Enterprise Risk Manager, Program Manager

The salary range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets;

experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

A reasonable estimate of the current range is :

Pay Range : $102, - $159,

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals.

The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders.

Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

Current WGU employees should submit an internal application before 12 / 20 / 2023 to be considered.

The Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Program Manager will report to the Vice-President of Institutional Portfolio Management within the Office of the CFO, and is responsible for developing, maintaining, and operating a risk management framework for the university system.

The ERM Program Manager will facilitate the identification and assessment of significant risks, lead the development of risk response strategics, and track / communicate the status of corrective actions as part of the WGU Enterprise Risk Management program.

The ERM Program Manager will be responsible for the successful operation of the WGU Risk Working Group (RWG) ensuring timely delivery of all risk management outputs, risk reduction action plans, and communications with stakeholders.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities :

Identify and evaluate any significant risks and opportunities with the help of the business areas, schools / colleges, and departments of the university system to develop risk profiles.

Explore and analyze university key performance indicators / metrics and identify risk trends to be incorporated into the risk register.

Gather risk-related data from internal and external resources and conduct analysis to identify, validate, and report emerging risks for consideration and follow-up by the WGU Enterprise Risk Committee (ERC) and or WGU Risk Working Group (RWG).

Facilitate risk workshops in order to evaluate and quantify risks and develop appropriate risk mitigation strategies and action plans.

Track open issues and corrective action plans and independently validate issue closures for effective operation of the WGU ERM Program.

Assist business areas and schools / colleges in determining action mitigation plans and recommend resourcing in order to achieve target risk reductions.

Conduct reviews to access control environments to help develop additional controls and audit programs to assist with the execution of risk mitigation plans and the ongoing improvement of the ERM program.

Educate and train university users in the concepts and international best practices in ERM to promote university risk awareness and effective risk management.

Liaise closely with the other departments in the university system to ensure proper escalation of area risks to the university ERM risk register.

Communicate regularly, formally, and informally, with risk owners and other risk subject area specialists within the university with special attention to project risk management and change risk management.

Maintain documentation and supporting templates to ensure correctness and consistency with ERM best practices. Define and maintain policies and standard operating procedures for the WGU ERM system components and users.

Lead Change Management efforts related to the ERM program including training development and methodology communications.

Directly assist with the project management of Risk Reduction action plans (including project timelines, status updates, progress support) to ensure success of the projects.

Work closely with cross functional teams as needed on Risk Reduction projects to ensure timely execution and communication of progress status.

Ensure that WGU’s risk management policies and strategies are in compliance with applicable regulations, rating agency standards and strategic initiatives of the university system.

Organize and lead the WGU Risk Working Group (RWG) to maintain a successful ERM program at WGU. Accountabilities and responsibilities of the WGU RWG include :

Promote open discussions regarding risk throughout the organization as well as the integration of risk management into the organization’s operations.

Provide directional guidance to the Enterprise Risk Management Program regarding the university’s risk appetite and tolerance for risks and approve risk appetite statements and tolerance thresholds.

Review and approve the risk register and risk tiering.

Recommend risk owners for Tier 1 risks and approve risk response plans.

Conduct an annual performance assessment relative to the Enterprise Risk Committee’s purpose, duties, and responsibilities;

consider a mix of self- and peer evaluation, supplemented by evaluations facilitated by external experts.

Monitor the risk landscape and escalate risks to the Enterprise Risk Management Program that have either (a) changed significantly and may warrant a re-assessment or are (b) new and require a new assessment due to the perceived impact to WGU.

Provide support to the ERM Program when briefing the risk profile to the Board of Trustees

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities :

Experience providing enterprise risk management services in a higher-education or similar service sector enterprise.

Experience in portfolio risk management

Professional certification in enterprise risk management or the ability to gain certification within 12 months of starting.

Professional certification in ADKAR change management or the ability to gain certification within 12 months of starting.

Excellent communication, interpersonal, leadership, coaching, and conflict resolution skills.

Problem solving skills : Investigates appropriate resources and involves partners when appropriate. Future oriented. Assesses what will help or hinder achieving goals.

Focuses on what is important.

Interpersonal skills : Deals with others in a considerate, respectful, and unbiased manner. Approaches conflict proactively.

Solicits and shares feedback openly. Listens with empathy and maintains composure.

Accuracy : Draws on facts collected from a broad knowledge of WGU’s goals and processes.

Adaptability : Corrects behaviors and communication style to meet the needs of a wide range of situations. Tackle's obstacles appropriately.

Comfortable with ambiguity.

Reliability : Accountable to others; does what it takes to get the job done. Actions are consistent with words. Follows through on commitments.

Exhibits exceptional integrity.

Attitude : Displays commitment to the organization and to personal growth. Is self-motivated and able to motivate and inspire others.

Asserts self appropriately to champion ideas. Tells the truth in a direct and constructive manner.

Initiative : Self-directs with a strong tendency for action. Leads the way to improve performance or processes. Displays keen interest in students and organization.

Working with others : Serves student or employees in a considerate, respectful and unbiased manner, approaches conflict proactively, solicits and shares feedback openly, listens with empathy and maintains composure.

Competencies :

Organizational Impact :

Responsible for implementing initiatives and projects established by university or department leadership; establishes strategic, operational plans for department, function, or office with short to mid-term impact on results.

Problem Solving & Decision Making :

Leverages a systems-thinking approach for improving entire processes and systems using significant conceptualizing, reasoning, and interpretation.

Solutions are novel and unique and draw upon the expertise and best practices.

Problems and issues are often complex, requiring broad-based consideration of variables that affect multiple departments of the University or specialties.

Scrutinizes and interprets situations to seek understanding of the root cause.

Communication & Influence :

Collaborates cross-functionally across the University and typically has responsibilities for communicating with parties external to the University.

Works to influence others to accept practices, concepts, and approaches.

Requires the ability to communicate and influence senior executive leadership regarding matters of strategic importance to the University.

Frequently conducts briefings to senior leaders both within and outside of their area.

Leadership & Talent Management

Responsible for providing guidance, coaching, and training to other employees across the University within domain-specific expertise.

Provides direction to project team members, including feedback on performance.

Demonstrates the WGU leadership principles in all aspects of service to students, employees, and partners of WGU.

The person will be the leading expert and resource within the field by peers within and outside the University.

Job Qualifications :

Minimum Qualifications :

A Masters or Bachelor Degree from an accredited institution. Education is verified.

Prosci ADKAR Change Manager Certification, or the ability to gain certification within 6 months of starting.

Applied expert understanding of ERM methodologies and the change process.

Professional experience in strategic planning, risk management and / or change management.

Proven executive communication and presentation skills in both content creation and delivery.

Preferred Qualifications :

Experience working with or implementing key risk frameworks such as COSO, ISO, or NIST preferred.

Experience working in a university or institution of higher education.

Experience developing and or launching new educational programs or offerings.

Experience with program or product lifecycle management systems.

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