Risk Management Officer

Information Sheet

 

What is a Risk Management Officer?

 

A Risk Management Officer is a member of your executive team who serves as the point of contact for your organization on risk management issues.  This officer will work with your advisor (s), the Office of Student Life, and other leaders within your organization to identify risk issues for your organization and develop appropriate responses.  Some of the job functions of this position may include:

 

§         Raising awareness of risk issues

§         Coordinating training and education on risk management

§         Facilitating discussions on risk management

§         Developing policies and procedures to address risk issues

§         Producing and/or maintaining an operations manual

§         Connecting leaders with risk management resources

 

Who should I select as my Risk Management Officer?

 

Your organization’s Risk Management Officer may be a new officer position that you create or it may be a responsibility that you add to an existing officer position.  Either way, it is important that this officer be an active participant in your regularly scheduled officer meetings—this communicates the importance of the position to the rest of the organization and empowers your Risk Management Officer to take action.

 

Your Risk Management Officer does NOT need to be a risk management “expert”.  The Office of Student Life will provide training and other forms of support once this officer is selected.  So what are the qualifications for this position?  The following are skills you may want your Risk Management Officer to possess:

 

§         Basic familiarity with all areas, policies, and procedures of the organization

§         Superior communication and conflict management skills

§         Experience leading meetings or discussions

§         Ability to lead change

§         Motivation, creativity, and flexibility

 

What resources are available to my Risk Management Officer?

 

The Office of Student Life will sponsor regular training and education programs for Risk Management Officers. Risk Management Officers will have the opportunity to work individually with Todd Sutherland, the Program Coordinator for Risk Management in the Office of Student Life.  For additional information on available risk management resources, contact Todd at (409) 740-4598 or sutherlt@tamug.edu.

 

What is my role as Risk Management Officer?

 

If you are selected to be a Risk Management Officer, you are essentially the leader for the risk management effort within your organization.  So what does that mean?  Below are some of the roles and responsibilities that come with this new leadership position.

 

§         You are an active member of your organization’s leadership team, and your role here is to create an organizational focus on risk management.  Suggested action items for this role include:

 

Send weekly e-mail updates to officers at all levels

Publicize resources available, especially training opportunities

Plan educational opportunities for your organization

Recognize organizations or individuals who are leading the way

Speak out on issues at organizational meetings

Meet with your organization’s president regularly to discuss issues

 

§         You are the chair of your organization’s risk management team, and your role here is to facilitate discussion within your organization on risk management issues.  Suggested action items for this role include:

 

Set an agenda for your team and publicize it throughout the organization

Circulate initiatives and proposals to spark discussion

Distribute and post minutes of meetings

Oversee the development and maintenance of an organizational operations manual

 

§         You are the point of contact for your organization on risk management issues, and your role here is to ensure that communication is happening on these issues at every level of the organization.  Suggested action items for this role include:

 

Include advisors in your process, and brief them regularly

Act as a clearinghouse for resources and information

Look for ways to integrate risk management into organizational processes and procedures

Facilitate the sharing of information between parts of the organization

 

What is a Risk Management Team?

 

Your organization may find it useful to create an internal team to discuss risk management issues, chaired by your Risk Management Officer.  Here is an overview of the functions such a group could serve: