Main Purpose of the Job

The John Innes Centre and its NGI project team are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Risk & Insurance Manager to oversee all aspects of enterprise risk, insurance, and compliance. This critical role ensures effective risk management across the Institutes and project activities, safeguarding both scientific and operational functions while ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations and standards.

The Risk & Insurance Manager will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic risk management frameworks, maintaining risk registers, and monitoring the organisation’s risk and insurance compliance with health and safety, environmental, legal, quality, and ethical standards. This role also includes overseeing insurance policies, managing claims, and providing advice and support to NBIP work streams and institutes, as well as assisting in project risk assessments, tendering processes, and the management of outsourced insurance brokering services.

Key Relationships

This role will report into John Innes Centre Chief Operating Officer (COO) and will be working closely with members of the NGI Project team, including NGI Project Director and Legal and Governance lead. The post holder will have key relationships with Head of Facilities and the estates team as well as NBI Institute leads. 

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Enterprise Risk Management
• Develop and implement comprehensive risk management strategies to identify, assess, and mitigate risks across JIC, the wider institutes, and project activities.
• Maintain and update institutional risk registers, ensuring all identified risks are documented and managed appropriately.
• Conduct regular risk assessments and reviews, providing actionable insights to senior management.

20

Insurance Management
• Oversee the institute’s insurance programs, including policy renewals, claims management, and liaising with insurance providers.
• Support NBIP facilities in the annual insurance renewal process.
• Act as the lead on all insurance-related claims and negotiations.
• Evaluate and manage insurance requirements for new and ongoing projects, including scientific trials and construction initiatives.
• Ensure adequate coverage for all institutional assets, including building valuations and specific risk areas, while optimising policies and cover from a cost versus cover perspective.

20

Risk and Insurance Related Compliance
• Conduct gap analyses and surveys to assess risk across various departments.
• Investigate and resolve risk and insurance compliance-related issues in a timely manner.
• Stay updated on environmental standards and ensure best practices are implemented.
• Design and implement programs to enhance risk and insurance compliance-related issues and reduce risk exposure.

15

Project Risk Management
• Collaborate with project teams to identify and manage risks associated with large-scale scientific and construction projects. Specifically, NGI projects and JIC capital projects
• Provide risk management support for procurement, operational, and commercial aspects of projects.

15

Stakeholder Collaboration
• Work closely with service stream leads, including IT, Horticulture, Lab Managers, Facilities, Health & Safety, and Environment, to ensure integrated risk and compliance management.
• Maintain strong working relationships with key business partners, including AIP, funding bodies, and government agencies.

15

Reporting and Communication
• Prepare regular reports on risk, insurance, and compliance activities for senior management and stakeholders.
• Effectively communicate risk management strategies and compliance requirements across the organisation.

15

As agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the post

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.

Essential

A Master’s degree or professional certification (e.g., IRM, CII, CIRM) is preferred or equivalent.

Essential

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Strong understanding of enterprise risk management frameworks and insurance principles.

Essential

Understanding of risk management and ability to persuade others to follow best practices.

Essential

Leadership skills with the ability to inspire confidence at all levels within the business.

Essential

Excellent knowledge of Health and Safety and CDM regulations

Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Proven experience in risk management, insurance, and compliance, ideally within a scientific or research-focused organization in the UK.

Essential

Successful track record in handling insurance negotiations between clients, brokers, and insurers.

Essential

Extensive experience handling large projects and knowledge of policy wordings with an understanding of contract law.

Essential

Clear evidence of successful management experience.

Essential

Experience working on large-scale infrastructure initiatives or capital improvement programs is highly advantageous

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Essential

Excellent time management and organisational skills

Essential

Ability to build relationships and work under pressure in a dynamic environment.

Essential

Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, including the ability to present complex information with clarity

Essential

Strong commitment to deliver results and contribute meaningfully in a team environment

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Strategic thinker with a long-term perspective, capable of anticipating future needs and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

Essential

Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage competing priorities effectively.

Essential

Commitment to safety, quality, and compliance, with a dedication to upholding industry best practices and standards.

Essential

Collaborative team player who can work effectively in cross-functional teams and foster a culture of teamwork and collaboration

Essential

Attention to detail

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required

Essential

Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

John Innes Centre

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial genetics, carrying out fundamental and strategic research, to train scientists and making our findings available to society.

Our research makes use of a wide range of disciplines in the biological and chemical sciences including; cell biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics and molecular biology.

For more information about working at the John Innes Centre, please click here.

We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive working environment for all. We have a diverse and multicultural scientific community and thrive on our European and international links, appointing staff from across the world. Any candidate who would like further information on current or anticipated immigration requirements can contact the HR Team on +44 (0)1603 450888 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk.

We are proud to hold a prestigious Athena SWAN Gold award, recognising the impact of our work in promoting gender equality in science. We are also a proud member of the Stonewall Diversity Champion’s programme, a founding signatory of the Tecnician Commitment and, as a Disability Confident employer, guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852), limited by guarantee (registered in England No. 511709).

Department

Directorate

Living in Norfolk

• Visit Norfolk
• Schools in Norfolk
• Childcare in Norfolk

Risk & Insurance Manager
Salary:            £44,500 to £55,000 per annum depending on qualifications and experience.
Contract:        Full-time, indefinite.
Location:        John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK.
Closing date: [Insert closing date]
Reference:     1004875

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Risk & Insurance Manager to join the Directorate, to support the cutting-edge science of the John Innes Centre.

About the John Innes Centre:

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences. We nurture a creative, curiosity-led approach to answering fundamental questions in bioscience, and translate that knowledge into societal benefits. Our strategic vision, Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet, sets out our ambitious long-term goals for the game changing impact of our science globally. 

Our employees enjoy access to state-of-the-art technology and a diverse range of specialist training opportunities, including support for leadership and management. Click here to find out more about working at the John Innes Centre.

The role:

The John Innes Centre and the Next Generation Infrastructure (NGI) project team are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Risk & Insurance Manager to oversee all aspects of enterprise risk, insurance, and compliance.

This critical role ensures effective risk management across the Institutes and project activities, safeguarding both scientific and operational functions while ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations and standards. A key element will be overseeing insurance policies, managing claims, and providing advice and support to NBIP work streams and institutes, as well as assisting in project risk assessments, tendering processes, and the management of outsourced insurance brokering services.

The ideal candidate:

You will have a Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience, a Master’s degree or professional certification (e.g., IRM, CII, CIRM) is preferred.

You will have a strong understanding of enterprise risk management frameworks and insurance principles, as well as risk management and the ability to persuade others to follow best practices.

Candidates should have a successful track record in handling insurance negotiations between clients, brokers, and insurers. Extensive experience handling large projects and knowledge of policy wordings with an understanding of contract law is critical to this role.

The successful candidate will be Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage competing priorities effectively. They will be a strategic thinker with a long-term perspective, capable of anticipating future needs and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

Additional information:

We welcome applications from candidates seeking job-share, part-time or other flexible working arrangements.

Please note, this post does not meet UKVI requirements to provide visa sponsorship.

We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity.  As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. We are proud to hold a prestigious Gold Athena SWAN award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards advancing of gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating, diverse research environment and actively promote a family friendly workplace. The Institute is also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852) grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.