Head of Risk in Newcastle upon Tyne

Be part of something bigger. Protecting the Club and our people. We are the heartbeat of the city. A club with bold ambitions on a global stage and deep roots in our community. If you are motivated by purpose, collaboration and high standards, you will find the environment, support and opportunity to make a real impact here.

This is a senior, influential role where you will help shape how we manage risk, protect our people and ensure compliance across the Club.

As Head of Risk and Compliance, you will take overall responsibility for the Club’s risk, compliance and data protection obligations. You will lead a specialist function spanning Health, Safety and Compliance, working closely with senior leaders to ensure that statutory, regulatory and governance requirements are consistently met, strengthened and embedded across the organisation. You will play a critical role in building a proactive, pragmatic risk culture that supports innovation, operational excellence and sustainable growth.

• Lead and develop the Club’s Risk and Compliance function, including Health, Safety and Compliance
• Design and embed club‑wide risk and compliance strategies that are practical, collaborative and future‑focused
• Own and manage the Club’s governance, risk and compliance systems, including digital risk registers
• Review risk assessments and work with teams to agree and track proportionate mitigation actions
• Provide oversight of vendor compliance, supporting onboarding and ongoing due diligence
• Deliver clear risk reporting and insights at Board and Committee level
• Partner with Legal colleagues to strengthen data protection governance, policies and learning materials
• Build trusted relationships across the business, with regulators, auditors and external advisers
• Champion a positive risk culture where issues are identified early, discussed openly and addressed constructively

• Significant experience leading or managing a risk and compliance function within a complex organisation
• A strong track record of developing and embedding sustainable compliance and risk management frameworks
• Confidence managing digital risk registers, treatment processes and governance reporting
• Experience working with governance, risk and compliance (GRC) and due diligence systems
• The ability to operate autonomously, prioritise effectively and deliver against strategic objectives
• Clear, inclusive and confident communication skills, with the credibility to influence at senior and board level
• A pragmatic, solutions-focused approach that balances assurance with collaboration
• Experience gained within consumer-facing sectors such as retail, supermarkets, leisure, entertainment or other high-footfall, regulated environments

You’ll join a friendly, knowledgeable and supportive team who value curiosity, trust and continuous improvement. We work collaboratively and support one another to do our best work.

We’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and believe in equal opportunities for all. We value different perspectives, experiences and ways of thinking and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can be themselves and thrive.

We are committed to being a place where everyone is safe, heard, valued and able to thrive. Safeguarding and welfare are everyone’s responsibility, and we place high importance on maintaining a safe and supportive environment.

This role is UK‑based and requires the right to live and work in the UK. All offers are subject to pre‑employment checks, including references and DBS as appropriate. We do not offer sponsorship for this role.