Head of Enterprise Risk Management

The Opportunity

The Head of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is responsible for designing, implementing, and leading the enterprise-wide risk management program for a large Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC). This executive role partners closely with operations, project delivery, finance, legal, supply chain, HSE, and executive leadership to identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor strategic, operational, financial, regulatory, and project-related risks across the company’s portfolio. 

The role is critical to protecting the company’s financial strength, reputation, project performance, and long-term growth objectives while enabling disciplined risk-taking in support of strategic priorities. 

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Risk Leadership

• Develop and lead the company’s enterprise risk management framework, governance model, policies, and reporting structure.
• Establish a consistent methodology for identifying, assessing, prioritizing, mitigating, and monitoring risks across all business units and projects.
• Lead periodic enterprise risk assessments and maintain the corporate risk register.
• Present enterprise risk profiles, emerging risks, and mitigation strategies to executive leadership, the Board of Directors, and Audit/Risk Committees.
• Promote a strong risk-aware culture across the organization.

EPC Project & Operational Risk Management

• Partner with business development, estimating, operations, and project leadership to evaluate risk exposure on major EPC pursuits and active projects.
• Review contract structures, commercial terms, delivery strategies, joint ventures, consortium agreements, and execution plans for risk implications.
• Support risk analysis related to:
  • Large capital projects
  • Fixed-price and lump-sum contracts
  • Schedule and cost overruns
  • Supply chain disruption
  • Labor availability
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Geopolitical and commodity risks
• Develop project risk governance standards and escalation protocols for high-risk projects.

Strategic & Financial Risk Oversight

• Collaborate with finance and treasury teams on liquidity, credit, bonding capacity, and financial exposure management.
• Support M&A activities, strategic partnerships, and market expansion initiatives through risk diligence and scenario analysis.
• Assess macroeconomic, regulatory, cybersecurity, and operational resilience risks affecting the business.

Governance, Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure alignment with applicable regulatory requirements, internal controls, and governance expectations.
• Coordinate closely with Internal Audit, Legal, Compliance, HSE, and Cybersecurity functions.
• Develop ERM dashboards, metrics, key risk indicators (KRIs), and executive reporting tools.
• Coordinate closely with the Head of Security on business continuity and crisis management planning efforts.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build and lead a high-performing enterprise risk management organization.
• Mentor and develop risk professionals and project risk personnel.
• Drive continuous improvement through analytics, benchmarking, and technology-enabled risk management practices.

Key Competencies

• Executive presence and strategic leadership
• Strong commercial and contractual acumen
• Deep analytical and problem-solving capability
• Influencing and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to operate effectively in high-growth, project-driven environments
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Sound judgment and decision-making under uncertainty

Success Measures

• Reduction in enterprise and project risk exposure
• Improved predictability of project outcomes
• Effective management of claims and insurance costs
• Enhanced enterprise risk visibility and reporting
• Strong audit, compliance, and governance outcomes
• Increased organizational risk maturity

Management Responsibilities

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA, JD, or advanced technical degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in enterprise risk management, project risk, construction risk, insurance, or operational risk within EPC, industrial construction, energy, infrastructure, or related sectors.
• Significant experience supporting large-scale EPC projects.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise risk programs for complex, matrixed organizations.
• Experience presenting to executive leadership and boards.
• Strong understanding of:
  • EPC contracting models
  • Project controls and project deliver yrisk
  • Insurance and claims management
  • Regulatory and compliance frameworks
  • Operational and financial risk assessment methodologies

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Engineering, Construction Management, Risk Management, Business, or related field required.
• All applicants must be able to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.

Certifications

• Preferred Certifications

  • Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP)
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
  • Professional Engineer (PE) or equivalent technical credential preferred

Work Environment/Physical Demands

• Periodic travel to project sites and corporate offices across the United States.
• Hybrid or flexible work options may be offered after the first 90 days of employment based upon manager discretion, job performance and work assignments.
• Travel requirement: approximately 20–35%

Competencies

Salary Plan

Job Grade