SC Cleared Senior Project Risk Manager

Project overview

Senior Project Risk Manager (Security cleared) You must hold active SC Security Clearance

Initial 6 months contract (duration is very likely to extend)

Basildon or Southampton HQ, with occasional travel to other UK sites - 2/3 days on site, the rest remote.

Up to £58 p/h Inside IR35 - £435 per day

A leading Defence prime are seeking an experienced.*Senior Project Risk Manager* to support the implementation, governance and continuous improvement of Project Risk Management across a Line of Business within its Electronics Division.

This is a senior-level opportunity for an established Project Risk Manager, Lead Risk Manager or Senior Project Controls professional who can provide independent oversight, constructive challenge and expert guidance to Integrated Project Teams (IPTs) and senior stakeholders.

You will play a key role in ensuring project risks and opportunities are identified, assessed, quantified, managed and reported effectively throughout the project lifecycle, from bid through to execution. Applying Leonardo's Risk Management framework, you will help drive informed decision-making, strengthen governance and improve confidence in project forecasts and delivery outcomes.

Working independently while building strong relationships across delivery teams, you will champion a proactive risk management culture, ensuring processes are applied consistently, proportionately and in line with corporate policy and risk appetite.

Key Responsibilities

-.*Risk Governance & Assurance:* Provide independent oversight and constructive challenge to ensure compliance with risk management policies, standards and governance requirements.

-.*Framework Implementation:* Support the development, monitoring and continuous improvement of the Risk Management framework, overseeing its effective implementation across projects.

-.*Risk Identification & Mitigation:* Work with IPTs to identify, assess and manage risks and opportunities, advising on appropriate treatment strategies and mitigation plans.

-.*Quantitative Risk Analysis:* Analyse post-treatment residual risk using statistical modelling and Monte Carlo techniques to support informed decision-making and reliable project forecasts.

-.*Contingency Management:* Support the setting, justification and ongoing management of project contingency, ensuring alignment with risk exposure and appetite, and advising when escalation is required.

-.*Reporting & Analysis:* Produce accurate, timely and decision-focused risk reports, providing clear insight to project teams and senior leadership.

-.*Risk Trends & Predictive Analysis:* Aggregate, automate and analyse risk data across projects, using AI-enabled predictive analysis where appropriate to identify emerging trends, systemic issues and opportunities for improvement.

-.*Continuous Improvement:* Analyse business processes, KPIs, KRIs, risk knowledge bases, lessons learned and internal or external audit findings to identify improvements and support effective corrective action.

-.*Risk Data Quality:* Review processes for collecting, storing and maintaining risk data, ensuring accuracy, consistency and quality.

-.*Workshops & Reviews:* Facilitate risk identification, review and assurance workshops, challenging assumptions and improving the quality and maturity of risk assessments.

-.*Coaching & Mentoring:* Provide training, guidance and mentoring to Project Risk Managers and wider project teams, embedding consistent and effective risk management practices.

-.*Stakeholder Engagement:* Support governance forums and senior stakeholders with clear, evidence-based risk insight, including ad hoc reviews of internal documentation and risk deliverables for customer submission.

-.*Audit & Assurance Support:* Contribute to internal reviews, audits and wider assurance activities as required.

What You'll Bring

• A degree in a technical or business-related subject.
• Significant experience in project or programme risk management, ideally within a complex engineering, technology or project delivery environment.
• Strong knowledge of project and enterprise risk management frameworks, standards and governance processes.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills, with experience in statistical and financial modelling.
• Practical experience of quantitative risk analysis, including Monte Carlo simulation techniques.
• A sound understanding of project contingency setting, justification and management in line with risk exposure.
• The ability to interpret complex risk information and translate it into clear, actionable insight for project teams and senior stakeholders.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint and Word, with the ability to analyse and present risk data effectively.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence senior stakeholders and constructively challenge project teams.
• Experience facilitating workshops and presenting complex technical information to large groups.
• The ability to coach, mentor and develop individuals and teams in both one-to-one and group settings.
• A proactive approach to continuous improvement, governance and the development of a strong risk-aware culture.

Project details

• Start: flexible
• Location: Southampton, UK, GB
• Rate: 58-58 EUR/h