Risk and Resilience Officer
| Posting date: | 24 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 10 March 2026 |
| Location: | Newcastle, NE1 7RU |
| Company: | Newcastle University |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 29114-43993231 |
Summary
We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.
The Role
Newcastle University is looking to appoint an experienced Risk & Resilience Officer to join the Legal Services team and strengthen the University’s approach to risk, resilience and business continuity.
Reporting to the Head of Risk & Compliance you will play a key role in ensuring that the University has effective mechanisms in place to identify and respond to emerging risks or interruptions to its operations. Working with a wide range of stakeholders you will strengthen the University’s risk and business continuity arrangements and frameworks.
The ideal candidate will have worked in a risk or resilience role previously, preferably in the Higher Education Sector or another large complex organisation. You will be approachable and efficient, remaining calm under pressure, prioritising your own workload and at times working to tight deadlines. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential in order to successfully build relationships across the institution with a strategic and analytical approach you will be capable of driving continuous improvement, change and operational excellence, is essential.
This is an exciting role that cuts across the whole University, you will have the opportunity to work closely with senior leaders, ensuring that risk and resilience arrangements are robust and aligned with best practice across the Higher Education sector.
There will be a requirement to be on site in Newcastle for part of the week and there may be occasional work required outside of normal office hours.
For informal enquiries, please contact Kelly Oliver, Head of Risk and Compliance at Kelly.oliver2@newcastle.ac.uk. To apply, please upload an up-to-date CV and letter of application outlining specific examples around how you meet the requirements set out in the Job Description.
The post is full time, permanent.
Reporting to the Head of Risk and Compliance, you will take the operational lead in the implementation of the University’s risk and resilience framework.
You will strengthen the University’s risk and resilience arrangements, contributing towards a risk-informed organisation that is able to consider, assess, and respond to risk or business interruptions across all activities. Working with a wide range of stakeholders from across the University, you will facilitate high-quality and high-impact risk information, to support decision-making and ultimately the successful achievement of strategic objectives.
Key Accountabilities
Support the Head of Risk and Compliance with the facilitation and coordination of risk management across the organisation providing professional advice when required
Champion a positive risk culture by ensuring that risk registers and key aspects of the risk management framework (risk policy and risk appetite statement) are regularly reviewed and maintained
Ensure that the University has effective mechanisms to identify emerging risks to its strategy and operations. Take responsibility for the coordination of activity to review, develop and maintain top level risk registers and risk reporting to support the delivery of the University Strategic Plan
Contribute to the facilitation and coordination of business continuity activity across the University
Ensure key aspects of our business continuity management framework (business continuity policy, resilience plans, and incident management plans) are regularly reviewed and maintained
Lead continuous improvement of the University’s risk, resilience and business continuity activities, ensuring that systems and processes are fit for purpose
Liaise with colleagues across the University to ensure risk and resilience arrangements are effectively aligned and embedded within key processes
Take the lead in ensuring that business continuity and local incident plans are up to date, tested, and exercised. Work closely with colleagues to ensure critical activities are identified, business impact is understood, risk/threat assessments are undertaken and recovery plans are developed and implemented which align with the needs of the University
Ensure that the University Emergency Management Plan resources are maintained and that the responding teams and Incident Officers have suitable training
Support senior teams in coordinating the response to a major emergency or incident
Lead continuous improvement of the University’s risk management framework, ensuring that systems, processes and actions are fit for purpose
Research best practice and maintain an up to date knowledge of risk management and compliance issues and a network of contacts
Establish and manage effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders communicating relevant information within the University and externally when appropriate
Represent the University externally including on regional and national risk and resilience networks and similar groups as required
Where appropriate, report to the University Executive on areas of responsibility, including identifying and reporting on emerging issues and proposing solutions
Maintain memberships of relevant professional bodies and undertake CPD to ensure remain current with developments in the profession
The Person
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Experience of working in a risk and resilience role
In-depth knowledge of risk and resilience issues and emerging threats relevant to the higher education sector
Experience of developing and implementing risk and resilience management systems and frameworks
Experience of training colleagues and delivering effective presentations
Experience of developing and implementing policy and guidance
The ability to deal with and communicate with a wide range of stakeholders
Attributes and Behaviour
An ability to effectively persuade and influence
Excellent communication skills, ability to deliver advice in an appropriate and professional manner
The ability to build effective working relationships internally & externally
The ability to work alone or as part of a team
The ability to think strategically and critically
Horizon-scanning and working proactively to support the development of University policy and emergency preparedness.
A knowledge of change management techniques and experience of delivery
An ability to prioritise workload, deliver on time and to tight deadlines
A high level of tact and discretion.
