Chief Risk Officer

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organisations.  

The Chief Risk Officer in a new role, based at the UNOPS HQ in Copenhagen. Reporting to the Director of Finance and Administration, the role encompasses the leadership and oversight of the Risk Management Unit, including the following corporate functions: enterprise risk management, internal controls, information security and corporate insurance. It provides leadership in both a management and advisory role with the overall responsibility for:

• A coherent and joined up UNOPS corporate risk management approach and governance; for a broad range of corporate risks (e.g. financial, cyber security, information security, project delivery practices, legal, HR/people, supply chain, health & safety, security, reputational risks etc.)

• Corporate risk identification, analysis, monitoring and reporting.

• Providing an advisory and support service to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in defining risk appetite for UNOPS, fostering a risk management  mindset and driving a risk thought process into the strategic and cross-functional decision making.

• Shaping the strategic corporate risk management efforts, incl. a proactive tackling of current as well as future corporate risks and the risk management coordination.

• Strengthening the links between operational level risks and corporate level risks, with the view of ensuring systemic/holistic risk management and issue prevention.

• Partnering with HQ and Regional stakeholders in enabling an effective risk management, (e.g. providing advice, developing capability and providing practical tools).

Function leadership

• Develops the Corporate Risk Management strategy and oversees the development and implementation of coherent and robust corporate risk management approaches, frameworks and tools.

• Sets the risk management governance for corporate risks; leads the execution of that governance.

• Strengthens the links between project engagement level risks, operational level risks and corporate level risks, with the view of ensuring systemic/holistic risk management and issue prevention.

• Leads the effort of designing and implementing relevant corporate risk management procedures. 

• Ensures risk management frameworks, policies and procedures are fit for purpose and executed effectively.

Strategic advisory and business partnering

• Acts as a subject matter expert on all aspects for corporate risk management.

• Advises and supports the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in defining risk appetite for UNOPS.

• Provides strategic advice and practical support to the SLT on structuring the corporate risk identification, reporting and potential action plan definition. Ensures a clear view of trends and makes recommendations for dealing with the root causes or corporate risks and issues. 

• Based on organisational risk trends, makes recommendations to the SLT in the effort to drive a risk thought process into the strategic and cross-functional decision making.

• Proactively, as well as in response to requests, acts as a partner and advisor to senior stakeholders in HQ and in the Regions, enabling their effective risk management.

• Forms effective working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders to ensure they understand their risk management responsibilities and feel supported and equipped in the risk management responsibilities.

• Works in close collaboration with relevant HQ stakeholders (e.g. Policyholders/Groups, in particular Implementation Practices and Standards/IPS and the Engagement Acceptance Committee), in the effort to support them in putting in place guidance, systems and procedures for  managing operational level risks.

• Works in close collaboration with IPS to improve the linkages between operational risks and corporate level risks so as to better identify, process and manage engagement risks that have the potential to impact corporate risks and evolve into corporate issues (and write offs), and to ensure the two risk lenses are part of a cohesive structure, process and system supported by an appropriate ERM approach. 

• Oversees the implementation of any corporate risk management initiatives, across the regional portfolios and other units - as applicable.

• Partners with other relevant HQ functions (e.g. Legal,  Ethics & Compliance, Internal Audit & Investigations, IT, External Comms, Chief Security Officer, Health & Safety as well as relevant review committees), to ensure a holistic and coordinated approach to managing corporate risks, thus enabling positive risk management outcomes.

Operational management

• Leads and oversees the work of the Risk Management Unit.

• Sets the annual work plan for the Risk Management Unit, objectives, performance measurements, standards and results expected and ensures their effective implementation,  continually evaluating the unit's activities/initiatives to ensure alignment with organisational strategic plans, relevant frameworks and standards. 

• Assume responsibility for the performance and efficacy of the corporate Risk Management Unit and take decisions and/or recommend to the Director Finance & Administration appropriate changes in operations to enhance/maximise results.

• Manages and develops the team with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance and encourage the formation of diverse teams.

• Promotes teamwork and collaboration by providing the team with clear direction, objectives and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently. 

• Fosters a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensures that the highest standards of conduct are observed.

Knowledge management, capability development and innovation

• Driving and coordinating  impactful risk management capacity building and risk awareness raising, incl. comprehensive and well coordinated training, communications and awareness raising initiatives - to manage various types of corporate risks, ultimately aiming for their prevention.

• Nurtures a global network for risk management collaboration and sharing of  the best practice approaches, tools. innovative solutions and lessons learned.

• Promotes best practice and standards for risk management. Ensures that all relevant personnel know and understand their risk management obligations.

• Follows emerging risk management approaches, stays up-to-date with trends and applies best practice.

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a relevant field is required

• A first-level university degree with a minimum of two (2) additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

• Minimum of 10 years of risk management experience, acquired in an international environment is required. 

• Experience working in the international development and/or public sectors is desirable.

• Proven track record of strong communication and stakeholder management skills across levels and across a broad range of stakeholders is required.

• Building and sustaining effective collaborative relationships across different functions. Ability to manage conflicting priorities whilst implementing impactful solutions is required.

• Proven track record of implementing robust and pragmatic risk management frameworks and mechanisms as well as growing an effective risk-management corporate culture is desirable.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.