Head of Risk Management
// Role Summary
Lead the development and delivery of risk strategy, assurance, and analytics for an £8bn programme as Head of Risk Management at BAE Systems. Drive improvements and integrate risk management into all aspects of programme delivery.
// Key Responsibilities
- Lead risk strategy, assurance, and analytics for an £8bn programme.
- Embed best-practice risk management and clear ownership across all levels.
- Utilize quantitative risk analysis (QRA, QSRA, QCRA) for forecasts and contingency.
- Drive continuous programme enhancement through improvement plans.
- Integrate risk with planning, cost control, and governance for transparent decision-making.
// Role Specification
Join BAE Systems and contribute to pioneering progress and protecting what matters most. As Head of Risk Management, you will be instrumental in delivering advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace, and security solutions.
Role Description:
We are seeking an experienced Head of Risk Management to lead the development and delivery of risk strategy, assurance, and analytics across a significant £8bn programme. You will be responsible for embedding best-practice risk management, ensuring clear ownership of risks at all levels, and leading specialist analysis capabilities to transform data into actionable insights. A key focus will be driving improvements from review outcomes, while integrating risk with planning, cost control, governance, and reporting to deliver transparent, risk-informed decision-making and credible programme forecasts to senior stakeholders.
Core Duties:
- Owning the programme risk strategy, standards, and culture, embedding clear, inclusive ownership across all value streams.
- Leading quantitative risk analysis (QRA, QSRA, QCRA), delivering risk-adjusted forecasts and informed contingency recommendations.
- Collaborating with Risk Management SMEs to define roles, strengthen capability, and enhance programme-wide risk practices.
- Translating outcomes from recent assurance reviews into a focused, measurable improvement plan, driving continuous programme enhancement.
- Integrating risk with planning, cost control, and governance, ensuring aligned, transparent reporting across portfolio stakeholders.
Essential Skills:
- Experienced risk leader from complex engineering or defence programmes, credible and trusted with senior stakeholders.
- Expert practitioner in qualitative and quantitative risk assessment, translating complex analytics into clear, incisive delivery decisions.
- Highly advanced analytical skills, synthesising risk data across projects, functions, and systems to inform leadership choices.
- Strong commercial awareness, understanding financial exposure, contingency, and business case implications of programme risk.
- Influential communicator with excellent diplomacy, able to challenge constructively while maintaining strong, collaborative relationships.
- Proven cross-functional leader and coach, developing capability across risk, supporting project teams, and growing specialist expertise.
- Degree in Business, Project Management, or related discipline or a substantial amount of practical knowledge gained through experience.
The Risk Management Team:
The Type 26 programme is a flagship UK defence initiative, delivering cutting-edge warships at national and international scale. As part of a high-performing PMO, you will join a collaborative, expert team driving innovation, governance, and delivery excellence across a complex, multi-ship programme central to the future of naval capability. The Head of Risk Management is a key part of the Type-26 PMO leadership team.
We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements. Please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role. This role is based in Scotstoun, Filton or Portsmouth, with frequent travel to Scotstoun if based at Filton or Portsmouth, working a hybrid pattern of 2-3 days per week on site.