Risk and Assurance Manager

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