Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the creation of a risk management function from scratch and shape business strategy.
- Company: Join loveholidays, a trailblazing travel tech company focused on innovation and customer experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, pension contributions, training budget, and discounted holidays.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by architecting risk strategies in a fast-growing travel marketplace.
- Qualifications: Experience in building risk functions and understanding operational risks in digital platforms.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive culture that values personal growth and diverse perspectives.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Overview
At loveholidays, we’re on a mission to open the world to everyone, giving our customers unlimited choice, unmatched ease and unmissable value for their next getaway. Our team is the driving force behind our role as our customers’ personal holiday expert - the smart way to get away. We’re using progressive tech to drive cutting-edge innovation and open the world to everyone.
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.
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.
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, 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.
- 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.
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.
The interview journey:
- Intro to loveholidays with a member of the Talent team - 30 mins.
- 1st stage interview with VP Finance, Director of Finance Transformation & General Counsel, including a task to present - 45 mins.
- Final stage with CFO - 60 mins.
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.
Head of Risk employer: loveholidays
Contact Detail:
loveholidays Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Risk
✨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 learn about potential opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research loveholidays and understand their mission and values. Think about how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in building a risk management function from scratch.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio or presentation that highlights your past achievements in risk management. Be ready to discuss how you can bring innovation and strategic thinking to loveholidays.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the loveholidays team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Risk
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the Head of Risk role. Highlight your experience in building risk management functions and how it relates to loveholidays' mission.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share your successes! Use quantifiable results to demonstrate how you've effectively managed risks in previous roles. This will help us see the impact you can bring to our team.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who fits into our collaborative culture, so don’t be afraid to show us what makes you unique and how you can contribute to our mission.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people and shows your enthusiasm for joining loveholidays!
How to prepare for a job interview at loveholidays
✨Know Your Risk Management Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid understanding of risk management frameworks and practices. Be prepared to discuss your experience in building risk functions or transforming existing ones, as this will be crucial for the role.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
During the interview, highlight how you've integrated risk into strategic planning in previous roles. Use specific examples to demonstrate your ability to balance innovation with robust protection, which is key for loveholidays' growth.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions about operational and technology risks, especially in digital platforms. Brush up on topics like cybersecurity and data protection, as these are vital for the role and will show your expertise in the field.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Be ready to discuss how you've managed relationships with senior stakeholders in the past. Loveholidays values strong communication skills, so share examples of how you've built credibility and embedded risk awareness across an organisation.
