Head of Operational Risk Management

Head of Operational Risk Management

• Shape the future of operational risk at NFU Mutual


• Hybrid role with up to 80% homeworking and 20% in Stratford-upon-Avon

Are you a strategic risk leader ready to influence operational resilience at the highest level? As Head of Operational Risk Management at NFU Mutual, you’ll play a pivotal role in embedding a proactive risk culture across the organisation. Reporting to the Head of Group Operational Risk, you’ll lead a high-performing team to ensure operational and strategic risks are effectively identified, assessed, and managed in line with our Enterprise Risk Management Framework.

This is a high-impact role where you’ll work closely with senior stakeholders and programme governance to shape risk strategy, provide assurance to the Board Risk Committee, and support the resilience of our most critical business services. You’ll be a trusted advisor across the business, ensuring that risk is seen as a key enabler of strategic delivery.

Key responsibilities include:

• Setting and delivering the operational risk strategy aligned with business objectives and risk appetite.


• Leading the Operational Risk team to provide expert support and challenge to first-line stakeholders.


• Driving high-quality assurance reporting to senior governance forums, including the Board Risk Committee.


• Representing Risk in major change programmes and steering committees, influencing mitigation strategies.


• Leading operational resilience planning, identifying vulnerabilities in Important Business Services (IBS).


• Embedding a strong risk culture through stakeholder engagement and strategic alignment.

We’re looking for a dynamic and experienced operational risk professional with a strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and a passion for driving cultural change. You’ll be confident in engaging with senior leaders, influencing governance, and leading a team to deliver meaningful impact.

What you’ll need to succeed:

Technical expertise:

• Proven experience in second-line operational risk management within financial services, ideally insurance.


• Strong knowledge of PRA and FCA regulations, with a focus on operational resilience.


• Expertise in risk identification, assessment, mitigation, and assurance reporting.


• Ability to interpret complex risk data and present insights to senior stakeholders.


• Strategic thinker with the ability to align risk frameworks with organisational goals.

• Skilled communicator, able to influence at all levels and build trusted relationships.


• Experienced leader, capable of developing talent and fostering a proactive culture.


• Comfortable navigating change and supporting risk culture in transformation programmes.

Qualifications:

• Educated to degree level in a business, risk, or insurance-related discipline (essential).


• Fellowship of the Institute of Risk Management or equivalent professional qualification (desirable).

At NFU Mutual, we support an inclusive workplace and value all the differences that make us unique. We celebrate the creativity and innovation that comes from diverse perspectives and experiences and share a common vision of doing the right thing for our customers and employees.

We recognise that some candidates may experience barriers during the recruitment process. So, we encourage candidates to discuss any adjustments or accommodations they need to be the best they can be throughout our recruitment process.

We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, a Race at Work and Women in Finance Charter signatory and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, regardless of age, ethnicity, disability, neurodiversity, gender, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.

When you join our team, you can expect a supportive culture and an attractive range of rewards and benefits including:

• Salary circa £110,000 depending on experience


• Annual bonus of up to 33% of salary


• Car allowance + access to our Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme


• Contributory pension scheme (up to 20%)


• 28 days annual leave (+ bank holidays, with options to buy/sell)


• Private medical insurance for you and options for your family


• 15% discount on NFU Mutual insurance policies


• Hybrid working – up to 80% home-based


• Wellbeing programmes, including gym discounts, health cashback plans, and volunteering opportunities

We’re one of the UK’s leading general insurance and financial services companies. For over 110 years we’ve put our customers at the heart of everything we do. Our people are just as important to us.

We pride ourselves on being “a great place to work” and our Gallup Exceptional Workplace 2025 award was not only awarded with Distinction but also named us as the first UK-based company to receive a Gallup Exceptional Workplace for ten years in a row. We are also the only Insurer to feature in the LinkedIn Top 15 Companies 2025 list of ‘Best midsize employers to grow your career in the UK’, the Glassdoor Best Places to Work UK List 2023 and 2024, and were recognised as a certified UK Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

We offer a supportive culture where we empower and inspire our people to perform, offer them opportunities to grow, and recognise and reward their contribution. Our people are proud to work for a company that respects them and their communities, and they trust us to be financially sustainable, so we are successful now and in the future.