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Head Of Operational Risk Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Waymo

Operational Risk Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$159K - $196K/yr

This role follows a hybrid work schedule and reports to the Head of Operations Safety & Readiness ... Day-to-Day Risk Management: Oversee continuous monitoring of operational risks, lead root cause ...

Airwallex

Head of Risk Operations

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The team is passionate about operational excellence and delivering an exceptional end-to-end customer experience. What you'll do: As the Senior Director/Head of Risk Operations, you will lead a ...

New

Modern Treasury

Head of Risk

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$200K - $285K/yr

OVERVIEW Modern Treasury is hiring a Head of Risk to build our risk function from the ground up ... operational controls. * A systems thinker, not a queue operator : You think about decisioning at ...

Visa Hunt

Head of Enterprise Risk

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$280K - $340K/yr

Reporting to the Head of Resilience Operations, you will own a portfolio of enterprise-risk disciplines -- environmental health & safety, access and life‑cycle management, third‑party (vendor ...

System One

Head Of Operations

Santa Fe Springs, CA · On-site

$150K - $190K/yr

Head of Operations Location: Santa Fe Springs, CA Type: Direct Hire Compensation: $150,000 - $190 ... Key Responsibilities Operational Management * Plan, organize, and direct daily production ...

System One

Head Of Operations

Santa Fe Springs, CA · On-site

$150K - $190K/yr

Head of Operations Location: Santa Fe Springs, CA Type: Direct Hire Compensation: $150,000 - $190 ... Key Responsibilities Operational Management * Plan, organize, and direct daily production ...

LVIS

Head of Operations

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

LVIS is seeking an experienced Head of Operations to oversee and scale company operations across HR ... operational documentation. * Support corporate compliance, governance, and risk management ...

LVIS

Head of Operations

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

LVIS is seeking an experienced Head of Operations to oversee and scale company operations across HR ... operational documentation. * Support corporate compliance, governance, and risk management ...

LVIS

Head of Operations

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

LVIS is seeking an experienced Head of Operations to oversee and scale company operations across HR ... operational documentation. * Support corporate compliance, governance, and risk management ...

finalREV

Head of Operations

Berkeley, CA · On-site

We're looking for a Head of Operations to join our team. This is a uniquely high-ownership role ... Comfortable measuring and analyzing financial and operational data * High software fluency and ...

S27a

Head of Operations

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Head of Operations We're seeking a strategic, analytical, and execution-oriented Head of Operations ... Use member feedback and operational data to identify friction points and drive improvements to the ...

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All JobsHead Of Operational Risk JobsHead Of Operational Risk Jobs in California

Head Of Operational Risk information

See California salary details

$46.4K

$119.1K

$233.9K

How much do head of operational risk jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for head of operational risk in California is $119,125.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $72,500.00 and $156,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a head of operational risk do?

A Head of Operational Risk is responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks that could impact an organization's day-to-day operations. They develop risk management strategies, implement policies, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. This role often involves overseeing risk assessments, collaborating with various departments, and reporting to senior management or the board. Their main goal is to minimize losses and enhance the organization's resilience against operational threats.

How does the head of operational risk typically collaborate with other departments to manage organizational risk?

The Head of Operational Risk works closely with departments such as compliance, audit, IT, and business units to identify, assess, and mitigate risks across the organization. Regular cross-functional meetings, risk assessments, and workshops are common practices to ensure all teams are aligned on risk management strategies. This collaborative approach helps to create a comprehensive risk culture, ensures effective communication of risk policies, and supports proactive management of emerging risks. Strong interpersonal and leadership skills are essential for building relationships and driving risk initiatives across diverse teams.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a head of operational risk, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Head of Operational Risk, you need strong expertise in risk management, analytical skills, and a background in finance or business, often supported by relevant degrees and industry certifications such as FRM or PRM. Familiarity with risk assessment tools, regulatory compliance systems, and data analysis platforms is typically required. Exceptional leadership, communication, and strategic thinking are crucial soft skills for influencing stakeholders and guiding risk culture. These skills and qualities are vital for identifying, mitigating, and managing risks to ensure organizational stability and regulatory compliance.

