Compliance, Risk and Assurance Lead - Rail Services

Rail Services Compliance, Risk and Assurance Lead – Hybrid working option with travel across the businesses required

Reporting to: ESG Director – Rail Services  

Contract: Permanent

Location: Crewe

Closing Date:                                                               

The Rail Services division supports our four business areas of Grand Central (GC) which is an open access train operator linking the North East and West Yorkshire with London, Arriva TrainCare (ATC) who are a rapidly growing train maintenance company, Arriva Road Transport Services (ARTS) who are the rail replacement operator within the Arriva Group and RTS infrastructure, a rail infrastructure company.

We have a fantastic opportunity to join the Arriva team as a Compliance, Risk and Assurance Lead based out of our Crewe offices to help support our Rail Services Business. As a Compliance, Risk and Assurance Lead, you will use your experience and influence to drive the standardisation, assurance, and continuous improvement of enterprise risk management, corporate policy compliance, and data protection across Rail Services..

The Role – Compliance, Risk and Assurance Lead

Reporting to the ESG Director – Rail Services, you will ensure a consistent, effective, and efficient approach to risk, fully aligned with Arriva Group standards. Acting as a trusted advisor, you will enhance risk maturity, strengthen compliance culture, and deliver clear, insight-led assurance across a complex, multi-entity environment.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead enterprise risk management, corporate policy compliance, and data protection performance across Rail Services
• Provide high-quality, timely reporting to Group and Rail Services Executive
• Ensure robust control frameworks and assurance processes are embedded and effective
• Own risk visibility across all Rail Services businesses
• Build and sustain a strong risk and compliance culture
• Maintain audit readiness and ensure timely closure of all audit actions

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted advisor to the Rail Services Executive and ESG Director
• Drive a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement

• Own and evolve the enterprise risk management framework for Rail Services
• Lead quarterly risk reviews and embed consistent risk disciplines
• Ensure clear identification, assessment, and mitigation of risks and controls
• Deliver insight-driven risk reporting and act as UKT Risk Champion
• Build risk capability across the organisation through coaching and development

• Own and continuously improve the compliance framework
• Lead Group submissions and compliance reporting

• Provide oversight of data protection and retention practices
• Act as escalation point for data protection complex issues

• Design and deliver a risk-based assurance programme
• Coordinate with Internal Audit and ensure timely action closure

Full job description is available on request

Our Requirements – Compliance and Risk Manager  

• Significant management experience in risk, compliance, or governance within a complex organisation
• Expertise in enterprise risk management frameworks and practices
• Strong working knowledge of corporate compliance and data protection requirements
• Proven ability to influence at Executive level and operate with high autonomy
• Track record of driving change, improving maturity, and embedding culture
• Excellent stakeholder management, analytical, and communication skills
• Pragmatic, outcome-focused approach aligned to risk appetite
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to operate across multiple business units and Group

How to Apply

All applications for this vacancy are to be submitted online.

If you have applied and been rejected for this role or a role with a similar skill set in the last 6 months, we will not re-consider you for this position. After 6 months, we will treat your application as a new one.

Due to the energising nature of our vacancies, application close dates, when stated, are indicative and may be subject to change so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Shortlisting of applications and interviews for this role will take place while the advert is live; the advert will close once the successful candidate is found. Candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

We acknowledge the importance of our people's diverse experiences, talents, and cultures. Embracing diversity and inclusion is a key component of our talent strategy. The creation of a diverse, inclusive workforce is central to our ability to unlock potential and enhance our success.