Director of Enterprise Risk Management

Director Of Enterprise Risk Management

The Director of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) provides strategic leadership for the development, implementation, and ongoing enhancement of the institution's enterprise risk management framework. Established in response to a Board of Trustees initiative, this role supports informed decision-making, institutional resilience, and effective governance by providing a comprehensive, forward-looking view of the institution's risk landscape.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director serves as a key advisor to senior leadership and the Board of Trustees, leading efforts to identify, assess, and monitor both existing and emerging risks that could impact the institution's strategic objectives.

This is a director-level individual contributor role that works collaboratively across academic and administrative units. As the ERM program matures, the role will expand to include oversight of the internal audit function.

Duties/Responsibilities

Enterprise Risk Management

• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of a comprehensive enterprise risk management framework suited to a higher education environment.
• Partner with leaders across the institution to identify, assess, and prioritize enterprise-level risks, including strategic, operational, financial, academic, compliance, reputational, environmental, and emerging risks.
• Conduct ongoing, holistic assessments of the institution's overall risk landscape, identifying trends, interdependencies, and changes in risk exposure.
• Establish and maintain processes for identifying and evaluating emerging and evolving risks through environmental scanning and stakeholder engagement.
• Develop and maintain the enterprise risk register, including risk descriptions, mitigation strategies, ownership, and monitoring metrics.
• Prepare clear, actionable risk reports and presentations for senior leadership, the Risk Committee, and the Board of Trustees.
• Integrate ERM into strategic planning, major initiatives, and decision-making processes.
• Promote a risk-aware culture by providing guidance, tools, and education to leaders and stakeholders.

Governance and Collaboration

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on enterprise and emerging risk matters.
• Collaborate with Legal, Compliance, Finance, External Affairs, Emergency Management, and other functions to ensure alignment and avoid duplication of effort.
• Support institutional resilience, continuity, and response planning efforts.
• Monitor external trends, developments, and higher education risk practices to inform the institution's risk posture.

Oversight of Internal Audit

• Provide strategic oversight of the internal audit function to ensure alignment with enterprise risks and institutional priorities.
• Support risk-based audit planning and reporting in collaboration with internal and external partners.
• Strengthen the connection between audit findings, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement efforts.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, finance, risk management, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in enterprise risk management, internal audit, compliance, governance, or a related area.
• Experience building, enhancing, or maturing risk management processes or frameworks.
• Strong analytical, facilitation, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex risk concepts for diverse audiences.
• Experience working with senior leadership and governing boards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field.
• Professional certifications such as CRMA, CPA, CIA, or similar.
• Experience in higher education, the public sector, or similarly complex organizations.
• Experience with assurance or internal audit functions.

Key Competencies

• Strategic and systems-oriented thinking
• Ability to influence without formal authority
• Sound judgment and discretion
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Comfort operating in evolving and ambiguous environments
• Collaborative, relationship-driven approach

Schedule Information

Full-time, 40 hours per week

Exempt

Hours:

Monday – Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Evenings and Weekend Work:
Occasi…