Head of Risk (Insurance) *12 month FTC* in Maidstone

Join Sagas Risk and Compliance function within Insurance and Money at a pivotal moment in our journey. As a brand trusted by millions of people over 50, we continue to lead the market with innovative insurance and financial solutions, delivered through powerful affinity partnerships with Ageas, NatWest, Just Group, BUPA and Collinson.

As Head of Risk, you'll report to the Insurance Risk Director and play a central role in shaping how risk is managed across Saga Services Ltd, Saga Money, and our partner landscape. You'll lead the operation, oversight and continuous evolution of our risk and control framework, ensuring it remains robust, forward-looking and aligned to our strategic ambitions.

This is a high-impact leadership role where you'll be the trusted advisor to the SSL management team on all aspects of risk and control management spanning strategic, financial, non-financial and reputational risk, as well as operational resilience. With a strong presence and credibility, you'll influence confidently at all levels of the business and act as a key point of contact with the FCA, helping to safeguard Saga's reputation as one of the UK's most trusted brands.

We work in a hybrid way at Saga both at home and in the office. This role requires you to be working from our Folkestone office weekly, as well as visits to our London office, allowing us to collaborate and share success as a business.

Main Responsibilities

• Design, implementation and oversight of the risk and control framework used throughout SSL and Saga Money, covering all risk types.
• Ensure that there is a fit for purpose, comprehensive, efficient and effective framework covering all risk, controls and procedures that are adopted by the first line.
• Lead the risk business partnering team across SSL, liaising as appropriate with the Head of Compliance and working as one with the compliance business partners.
• Ensure that there is a clearly articulated and approved framework for risk appetite, and appropriate risk appetite measures and tolerances that support senior management decision making and formation of strategy.
• Identify, develop and deploy appropriate operational risk management tools, techniques and strategies to ensure operational risk management across Saga is value adding and contributes towards the overall strategy and performance of the business.
• Lead risk partners to work with the first line to map risks, processes, and control ownership clearly and accurately.
• Design and perform risk-based control testing covering all risks, documenting results, issues and remediation actions.
• Actively promote a risk culture that encourages appropriate risk taking, aligned to strategy and risk appetite, with effective and timely response to risk events.
• Assist in the formation, review and ongoing delivery of appropriate risk governance.
• Present to relevant committees on relevant topics in enterprise or operational risk management.
• Conduct targeted risk opinions and or deep dives across material risks or projects as requested by the Board and or the leadership team.
• Maintain a continuous development emphasis by regularly reviewing risk management maturity through critically evaluating application of core framework components operation by the first line and our partners.
• Lead in the development and delivery of specific risk projects, either on behalf of the CRO or first line functions.
• Provide risk advice, leadership and stewardship to material transformation and change programmes and projects to support the business's ability to deliver its strategic and tactical objectives.
• Support the Insurance Risk Director in the day-to-day management of the CRO Function as well as the development and maintenance of the first line Risk Champion community.
• Ensure there is an open and collaborative relationship between all lines of defence and group colleagues.

The Ideal Candidate

• Proven experience leading a team that operates a risk framework that covers the entity and oversights significant third-party partners/providers.
• Experience within the Insurance or Financial Services industry would be advantageous, but relevant risk experience in other regulated areas will also be considered.
• Operational Skills required include: Experience presenting clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Understanding of technology landscapes and system concepts.
• Understanding of data legislation and regulatory environment.
• Ability to constructively challenge the status quo.
• Stakeholder Management skills, including senior management.
• Strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Resilient, adaptable, and open to change in a fast-paced environment.
• Unquestionable integrity, professionalism, and commitment to ethical practice.

Saga Values: Make it Happen, Do the Right Thing, Customer First, Excellence Every Day, Our People Make Us Special.

Over the past 75 years we have become the UK's specialist provider of products and services to people aged over 50 in the UK. We're the most trusted brand amongst UK consumers in this demographic, recognised for high-quality products and exceptional standards of service. Our product portfolio includes cruises, holidays, insurance, personal finance products and Saga Magazine.

We're committed to making sure that colleagues can be their best, be themselves and make a difference more than anywhere else. We have done this by creating a truly inclusive culture, where all colleagues can bring their full and authentic selves to work and be treated with dignity and respect in an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.

Saga does not accept agency CVs unless specifically engaged on the role by the Talent Acquisition Team. Please do not forward CVs to our recruiters, employees or any other company location. Saga will not be responsible for any fees related to CVs received in this unsolicited manner.