Head Of Risk Policy And Culture

The role

The Head of Risk Policy and Culture will manage the Risk Policy and Internal Control and Risk Culture and Engagement teams, whilst working alongside the IRG Leadership and senior stakeholders to create, implement and influence a firm wide framework covering policy, standards and internal controls. 

This role will work cross-functionally, providing guidance and support to ensure policies and standards are developed to a common framework and internal controls are developed that can be tested to provide assurance. This role will also have responsibility for communicating and raising awareness of the Policy and internal control requirements across the firm. 

In addition, this role will create and implement the governance routines required to ensure the frameworks and resulting outputs (policies, standards and controls) are implemented, reviewed and periodically updated. 

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Day to day management of the Risk Policy and Internal Control and Risk Culture and Engagement teams, ensuring alignment with all people policies and standards
• Develop and shape the team’s strategy, taking into account the Risk and Resilience overall objectives
• Drive the implementation and execution of the strategy, ensuring alignment with broader organisational goals
• Creation of the frameworks covering policy, minimum standards and internal controls
• Oversee and ensure delivery to stakeholder expectations, covering the annual calendar of Risk Culture and Education activities
• Oversee the creation of templates, guidance and support for Policy and minimum standard creation, aligned to the firm’s stated risk appetite
• Develop and implement an internal controls register for the firm, working collaboratively across the business with functional control owners, internal controls Leads and with Risk & Resilience, ensuring controls are captured, documented and available for periodic testing
• Create and Implement a process and governance for the review and approval of policies on a continuous basis
• Develop the approach for roll out of new policies across all groups, countries, and departments. This includes training and awareness 
• Ensure policy owners and SMEs across the firm work with a standardised approach to all policies, reflecting the firm’s agreed risk appetite
• Develop and implement the approach to minimum standards, which translate the risk appetite and policies into actionable requirements for business units
• Manage and oversee the calendar for creating, implementing and enhancing internal control processes, including a risk and control self-assessment (RCSA) and assurance reporting process to accountable leaders
• Collaborate with Risk & Resilience & Internal Audit to ensure mitigating controls and systems are accurately recorded and updated in the Firm’s risk register(s)
• Ensure a methodical approach and taxonomy to develop the capture of controls including; control objectives, risks, testing plans, testing results, conclusions and recommendations
• Provide reporting to key committees on the status of policy, standards and controls

ABOUT YOU

• Experience of working in a risk, control, assurance or governance role in a legal, professional services or corporate environment
• Demonstrable experience with how to roll out policy frameworks and terminology
• Demonstrable experience of delivering continuous improvement in risk / control disciplines
• Strong matrix management skills, with the ability to engage with multiple teams
• Enhanced stakeholder management skills
• Experienced in presenting to senior stakeholders, Executive, Board and Risk Committees
• Proven leadership capability
• Appreciation of the benefits of strong risk management
• A personable and proactive nature, with a natural curiosity
• Excellent communication skills both verbally and written
• Must be able to write reports and briefing papers in a succinct manner
• Proficient project knowledge
• Confidence and gravitas in dealing with senior stakeholders 
• Strong organisational abilities and a self-starter
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders
• Adaptability to work alongside multiple time zones
• Proven experience of operating at a senior level in a matrix managed global organisation
• Strong understanding of Risk disciplines including risk frameworks 
• Flexibility to work both in the office and remotely, allowing for in-person meetings and engagements

ABOUT US
DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers and business service professionals located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.

OUR VALUES
In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:

• Be Supportive – we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully
• Be Collaborative – we are proactive, passionate team players investing in our relationships
• Be Bold – we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
• Be Exceptional – we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do. We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and Culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work.

Diversity of perspective, thought, background and Culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that’s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

HYBRID WORKING
We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That’s why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

PRE-ENGAGEMENT SCREENING
In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits and where relevant, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and work-related references.