Senior Risk & Assurance Manager in Stockport

This is a pivotal role that will support the development of the Group's risk maturity, strengthen governance arrangements, and provide independent assurance across a diverse and fast‑paced business. Acting as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, you will drive risk‑informed decision‑making, deliver risk‑based assurance activity, and champion a positive and accountable risk culture across the organisation. Operating within the second line of defence, you'll work closely with stakeholders across operational, commercial, procurement, legal, and leadership teams to ensure key risks are identified, managed, and mitigated effectively.

What You'll Do

• Risk Management
  • Lead and facilitate risk workshops, assessments, and reviews with senior leaders, project teams, and operational functions.
  • Support the consistent identification, assessment, and management of enterprise risks across the Group.
  • Provide insight, guidance, and constructive challenge on emerging risks, operational vulnerabilities, and regulatory changes.
  • Maintain and enhance risk registers, loss event reporting, key risk indicators, and emerging risk tracking processes.
  • Support continuous improvement of risk management frameworks, controls, and reporting mechanisms.
  • Monitor external risk trends and support effective risk integration across acquisitions, projects, and business change initiatives.
• Risk Assurance
  • Design and deliver a proportionate, risk‑based assurance programme aligned to principal business risks.
  • Conduct end‑to‑end assurance reviews, including thematic reviews, control assessments, and deep‑diving investigations.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of governance arrangements, risk management practices, and key controls.
  • Provide practical, value‑adding recommendations that strengthen operational resilience and control environments.
  • Monitor and challenge remediation activities, ensuring actions are completed effectively and root causes are addressed.
  • Deliver assurance insights and reports to senior leadership and key stakeholders.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Risk Culture
  • Champion a positive, proactive, and accountable risk culture across the Group.
  • Develop and deliver risk management training, guidance, and awareness initiatives.
  • Act as a trusted subject matter expert on risk and assurance matters.
  • Build strong relationships with stakeholders across operational, commercial, legal, procurement, and business development functions.
  • Support wider governance, risk, and compliance initiatives that drive continuous improvement across the business.

What You'll Bring

• Essential
  • Demonstrable experience implementing, embedding, and improving enterprise risk management frameworks.
  • Strong knowledge of recognised risk management methodologies and standards, such as ISO 31000, COSO ERM, APM PRAM, or similar.
  • Proven experience designing and delivering risk‑based assurance programmes and assurance reviews.
  • Sound understanding of governance, assurance, audit, and control frameworks.
  • Experience working within complex, fast‑paced, operationally focused organisations.
  • Ability to identify, assess, and communicate business risks effectively.
  • Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence to engage and challenge at all levels.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership teams.
  • Advanced analytical, problem‑solving, and critical‑thinking abilities.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver objectives through to completion.
  • Strong reporting, investigation, and risk analysis capabilities.
• Desirable
  • Experience within engineering, utilities, construction, infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, or related sectors.
  • Experience working within large group structures, multi‑business environments, or global organisations.
  • Professional qualification in Risk Management, Internal Audit, Governance, Compliance, or a related discipline.
  • Experience operating within a second‑line risk or assurance function.
  • Knowledge of regulatory and contractual compliance frameworks.
  • Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, organisational change, or business transformation programmes.
  • Familiarity with risk management software, assurance tools, and reporting platforms.

What We Offer

At OCU, we believe that meaningful work should come with meaningful support. That's the principle behind Careers with Purpose, our commitment to ensuring every person at OCU feels supported, developed, and valued, not just in their role today, but throughout their career with us. Alongside the opportunity to work on some of the UK's most significant infrastructure projects, we offer a benefits package that we are continuing to develop as we grow, and the kind of career acceleration that only comes from being inside a business moving at this pace. As a rapidly growing organisation, there are genuine opportunities to progress, broaden your experience, and build a long‑term career within OCU Group. We review applications every day and may close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received. We encourage early applications.