Vice President, Risk Management

The VP, Risk Management, protects United Pacific’s team members, customers, assets, operations and reputation by developing strategies to protect company assets, minimize loss and ensure safety compliance. The VP, Risk Management, does this by leading the Loss Prevention, Audit, Safety, Workers' Compensation, and Insurance teams, providing strategy, guidance, coaching and development. As a part of the senior leadership team, this role advises executives on strategy and partners closely with Legal, Retail Operations, Customer Service, Human Resources, Facilities Maintenance and IT leaders. The VP, Risk Management also fosters collaboration across multiple teams and locations, to ensure effective risk management practices that support both business objectives and company growth.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Hire, train, coach and develop the Loss Prevention, Audit, Safety, Workers' Compensation, and Insurance teams.
• Develop and implement strategies to reduce shrink, fraud, theft and operational waste across retail locations and corporate offices in a multi-state environment.
• Lead the commercial insurance and workers compensation processes including implementing strategies to reduce claims, negotiating favorable terms, identifying and integrating new vendors, identifying trends and developing recommendations for policies and processes to reduce claims through partnership with HR and Retail Operations.
• Ensure effective partnership with internal and external Legal counsel, including assisting in the development of effective litigation strategies.
• Responsible for the development, implementation, refinement and reporting of safety programs including; driver monitoring programs, companywide safety training, OSHA, EPA and NFPA compliance, chemical and fuel storage and handling specific to the fuel, food service and car wash industry.
• Lead crisis and incident response, including directing investigations, planning for and responding to major accidents, severe policy violations, natural disasters and criminal actions.
• Ensure effective partnerships with law enforcement and identify and report industry and company trends related to theft and violence.
• Take an innovative approach to utilizing existing and emerging technology to improve the safety of associates, customers and property.
• Utilizing internal and external resources, direct the inventory audit process ensuring minimal loss of product.
• Lead the safety and security program for corporate offices including strategies for personnel, physical assets, shipments and mail.
• Partner with Operations in developing programs and recommendations for safes, ATM’s and cash handling procedures to help minimize risk and loss.
• Lead an interactive communication strategy on risk, safety and loss prevention issues for both retail and corporate teams.
• Prepare, report and manage department budget and provide budgetary guidance for the enterprise-wide cost of risk.
• Identify, negotiate and oversee vendors as needed for site security including cost tracking, ROI and vendor performance.
• Lead the process for selecting, maintaining and installing video surveillance equipment including leading the team responsible for the installation of equipment and the appropriate collection, storage and sharing of relevant video footage. This also includes updating and maintaining appropriate and effective policies and processes for both internal and external requests.
• Lead activities related to risk management as it relates to new site acquisitions. This includes identifying the need for new vendor partnerships, equipment installation and potential risks for new locations in new regions.
• Some travel to store sties and offices may be required.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Risk Management, Safety Engineering, Business, Finance, or related field or equivalent experience is required. MBA and/or JD preferred.
• 10 plus years’ progressive experience in loss prevention, asset protection or risk control with at least 5 years in senior leadership is required.
• 5 plus years’ experience leading LP, Risk and Safety teams in a multi-unit retail or food service environment is also required. Experience specifically with c-store and multi-state operations is preferred.
• Experience selecting and managing commercial insurance policies including identifying and selecting carriers, negotiating terms and managing service level agreements is required.
• Preferred, but not required, credentialing includes Certified Risk Manager (CRM), Associate in Risk Management (ARM), Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPUC) or Certified Safety Professional (CSP).
• Experience developing and managing department budgets and tracking and reporting enterprise-wide risk costs is required.
• Training in and experience utilizing proven interview techniques, such as Wicklander-Zulawski or PEACE Framework, is required.
• Experience leading complex internal investigations related to potential fraud, theft and/or violation of policy is required.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to develop and execute presentations for executive leadership is required.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships with internal and external teams is required.
• Proven proficiency with the full MS Office Suite, including the ability to create, update and maintain reports in MS Excel, is required