Mutual Opportunities
Head of Operational Risk Assessments and Governance
Boston, Massachusetts; Springfield, Massachusetts
Thank you to our employees for voting us one of the top places to work in Massachusetts for five consecutive years!
Overview
A career with us means you’ll work alongside exceptional people and be empowered to reach your professional and personal goals. Our employees are at the foundation of what enables MassMutual to deliver on our purpose to help people secure their futures and protect the ones they love.
We embrace the idea that we all are stronger and better through our support for one another. We strive to create a culture where employees feel valued and are celebrated for who they are.
“Since our founding in 1851, mutuality has put our policyowners at the center of everything we do. At our core, we’re a company of people helping people in their time of need, and that spirit extends to the culture we’ve built at our company. Our employees support and rely on each other each day, collaborating to deliver the best solutions for our customers and help millions more secure their future and protect the ones they love.”
Job Description
Head of Operational Risk Assessments and Governance
Full-Time
Boston, MA or Springfield, MA
The Opportunity
MassMutual is seeking a strategic and experienced risk leader to serve as Head of Operational Risk Assessments and Governance. This second line of defense role is responsible for the enterprise-wide oversight and management of process execution risk, and provides independent oversight of operational resilience, which is owned and managed by the first line of defense.
The successful candidate will lead key second line programs including risk and control assessment, non-financial risk appetite, loss event tracking, and post-incident analysis. This role plays a critical part in strengthening operational risk management practices, enhancing transparency, and driving accountability across the organization.
The Team
The Operational Risk team is a collaborative group of experienced risk managers and subject matter experts who oversee key enterprise risks, including third-party, financial reporting, fraud, business resilience, process execution, compliance, and reputation risk. Operating within a unified risk framework, they ensure consistent practices and effective oversight across the organization. Through close partnerships with business units and control functions, the team promotes a strong risk-aware culture, supports strategic decision-making, and enhances organizational resilience.
The Impact
Operational Risk Assessments
- Own and lead the enterprise-wide risk & control assessment program, ensuring consistent and comprehensive identification and assessment of process execution risks.
- Oversee the identification, assessment, and monitoring of process execution risks across business units and corporate functions.
- Collaborate with risk owners, control owners, and enterprise risk partners to ensure internal controls are documented in the enterprise GRC system and are designed to effectively prevent and detect critical process risks.
- Provide independent assessment and support for control design and mitigation strategies.
- Lead the development of scenario analysis, loss event data collection, and root cause analysis processes.
- Ensure risk assessments are comprehensive and actionable, enabling prioritization and mitigation of risks.
- Monitor emerging risks, regulatory developments, and industry trends to inform risk strategy.
Governance & Oversight
- Maintain and enhance governance frameworks for process execution risk, ensuring alignment with enterprise risk management standards.
- Provide second line oversight of operational resilience, including review and challenge of first line resilience strategies, testing outcomes, and incident response capabilities.
- Partner with internal audit, compliance, legal, and technology risk teams to ensure a coordinated approach to process execution risk oversight.
- Chair subcommittees chartered to govern and manage operational process risks across the firm.
- Drive continuous improvement in operational risk frameworks, methodologies, and governance.
Risk Reporting & Communication
- Develop and maintain risk appetite statements and key risk indicators (KRIs).
- Partner with Risk Owners to document risk treatment decisions, owners, and target dates when appetite thresholds are exceeded.
- Deliver timely, accurate, and insightful reporting to senior leadership and the Operational & Strategic Risk Committee on process execution and resilience risk exposures and trends.
- Promote transparency and accountability across the organization through effective risk reporting.
- Collaborate with operating units to evaluate and communicate the effectiveness of existing risk management practices.
- Support integration of risk insights into strategic decision-making and operational planning.
Leadership & Culture
- Lead a team of operational risk professionals with expertise in process execution and resilience oversight.
- Promote a strong risk-aware culture by embedding risk management into daily operations and decision-making.
