Head of Risk and Assurance

About the organisation

Marie Curie is a major UK charity focused on end-of-life care. It is the country’s largest non-NHS provider in this space, operating across all four nations and supporting people through community nursing, hospice care, and practical information about dying, death, and bereavement. The organisation also carries out research to improve understanding of end-of-life care and campaigns for a better quality of life for people living with a life-limiting illness.

About the role

The Risk & Compliance function helps the charity meet legal and regulatory responsibilities while managing organisational risk effectively. The team works across risk management, internal audit, compliance, and insurance to support safe and effective operations.

Marie Curie is hiring a Head of Risk and Assurance to lead the development and delivery of a strong risk and assurance approach across the charity. In this new senior position, you will work with directors, functional heads, and risk owners to review the risk portfolio, strengthen governance, and make sure the organisation remains aligned with legislative and regulatory duties. This role offers the chance to shape how risk and assurance are embedded across the charity.

Key responsibilities

• Work with the Director of Governance, Risk and Compliance to build stronger assurance frameworks and improve organisation-wide risk management.
• Support the development, upkeep, and effective use of the Board Assurance Framework so strategic priorities are protected and board reporting is clear and reliable.
• Advise risk owners on identifying, assessing, recording, analysing, and tracking risks accurately across the charity.
• Continuously improve risk management practices and help strengthen resilience, maturity, and risk culture.
• Connect risk work with assurance, planning, performance, strategy, and other related functions to support solid governance.
• Lead a team made up of Senior Compliance Managers and a Senior Risk and Assurance Manager.

Requirements

• Substantial experience in a comparable senior risk management role within a complex organisation.
• A strong record of senior-level strategic thinking and decision-making, including regular engagement with executive leadership.
• Practical experience embedding risk and compliance into day-to-day operations.
• Proven ability to lead teams, build development plans, and encourage collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Confidence in dealing with sensitive matters with discretion, tact, and sound judgement.
• Excellent influencing, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills for managing difficult stakeholder relationships.
• Professional risk or assurance qualifications such as IRM, ICA, IIA, ISO-based credentials, or equivalent.

Application process

Applicants will need to submit a CV and supporting details online. The charity asks candidates to read both the advert and the job description carefully and explain the experience, skills, and knowledge most relevant to the role. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 15 July, and the organisation may close the vacancy early if enough suitable applications are received.

Contract and working pattern

This is a permanent, full-time position based in London. The working model is hybrid, with two days each week at the Embassy Gardens headquarters in Vauxhall, London.

Salary

The pay range is £74,500 to £85,000 per year, depending on experience.

Benefits

• Flexible working arrangements, discussed at interview stage.
• 25 days of annual leave, excluding bank holidays.
• Employer pension matching up to 7.5% through the group personal pension scheme.
• Loan schemes for bikes, computers, and season tickets.
• Access to continuous professional development opportunities.
• Industry-leading training programmes.
• Wellbeing support and employee assistance programmes.
• Enhanced bereavement, family-friendly, and sickness benefits.
• Blue Light Card membership access.
• Subsidised eye care.

Values and inclusion

Marie Curie says its values shape its decisions, its teamwork, and the way it cares for people. The charity is committed to providing a safe, supportive, inclusive, and rewarding environment for staff and volunteers, and it uses safeguarding measures to help protect people from harm. It also aims to reduce its environmental impact by embedding sustainability into everyday choices.

The organisation is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and welcomes applicants from all cultures, perspectives, and lived experiences. Reasonable adjustments can be made during the recruitment process for anyone who needs support. Every application is reviewed personally by a member of the Talent Acquisition team, and candidates are asked to submit an authentic application that reflects their own experience, perspective, and voice.