What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Risk Management position at Oberlin?
The Director of Risk Management (“Director”) at Oberlin College, reporting directly to the Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary (“VPGC&S”), has overall responsibility for the college’s risk management program. The Director works closely with senior leadership to develop a sustainable framework, tools, practices, and policies to identify, analyze, manage, monitor, and report key risk management issues. The Director of Risk Management provides oversight for implementing cost-effective strategies to mitigate exposure and efficiently protect the college’s assets and integrity. This position involves significant discretion and involvement with internal and external stakeholders to advance institutional practices, promote compliance, and support the college’s mission.
Responsibilities
Risk Management
- Support the identification and prioritization of pertinent risks affecting the college to determine the most effective methodology for insulating the college from risk of loss and enhancing the college’s ability to weigh and pursue opportunities.
- Recommend process improvements to support accurate, relevant, and timely risk management reporting.
- Collaborates with the Executive Leadership Team and institutional constituents at all levels to determine and maintain an appropriate tolerance for risk.
- Support the establishment and monitoring of risk identification, assessment, and reporting across the college to ensure full engagement of the college’s risk strategies, report key risks, and support the development of risk treatments in collaboration with risk owners and stakeholders. Understand the alignment between effective risk treatment and the successful execution of organizational priorities.
- Develop and implement college risk management policies and procedures designed to mitigate risk and support college strategies around claim management, loss prevention and control, risk transfer, and monitoring the effectiveness of safety and compliance programs.
- Lead risk management committee meetings, govern or serve on working groups for focused analysis and development of risk management/remediation plans.
- Facilitate the integration of risk management policy and strategy into all business activities across the college, including encouraging and elevating the consideration of risk management in key financial and operational decisions.
Insurance (in close collaboration with the Department of Finance & Administration)
- Support various Department of Finance & Administration activities related to the college’s property and casualty (P&C) and liability insurance programs.
- Review property and casualty liability risk exposures relative to existing insurance and coverages available. Recommends changes where appropriate.
- In close collaboration with the Department of Finance & Administration, develop guidelines that address minimum insurance requirements for vendor contracts; and establish contractual risk · transfer guidelines. Support the review of major contracts for risk language and negotiate changes as needed.
Board of Trustees Support
- Provide support to the Board of Trustees, including the Audit & Risk Management Committee.
- Coordinate the periodic review of and recommend modifications to board-approved business and risk-related policies.
- Prepare and present materials to the Board of Trustees, and at the direction of the VPGC&S, effectively communicate and present critical risk management matters.
VP, General Counsel & Secretary Support
- Assist with the management and completion of OGC and Board projects, as necessary.
- Assist with the development and preparation of information and materials for meetings and presentations.
- Perform such other duties as may be assigned.
Essential Job Functions
Marginal Job Functions
Required Qualifications
- The successful candidate will have:
- Bachelor’s degree in risk management, business, or related field from an accredited institution.
- Experience in higher education or similarly complex organization.
- Working knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of risk management.
- Effective written and public speaking skills with the ability to regularly interact with diverse audiences at all levels of responsibility and authority.
- Previous success leading initiatives without direct supervisory authority and making decisions by fostering collaboration, gathering stakeholder input, and building consensus to include and persuade people who are not in a direct line of control.
- Excellent relationship management skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with key stakeholders, facilitate and coordinate partnerships among diverse groups.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite.
Desired Qualifications
- Five (5) years experience in higher education risk management, compliance, or audit.
- Enterprise Risk Management experience.
- Recognized professional risk management certification (i.e., ARM, CRM) or training appropriate for the portfolio of this position.
- Proven track record of driving change across organizational boundaries and influencing without direct authority.
- Organizational design and management consulting experience is a plus.
CORE COMPETENCIES:
- A record of integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness
- Skill in managing, monitoring, and measuring work performance and progress towards goals.
- Ability to work cooperatively and professionally with co-workers.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
- Skill as a strong listener and ability to communicate effectively in a manner that helps drive consensus and enhance risk awareness.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate (oral and written) at all levels across an organization.
- Ability to think broadly and strategically.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment in a variety of situations.
- Solution-oriented; able to exercise creativity within constraints in service of the best possible outcome for both customers and employees.
- Ability to thrive in a dynamic, ambiguous, and customer-focused environment.
- A flexible and agile professional who exercises sound judgement.
- Proven business and planning acumen.
- Analytical with a results-orientation.
- A leadership style that demonstrates effective team building.
- A professional approach that reflects humility.
- Responsible and accountable professional with a high degree of skill in project management supported by attention to detail and the ability to synthesize complex data for various audiences.
- Demonstrated collaborative approach to work with creative problem-solving capabilities.
- Understanding of, sensitivity to, and respect for the diverse academic, socio-economic, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, disability, and sexual orientation of institutional students, faculty, staff, alumni, and stakeholders.
Compensation
Within the range established for this position, salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes an excellent benefits package.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Completed application will consist of a cover letter, resume, and list of references.
Documents Needed to Apply
Required Documents
Optional Documents
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- List of References