What are popular job titles related to Head Of Operational Risk jobs in California?

For Head Of Operational Risk jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Head Of Operational Risk jobs near you
Infographic showing various Head Of Operational Risk job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,125 per year, or $57.3 per hour.

Operational Risk Manager

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Waymo
Internet and IT • 1 - 5K employees
Learn more about Waymoexternal

$159K - $196K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Review, refine, and publish operational playbooks to ensure they remain accurate and optimized.

  • Oversee continuous monitoring of operational risks, lead root cause investigations, and ensure compliance with safety and risk frameworks.

  • Maintain, update, and govern the operational risk register, ensuring risks have clear owners, mitigation strategies, and regular updates.

Job description

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted driver. Since its start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has focused on building the Waymo Driver-The World's Most Experienced Driver™-to improve access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes. The Waymo Driver powers Waymo's fully autonomous ride-hail service and can also be applied to a range of vehicle platforms and product use cases. The Waymo Driver has provided over ten million rider-only trips, enabled by its experience autonomously driving over 100 million miles on public roads and tens of billions in simulation across 15+ U.S. states.
We are looking for a systems-minded Operational Risk Manager to mature and scale our day-to-day risk and safety infrastructure. This isn't about running periodic checklists; it's about turning operational data and playbooks into a live, predictive engine that actively shapes our product roadmap. In this role, you'll embed directly with cross-functional teams to build the operational standards that allow us to scale safely and seamlessly.
This role follows a hybrid work schedule and reports to the Head of Operations Safety & Readiness.
You will:
  • Mature & Publish Playbooks: Review, refine, and publish operational playbooks, ensuring they remain the accurate, optimized "source of truth."
  • Day-to-Day Risk Management: Oversee continuous monitoring of operational risks, lead root cause investigations, and ensure compliance with our Safety Management System (SMS) and risk frameworks.
  • Risk Register Ownership: Maintain, update, and govern the operational risk register, ensuring all tracked risks have clear owners, mitigation strategies, and regular status updates.
  • Product Liaison: Translate day-to-day operational risk data, predictive analysis, and trends into nuanced requirements that secure roadmap prioritization from Product teams.
  • Systems-Based Thinking: You analyze how our daily workflows interact, identifying bottlenecks or weak points in current frameworks to optimize the entire ecosystem.

You have:
  • Experience: 5+ years of Operational experience, with a focus on managing or maturing risk/operational workflows.
  • Education: Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field or equivalent practical experience.
  • Tools & Framework Tracking: Direct experience with Jira and structured requirements tracking to manage operational priorities, action items, and cross-functional deliverables.
  • Safety Framework Knowledge: Practical working knowledge of Safety Management Systems (SMS) principles and their application in fast-paced, live operational environments.
  • Process Improvement & Systems Thinking: Proven track record of evaluating complex workflows, identifying failure modes, and authoring clear, comprehensive operational documentation.
  • Communication & Collaboration: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build trust, align diverse stakeholders, and influence without formal authority.

We prefer:
  • Prior experience in the Autonomous Vehicle (AV) industry.
  • Operational risk or safety assurance experience within high-reliability and safety-critical industries (e.g., commercial aviation, defense, aerospace, rail/transit, energy, or complex fleet logistics).
  • Experience with root-cause analysis methodologies (e.g., 5-Whys, Fishbone/Ishikawa, FMEA) and developing predictive operational indicators.

Travel requirements:
  • 20%

The expected base salary range for this full-time position across US locations is listed below. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the role location or, if the role can be performed remote, the specific salary range for your preferred location, during the hiring process.
Waymo employees are also eligible to participate in Waymo's discretionary annual bonus program, equity incentive plan, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.
Salary Range
$159,000-$196,000 USD

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