Director of Risk Management

ACLU - National Office • New York, NY

13d • Hybrid

About The Position

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Director of Risk Management in the Business Operations and Support Services department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.
The Business Operations and Support Services department, in the office of the Chief Operating Officer, works to enable organizational and operational effectiveness by partnering with ACLU staff across the enterprise to provide business solutions, training, physical space planning, facilities operations, capital projects, records management and archives services. The department continually evaluates operations to maximize resources, mitigate risk, and achieve the organization’s strategic goals.
Reporting to the Deputy Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Risk Management will provide strategic leadership for the organization’s Enterprise Risk Management, Insurance, and Business Continuity functions, ensuring a coordinated and forward-looking approach to risk and resilience. This role partners closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to identify, assess, and manage enterprise risks that could impact the organization’s mission, operations, and long-term sustainability. The Director leads the development of practical, actionable strategies that strengthen preparedness, protect organizational assets, and support informed decision-making. Central to the role is aligning risk management practices with the organization’s values and mission, ensuring that how risks are assessed managed reflects programmatic and organizational value commitments.

Requirements

• Demonstrated progressive experience in risk management, insurance, business continuity, or related disciplines, including leadership or people management experience.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, managing, or maturing an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program within a complex organization.
• Proven experience establishing risk governance structures, policies, metrics, and reporting that support transparency and accountability.
• Strong working knowledge of insurance and risk financing, including coverage analysis, broker management, renewals, and claims oversight.
• Proven experience leading business continuity, disaster recovery, and crisis management planning, including plan testing and after-action improvements.
• Experience working across diverse functions and levels of an organization, with the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Strategic Risk Leadership: Ability to connect enterprise risks to organizational strategy, mission, and performance, and to guide leadership toward informed risk-based decisions.
• Risk Assessment and Analysis: Skilled in identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks using qualitative and quantitative methods, including risk registers, heat maps, and scenario analysis.
• Business Continuity and Resilience: Deep understanding of operational resilience, business impact analysis, continuity planning, and crisis response coordination.
• Insurance and Risk Transfer Expertise: Ability to evaluate coverage adequacy, negotiate terms, manage claims, and align insurance strategy with enterprise risk appetite.
• Project Management: Skilled at managing cross-functional and enterprise level projects using structured project management methodologies while balancing competing priorities, managing project risks, and ensuring clear timelines and deliverables.
• Effective and Clear Communication: Exceptional ability to communicate complex risk issues clearly and concisely to staff at all levels.
• Collaboration and Relationship Management: Trusted partner who builds strong relationships across departments, fostering shared ownership of risk and resilience.
• Change Management and Continuous Improvement: Ability to lead change, embed risk awareness into organizational culture, and continuously improve programs based on lessons learned.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead high-performing cross-functional teams of colleagues and peers in a collaborative, inclusive environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and continuously evolve the organization’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program, integrating strategic, operational, financial, compliance, and reputational risks into core decision-making.
• Partner with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to identify, assess, prioritize, and mitigate enterprise risks, ensuring clear ownership and accountability.
• Translate risk insights into actionable recommendations that support organizational strategy, resilience, and long-term sustainability.
• Embed organizational values into Enterprise Risk Management program and processes.
• Partner with the Affiliate Support and Nationwide Initiatives (ASNI) Team to support Affiliate Risk Management program development.
• Oversee the organization’s insurance program, including risk financing strategy, coverage design, renewals, claims management, broker relationships, and cost optimization.
• Ensure insurance coverage aligns with the organization’s risk profile, contractual obligations, and evolving operating environment.
• Lead the cross-functional Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery team, ensuring preparedness and leading communications for operational disruptions, emergencies, and crises.
• Manage the coordination and/or development, testing, and maintenance of business continuity plans, crisis management protocols, and recovery strategies across departments.
• Coordinate enterprise-wide business impact analyses to identify critical functions, dependencies, and recovery priorities.
• Establish clear governance, reporting, and metrics for ERM, insurance, and business continuity, providing timely risk reporting to senior leadership.
• Monitor emerging risks, regulatory changes, and industry trends, proactively adjusting risk strategies as needed.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on risk-related matters, balancing risk mitigation with mission delivery and operational flexibility

Benefits

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed