Head of Environmental Risk

Head of Environmental Risk

We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Head of Environmental Risk, with a strong focus on climate change and biodiversity. The role requires a dynamic and strategic leader who can effectively communicate and engage with a diverse range of stakeholders across the business and the wider industry. The successful candidate will be responsible for the ongoing development and implementation of our environmental risk management framework(s), ensuring it aligns with global standards and regulatory requirements. Additionally, this role will play a crucial part in the evolution of our approach to transition planning, scenario analysis and carbon emissions reporting across Admiral Group. The aim is to help the business understand and build resilience to the impacts of climate change and other environmental impacts, and management of the Group’s environmental footprint.

Main Duties

• Risk/Opportunity Identification and Management: Lead the identification, assessment, and management of environmental risks and opportunities with a particular emphasis on climate change and biodiversity impacts across Admiral Group. Ensure these risks are integrated into the Group’s Risk Management Framework and support the business in implementing risk mitigation actions to minimize the impact of environmental risks on the business, while identifying opportunities for sustainable growth.
• Strategic Planning and Scenario Analysis: Drive the development of climate and biodiversity-related scenario analyses, incorporating physical, transitional and liability risks and opportunities into strategic decision making. Support the calculation, analysis, and reporting of emissions, ensuring alignment with global standards and regulatory requirements. Collaborate with Finance and Risk teams to integrate environmental risk considerations into Admiral’s broader strategic planning processes. Support the ongoing development of transition planning initiatives, ensuring Admiral is well prepared to adopt to a low carbon economy.  
• Regulatory Compliance and Reporting: Ensure compliance with all relevant and emerging environmental & sustainability regulations and global standards, including those related to climate risk, biodiversity and carbon emissions. Lead the preparation and submission environmental risk-related disclosures, including those required by TCFD/IRFS S1&2/CSRD and other regulatory bodies; while providing insights and strategic recommendations to senior leadership. Monitor emerging regulations and standards, ensuring the Group’s environmental risk management framework(s) remain up to date and compliant.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including senior management, regulatory bodies, industry groups, and non-governmental organisations, to stay ahead of regulatory developments and emerging trends. Provide guidance and thought leadership on environmental risk matters to the board(s) and executive teams. Act as the primary point of contact for all environmental risk matters and initiatives, representing Admiral in industry forums and working groups.
• Collaboration and Support: Work closely with Group-wide Risk, Finance, Legal and operational teams to ensure environmental risks are integrated into all relevant business processes. Provide guidance and support to business entities across the group on managing environmental risks and seizing related opportunities. Foster a culture of environmental awareness and responsibility across the group by provide training and support to build internal capabilities in environmental risk management.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Develop and maintain robust monitoring systems to track environmental risks and opportunities and their impacts on the business and the Group’s environmental footprint. Prepare regular reports and presentations on environmental risk management activities, exposures and highlighting key risks, opportunities and action taken to senior management, Risk Committee(s) and Board(s). Continuously improve the environmental risk management framework(s), ensuring it remains aligned with best practices and the evolving regulatory landscape.

Key Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• Experience in environmental risk management, sustainability, or a related field, with significant exposure to the financial services or insurance industry. Experience in leading environmental risk initiatives at a global level is highly desirable.
• Deep understanding of climate change, biodiversity, and their implications for the insurance industry. Proven ability to identify and manage the risks, opportunities, and impacts associated with these areas.
• Strong knowledge of environmental regulations, sustainability frameworks, and reporting standards (e.g., TCFD, CSRD, ISSB). Experience in regulatory reporting and the application of regulatory frameworks is essential.
• Advanced analytical skills, with experience in scenario analysis, carbon footprint calculations, and sustainability reporting. Ability to translate complex environmental data into actionable business insights.
• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization. Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex environmental issues to a non-technical audience.
• Qualified actuary or equivalent professional qualification is required.
• Additional certifications in sustainability or environmental management would be advantageous.
• A degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Risk Management, Actuarial Science, or a related field is required. A master’s degree or higher is preferred.

This is a unique opportunity to lead the environmental risk strategy for a leading FTSE insurance company at a time when sustainability and climate resilience are critical to the future of our industry. You will play a pivotal role in driving our commitment to sustainable business practices and ensuring that we remain at the forefront of environmental risk management.

Please note - we may close this vacancy early if we receive lots of applications or business priorities change.

Our Commitment to You

At Admiral, we are committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace. Admiral is proud to be an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other legally protected status.

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment.

Salary, Benefits, and Work-Life Balance

We do not have a set salary for this position, as it will be dependent on the successful candidate’s experience. We are happy to see CVs from all candidates who meet the requirements and will be happy to discuss the remuneration package.

At Admiral, we are proud to be a diverse business where we put our people and customers first. We have great benefits to ensure employees have a great work-life balance; it's one of the reasons we’re consistently voted one of the Sunday Times Best Big Companies to work for in the UK. We want you to have an element of freedom to define a working lifestyle that supports this, so accommodate flexible hours wherever possible.

All colleagues will receive 33 days holiday (including banks holidays) when they join us, and this will increase with length of service, up to a maximum of 38 days (including banks holidays). You also have the option to buy or sell up to five days of annual leave in addition to your allocation.

You can also view some of our other key benefits here.

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