- Partner with business leaders to embed risk management practices into day-to-day operations, including self-reporting of issues, key risk indicators, and incident reporting.
- Foster cross-functional collaboration to strengthen enterprise-wide risk capabilities and control discipline.
- Champion continuous improvement in operational risk methodologies, tools, and practices.
The Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management, Business, Operations, or related field
- 10+ years of experience in operational risk, enterprise risk, or internal controls, with at least 5+ years in a leadership role.
- Expertise in risk & control assessment programs (RCSA) and post-incident analysis.
- Experience overseeing operational resilience programs or providing second line challenge to business continuity and crisis management.
- Strong understanding of risk frameworks, regulatory expectations, and industry best practices.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence at all levels of the organization.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
- Experience with GRC platforms and risk data analytics tools.
The Ideal Qualifications
- Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
- Professional certifications such as FRM, CRMA, CBCP, or CERA are a plus.
#LI-LC1
MassMutual is an equal employment opportunity employer. We welcome all persons to apply.If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us and share the specifics of the assistance you need.
MassMutual will accept applications on an ongoing basis until such time as a candidate has been offered employment. The job description includes the main duties of this position, which may evolve over time. You may be required to perform other duties not listed.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment.
Salary Range: $172,000.00-$225,700.00
Hiring Process
Explore
Explore our open jobs by clicking 'search jobs' to find a position that aligns with your experience and skills. You may also consider joining our Talent Network.
Apply
Click the “apply” button on that job posting to complete and submit your application. Your application will be reviewed by a recruiter, which, due to the volume of applications received, may take some time as we carefully consider each application.
Screen
After your application has been reviewed, if you meet the qualifications for the role, a recruiter will reach out to you to start a conversation.
Interview
If you are invited for an interview, you will be scheduled to meet with the hiring manager and hiring team.
Offer
If you are extended an offer to join MassMutual and accept, your start will be contingent upon a satisfactory background check.
Hire
If you accept the offer, we will be so excited to welcome you to the MassMutual community!
If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us and share the specifics of the assistance you need.
By the numbers*
- 88% of employee respondents say they are proud to work at MassMutual
-
90
% of employee respondents say they feel encouraged to bring forth new ideas - 86% of employee respondents say MassMutual cares about and supports the well-being of their employees
*Source: 2024 MassMutual employee engagement survey
Award-Winning Culture
MassMutual is guided by a single purpose: We help people secure their future and protect the ones they love. As a company operated for the benefit of our members and participating policyowners, we are defined by mutuality and our vision to provide financial well-being for all Americans. It’s more than our company structure — it’s our way of life. We are a company of people protecting people. Our company exists because people are willing to share risk and resources and rely on each other when it counts.
We strive to build a thriving community where everyone is valued, included, and feels that they belong.
At MassMutual, we Live Mutual.
How We Work
MassMutual’s flexible workplace approach combines the importance of connecting in person and the flexibility of working remotely. Our hybrid model puts collaboration first with employees coming in at least three days per week to our spectacular campus settings and also enjoying the flexibility of remote Fridays, company-wide remote weeks, and a bank of flexible remote weeks to use throughout the year.
Benefits for the whole you (and your loved ones)
There’s more to your life than your job and there’s more to your aspirations than a paycheck. We take a holistic view of compensation and benefits that provides the flexibility to create a healthy balance in your life for work, family, and community. We offer the benefits you’d expect, like medical, dental, 401(k), and generous vacation time, but we also offer ones you might not expect, like three paid days for volunteering, a $1,250 annual Well-Being Wallet, and up to 320 hours of caregiver leave.
Explore some of our offerings below. Benefit details can be found here.
Why MassMutual?
Kevin
Compliance Consultant
Seth
Service Management Consultant
Kymberly
Head of Experience Journey Mapping
where we work
Springfield Office
1295 State Street, Springfield, MA
Boston Office
10 Fan Pier Blvd, Boston, MA
New York Office
2 Park Ave,
New York, NY
Virtual
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