to discuss how you would build a risk management function from scratch, as this is a key part of the role.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills
Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated risk insights to senior stakeholders in the past. This role requires excellent stakeholder management, so be ready to demonstrate your ability to influence and build credibility across the organisation.
✨Understand Regulatory Requirements
Familiarise yourself with travel industry regulations like ATOL and Package Travel Regulations. Being able to discuss these regulations and their implications for risk management will show that you’re well-prepared for the challenges of the role.
✨Emphasise Innovation in Risk Management
Think about how technology can enhance risk management processes. Be prepared to share ideas on implementing advanced analytics and dashboards to provide forward-looking risk oversight, which is crucial for a tech-driven marketplace.
