Head of Risk

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND

Plan International is an independent humanitarian and development organization advancing children’s rights and equality for girls. It operates in more than 80 countries and supports children and communities affected by poverty, discrimination, exclusion and humanitarian crises.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Head of Risk will lead and strengthen Plan International’s global enterprise-risk-management approach. The position will ensure that risks and opportunities are considered in strategic, operational and investment decisions.

The role will promote risk management as a tool for innovation, resilience, growth and organizational impact, rather than only as a compliance or control function. The post holder will advise senior leaders and governance bodies concerning emerging risks, organizational exposure, risk appetite and opportunities where informed risk-taking may generate greater impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the continued improvement and implementation of Plan International’s global enterprise-risk-management framework.
• Strengthen an organizational culture where risks and opportunities are actively identified, assessed and managed.
• Integrate risk and opportunity analysis into strategic and operational decision-making.
• Advise senior leadership, governance bodies and management teams concerning emerging risks and organizational exposure.
• Help leaders understand the potential consequences of action, inaction and investment decisions.
• Translate complex risk information into practical strategic recommendations.
• Promote informed risk-taking that supports innovation, organizational value and programme impact.
• Strengthen organizational resilience across Plan International’s diverse international operations.
• Lead Plan International’s global insurance and risk-transfer strategy.
• Oversee the procurement and management of the organization’s global insurance programme.
• Ensure insurance arrangements provide value for money and support operational and strategic objectives.
• Ensure insurance and risk-transfer arrangements meet applicable legal, governance and compliance requirements.
• Manage and support a small specialist risk team.
• Maintain effective relationships with insurers, brokers and other external partners.
• Ensure the organization remains appropriately protected while retaining the flexibility required to deliver impact.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Significant senior-level experience in enterprise risk management and insurance within an international organization.
• Demonstrated experience supporting complex strategic decisions.
• Proven ability to identify, assess and advise on organizational risk.
• Experience translating risk insights into strategic opportunities and organizational value.
• Experience helping leaders take informed risks rather than focusing exclusively on risk avoidance.
• Relevant qualification in Risk Management.
• Specific degree requirement: Not specified.
• Minimum number of years of experience: Not specified.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Enterprise risk management.
• Global insurance and risk-transfer management.
• Strategic decision support.
• Risk-appetite analysis.
• Emerging-risk identification and assessment.
• Governance and compliance.
• Strong analytical ability.
• Ability to communicate complex risk information clearly.
• Excellent influencing and negotiation skills.
• Senior stakeholder management.
• Ability to manage complexity with clarity and focus.
• Effective leadership and team-management skills.

CONTRACT DETAILS

• Employment type: Permanent full-time or maximum fixed-term contract, depending on the employing office’s conditions.
• Location: Flexible within a country where Plan International has an employing office, including Nigeria.
• Work authorization: Applicants must already have the right to live and work in the proposed employing country.
• Reports to: General Counsel.
• Salary and benefits: Not specified.
• Number of positions: Not specified.
• Publication date: 24 July 2026.
• Closing date: 7 August 2026.

SAFEGUARDING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Plan International provides equal opportunities regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil-partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International promotes racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights, diversity and inclusion.

Pre-employment checks will be conducted in accordance with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy. The organization participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and may request information from former employers concerning findings or investigations involving sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment.

Plan International does not request payment from candidates during recruitment.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Applicants must apply through Plan International’s official recruitment portal before 7 August 2026. Required application documents are not specified on the accessible vacancy page. Early application is strongly advisable because the closing date is approaching.