Senior Risk Advisor - Africa at McKinsey & Company

You will be based in our Nairobi or Johannesburg office as part of McKinsey’s Risk function, whose mission is to enable McKinsey’s client impact and innovation while managing risks to the firm, our clients and our people. You will be a member of the firm’s global client service risk function (the “CSRC core team”), which advises McKinsey’s partners and client service risk committee on how the firm can best serve its clients and publish its knowledge while managing the risks involved.

CSRC is a committee of senior partners supported by professionals in firm functions to advise on the most complex risks. You will work closely with client-serving partners and wider colleagues across the firm, with the firm’s board and risk committees, and with other professionals including our communications and legal teams. You will report to the director of risk, EEMA.

The Risk function is a globally integrated team within the second line of defense of the firm risk model and is comprised of four pillars:

• Strategy & governance
• Awareness & culture
• Advice & support
• Assurance.

Your role will work in the client service risk pillar and involve deep interaction across other areas of the Risk function and the firm as a whole. 

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• You’ll advise on professional services risks in public and private sectors, such as organizational and individual conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and reputation risk.
• In this role, you’ll advise partners and the CSRC on how to manage potential risks on higher-risk client engagements and publications in Africa, with a focus on public-sector, state-linked, and social-sector (e.g. non-profit and philanthropic organizations) clients, as well as private sector clients. 
• You’ll integrate advice from across firm functions (including communications, legal, and risk) and “cells” (industry and functional practices, geographic offices, new delivery models) to provide counsel on multi-faceted issues. 
• You’ll develop briefing materials for and coordinate discussions by the CSRC on high risk engagements. You’ll contribute to awareness efforts around risk policies and compliance processes. You’ll lead and participate in global risk policy reviews and other initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Top academic credentials and demonstrated intellectual curiosity through professional training, advanced degree or professional impact
• 7+ years of professional experience in legal, consulting/ professional services, risk, and/or communications
• Demonstrated record of experience and subject-matter expertise in the public sector, social sector, and/or regulatory environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills 
• Ability to handle complex and sensitive issues Demonstrated record of subject-matter expertise in some of the key risk issues faced by a global consulting firm (e.g., staffing and organizational conflicts, crisis response, reputational risk)Legal or other experience in the healthcare and/or pharmaceuticals industries is preferred but not required
• Ability to provide advice across a wide range of topics Entrepreneurial, collaborative attitude, with interest and aptitude for working as part of a global team, across countries and cultures
• Strong personal presence and credibility; ability to work across all levels of seniority and geographies, cultivating trust-based, peer-counsel or relationships
• Highly resilient, with an action-oriented style; comfort and credibility in challenging discussions with senior colleagues, balancing robustness, persistence, flexibility, humility, tact, and calmness under pressure
• Excellent English written and oral communication skills, including clear and concise writing and editorial skills