James Stevens Associates are delighted to be working with a Social Housing organisation based in Buckinghamshire that are now looking to bolster their Governance department with a Risk & Assurance Management Professional on a 12 month fixed term contract.
Overview:
* Role: Risk & Assurance Manager
* Hybrid (Buckinghamshire – minimum 2 days onsite)
* 12-month Fixed Term Contract – Potential to move permanently
* Salary: £54,778
* 35-hour week with reduced Hours on Fridays: 1.00pm Finish
Why Work for them:
Joining the organisation as a Risk & Assurance Manager means more than managing frameworks and compliance, it’s about making a tangible difference in people’s lives. As a community-based / charitable housing organisation, they are committed to building sustainable communities and working with tenants.
Benefits Include but not limited to:
* Flexible & hybrid working options to balance work and personal priorities
* Ad hoc flexibility: extended day, school run, life admin breaks, making up time later
* 35-hour week pilot: Mon–Thu full days, Fri finish at 1pm
* 26 days annual leave + 8 UK Bank Holidays, increasing with service up to 29 days
* Carry forward up to 5 days leave; buy/sell up to 5 days annually
* Pension: 3% employee + 8% employer; 4%+ employee = 10% employer
* Staff development via training and Video Arts platform
* Simplyhealth cashback: dental, eye care, GP visits, diagnostics, prescriptions, chiropody, hospitalisation, baby payment
* 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) via Health Assured
* Occupational Health support for illness/injury
* Life Assurance: 3x salary to nominated beneficiary
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Risk & Assurance Manager to join the organisations Governance team, playing a pivotal role in strengthening organisational risk management and ensuring GDPR compliance. This role is approximately 70% Risk Management and 30% Data Protection, operating within the Three Lines of Defence model.
The successful candidate will provide assurance to the Board, challenge senior leaders, and embed best practice across the organisation.
* Lead and enhance organisational risk management activities, including ownership of the Risk Management Framework
* Oversee strategic risks, appetite and tolerance statements, and operational registers
* Challenge and validate existing risk mitigations and controls; verify that stated controls genuinely exist
* Conduct business assurance work, including risk mapping, testing, and embedding operational risk practices
* Prepare and present reports to the Board, Audit & Risk Committees, and Senior Leadership Team
* Provide evidence-based challenge on real vs perceived risks
* Oversee GDPR compliance: advise on legislation, manage subject access requests, review practices, and deliver training programmes
* Collaborate with internal audit to bridge gaps between audit findings and risk reporting
* Keep abreast of regulatory and legislative changes, advising on impact and compliance ahead of change
* Report on external benchmarking data (housing market analysis, sector risk profile, Ombudsman reports, legal updates) to inform policies and service delivery
* Assist in delivering training and briefings on statutory and legislative issues to leadership and committees
* Design and implement a comprehensive Business Assurance Framework
Candidate Profile
* Significant risk management experience is mandatory
* Graduate calibre or relevant risk management qualification
* Strong knowledge of GDPR legal and regulatory requirements, with proven compliance experience
* Preferred: housing sector experience; transferable sector experience considered (well regulated sectors)
* Background in internal audit acceptable
* Gravitas and confidence to challenge senior leaders and present at board level
* Resilient, with the ability to push back appropriately
* Highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to prioritise in a busy environment
* Constructive communicator with strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach