Institutional Risk Manager

About the job

Primary Purpose

Oversight and facilitation of Appalachian’s Institutional Risk Management Program

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree, preferably in insurance and risk management, business, public administration, or another related field.

Preferred Qualifications

RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) certification is preferred. Experience providing insurance services or risk management services for a college or university is also preferred.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Risk Assessment and Reporting:

• Serve as primary facilitator for the university’s annual institutional risk assessment process across academic, operational, administrative, and strategic units.

• Synthesize findings from the annual risk assessment to develop, refine, and present the annual Top Risk Report for the University leadership and governance bodies.

• Develop periodic follow-up reports, dashboards, and progress updates specifically focused on risk mitigation, treatment strategies, and action plan implementation for top institutional risks.

Program Design and Governance:

• Design, build, and continuously refine a practical, scalable institution-wide Risk Management framework tailored to the institution’s current structure and capabilities.

• Facilitate discussion and support decisions made by the Risk Review Board in relation to risk identification, valuation, prioritization, and risk ownership.

• Recommend institutional policy updates or procedural enhancements to address key risk exposures identified through risk reviews.

Consultation, Analysis & Risk Advisory:

• Consult with institutional leadership to offer practical advice on the evaluation of risk across key categories (e.g., financial, operational, regulatory/compliance, reputation, and safety).

• Monitor and analyze industry trends, emerging regulatory issues, and higher-education risk events to proactively inform campus leadership about potential vulnerabilities.

• Support campus partners with initiatives and programs related to institutional risk management, as appropriate.

• Maintain knowledge of institutional insurance operations and procedures to provide backup administrative support for insurance-related activities.

Risk Education and Strategic Outreach:

• Foster a risk-aware campus culture by developing user-friendly guidance, education, and brief training materials for unit heads and risk owners.

• Prepare clear, concise presentations and brief risk updates at the request of the Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer or Vice Chancellor for Institutional Integrity.

• Partner with relevant university risk holders in support of institutional risk management and the Office of Compliance and Ethics.

VISA Sponsorship?

VISA sponsorship is not available for this position. All candidates must be eligible to work and live in the U.S.

Special Instructions to Applicants

For full consideration, please attach the required documents:

• Cover Letter

• Resume

List a minimum of 3 professional references in the application or attach a List of References with Contact Information