Willing to occasionally work outside normal hours when the need arises
Qualifications
Educated to degree level or equivalent
Desirable
Membership of the Institute Risk Management/Business Continuity Institute or equivalent
The Role
Newcastle University is looking to appoint an experienced Risk & Resilience Officer to join the Legal Services team and strengthen the University’s approach to risk, resilience and business continuity.
Reporting to the Head of Risk & Compliance you will play a key role in ensuring that the University has effective mechanisms in place to identify and respond to emerging risks or interruptions to its operations. Working with a wide range of stakeholders you will strengthen the University’s risk and business continuity arrangements and frameworks.
The ideal candidate will have worked in a risk or resilience role previously, preferably in the Higher Education Sector or another large complex organisation. You will be approachable and efficient, remaining calm under pressure, prioritising your own workload and at times working to tight deadlines. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential in order to successfully build relationships across the institution with a strategic and analytical approach you will be capable of driving continuous improvement, change and operational excellence, is essential.
This is an exciting role that cuts across the whole University, you will have the opportunity to work closely with senior leaders, ensuring that risk and resilience arrangements are robust and aligned with best practice across the Higher Education sector.
There will be a requirement to be on site in Newcastle for part of the week and there may be occasional work required outside of normal office hours.
For informal enquiries, please contact Kelly Oliver, Head of Risk and Compliance at Kelly.oliver2@newcastle.ac.uk. To apply, please upload an up-to-date CV and letter of application outlining specific examples around how you meet the requirements set out in the Job Description.
The post is full time, permanent.
Reporting to the Head of Risk and Compliance, you will take the operational lead in the implementation of the University’s risk and resilience framework.
You will strengthen the University’s risk and resilience arrangements, contributing towards a risk-informed organisation that is able to consider, assess, and respond to risk or business interruptions across all activities. Working with a wide range of stakeholders from across the University, you will facilitate high-quality and high-impact risk information, to support decision-making and ultimately the successful achievement of strategic objectives.
Key Accountabilities
Support the Head of Risk and Compliance with the facilitation and coordination of risk management across the organisation providing professional advice when required
Champion a positive risk culture by ensuring that risk registers and key aspects of the risk management framework (risk policy and risk appetite statement) are regularly reviewed and maintained
Ensure that the University has effective mechanisms to identify emerging risks to its strategy and operations. Take responsibility for the coordination of activity to review, develop and maintain top level risk registers and risk reporting to support the delivery of the University Strategic Plan
Contribute to the facilitation and coordination of business continuity activity across the University
Ensure key aspects of our business continuity management framework (business continuity policy, resilience plans, and incident management plans) are regularly reviewed and maintained
Lead continuous improvement of the University’s risk, resilience and business continuity activities, ensuring that systems and processes are fit for purpose
Liaise with colleagues across the University to ensure risk and resilience arrangements are effectively aligned and embedded within key processes
Take the lead in ensuring that business continuity and local incident plans are up to date, tested, and exercised. Work closely with colleagues to ensure critical activities are identified, business impact is understood, risk/threat assessments are undertaken and recovery plans are developed and implemented which align with the needs of the University
Ensure that the University Emergency Management Plan resources are maintained and that the responding teams and Incident Officers have suitable training
Support senior teams in coordinating the response to a major emergency or incident
Lead continuous improvement of the University’s risk management framework, ensuring that systems, processes and actions are fit for purpose
Research best practice and maintain an up to date knowledge of risk management and compliance issues and a network of contacts
Establish and manage effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders communicating relevant information within the University and externally when appropriate
Represent the University externally including on regional and national risk and resilience networks and similar groups as required
Where appropriate, report to the University Executive on areas of responsibility, including identifying and reporting on emerging issues and proposing solutions
Maintain memberships of relevant professional bodies and undertake CPD to ensure remain current with developments in the profession
The Person
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Experience of working in a risk and resilience role
In-depth knowledge of risk and resilience issues and emerging threats relevant to the higher education sector
Experience of developing and implementing risk and resilience management systems and frameworks
Experience of training colleagues and delivering effective presentations
Experience of developing and implementing policy and guidance
The ability to deal with and communicate with a wide range of stakeholders
Attributes and Behaviour
An ability to effectively persuade and influence
Excellent communication skills, ability to deliver advice in an appropriate and professional manner
The ability to build effective working relationships internally & externally
The ability to work alone or as part of a team
The ability to think strategically and critically
Horizon-scanning and working proactively to support the development of University policy and emergency preparedness.
A knowledge of change management techniques and experience of delivery
An ability to prioritise workload, deliver on time and to tight deadlines
A high level of tact and discretion.
Willing to occasionally work outside normal hours when the need arises
Qualifications
Educated to degree level or equivalent
Desirable
Membership of the Institute Risk Management/Business Continuity Institute or equivalent