Investment Risk Manager

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.

In your role as Investment Risk Manager, you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to support the production of investment risk reports and analysis for the pension fund on scheme level, enhancing risk analytics to support scheme level investment decision-making. You will execute and evolve 2nd line oversight of USSIM’s scheme-level investment decision-making.

As a trusted part of the Financial Risk team you will:

• Assist with day-to-day production of risk analysis and reports across market risk, liquidity risk, collateral risk and counterparty risk.
• Provide reasoning and narratives on changes of risk.
• Provide analytical support for ad-hoc requests internally from Financial Risk and externally across USS.
• Provide support for oversight and challenges including Asset Allocation Committee (AAC), Total Portfolio Management (TPM) and Liability Driven Investment (LDI).
• Contribute to delivery of SRO’s projects including gathering requirements and testing.
• Assist with the implementation & enhancement of reporting automation and visualisation within the SRO team.
• Support and contribute to Scheme Risk Forum.
• Help make risk and performance reporting more engaging and impactful to its consumers.
• Contribute to Financial Risk team’s discussion of investment risk topics.

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box. If you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.

To be successful in the role you will have:

• Experience in asset management or finance preferred, with practical experience in technology.
• Experience of using standard risk systems. Ideally MSCI Risk Manager or Barra One.
• Knowledge and experience in investment risk.
• Knowledge and experience of stress testing.
• Knowledge and experience of tools: Python, SQL, Power BI.
• Comfortable working with data and conducting analyses.
• Able to solve problems independently.
• Curiosity and the willingness to see things from multiple perspectives.
• Self-starter with ‘can do’ attitude, highly organised and ability to prioritise.
• Experience in quantitative and risk modelling.
• Comprehensive knowledge of risk management within the context of a pension plan.
• Experience in embedding risk management frameworks and processes.
• Further qualifications and/or CFA charter-holder status would be a benefit but not essential.

At USS, every individual contributes to building a secure financial future for our members and their families. We strive to create a work environment where everyone can thrive professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. We're also committed to helping you build your career by providing opportunities for development. We put a focus on recognising and supporting each individual's unique career path, driving this forward with the support of an engaged and proactive management team. Here at USS, we want you to thrive in and out of work with a friendly team, flexible culture and excellent range of benefits!

Generous annual leave package, access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme, supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay), financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing, access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership, learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent, Employee Volunteer Day’s to support the communities where you work and live, Cycle to Work Scheme.

Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves. Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them ‘front and centre’ of what we do. This is embedded through our values: Integrity.

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and other higher education institutions in the UK. We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for almost 577,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest private defined benefit pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £76.8bn (at 31 March 2025).

USSIM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent. We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting resourcing@uss.co.uk.