Compliance Officer, French Donors. (French/English Speaker).

BACKGROUND

Over the past 90 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.

The International Rescue Committee UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its headquarters in New York and London. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

IRC UK

IRC UK was established in 1997 to support the organisation’s global activities and particularly to diversify its donor base and be able to better advocate with policymakers on behalf of the people we serve. Since its establishment IRC UK has grown rapidly and now comprises approximately 180 staff. In Europe, the IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva and Stockholm.

The Awards Management Unit (AMU) is responsible for building, maintaining, and strengthening relationships with public and institutional donors and position IRC as a partner of choice for delivering programs for our clients. This means working to expand IRC’s portfolio and diversify our relationships, as well as supporting the successful and compliant management and implementation of awards, whether directly or through partners.

AMU Compliance & Policy

AMU Compliance & Policy (C&P) develops and manages donor compliance-related tools, guidance and templates; it tracks and communicates changes in donor regulations and builds knowledge of compliance throughout the IRC. The C&P team offers escalated support in case of complex donor and partnerships compliance questions and to carry out supplementary reviews of agreements where needed. C&P includes Donor Specialists, who have expertise on specific donors’ rules and regulations according to their portfolio, and Subaward & Partnership (S&P) staff, who have expertise on compliance and implementation of IRC’s internal partnership system and the operationalization of IRC’s partnership principles across all donors.

Key Working Relationships

Program and Awards Support Teams (AMU), Business Development (AMU), Strategic Partnerships AMU), Training & Curriculum Design (AMU), Subawards and Partnerships (within AMU C&P), Ethics and Compliance Unit, Finance, Office of the General Counsel, Global Supply Chain.

Key Accountabilities

French donors – Overall

• Under the direction, guidance and support of the Senior Compliance Officer, European donors serve as the AMU C&P focal point for French donors compliance matters: Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), FID (Fund for Innovation in Development) and CDCS (Centre de Crise et de Soutien);
• Ensure that appropriate IRC internal stakeholders are advised of any changes made to French donors regulations in a timely and user-friendly manner;
• In collaboration with the Senior Compliance Officer, European donors provide interpretation of French donors compliance regulations/policies;
• Engage with AMU Program and Award Support Teams to provide input and develop solutions on major compliance matters and to ensure there is a strong understanding of what issues need to be escalated;
• Work with the AMU Compliance and Policy team to assist in the review of and development of IRC policies, tools, templates and guidelines to enable optimal and compliant project implementation;
• Collaborate with the AMU Strategic Partnerships Senior Advisor for French donors
• Work with the AMU Compliance and Policy Subaward and Partnership team, to enhance and develop donor specific subaward templates for French donors;
• In collaboration with the Subaward and Partnership team, review and complement as necessary IRC partnership policies procedures and tools (PEERS) to ensure they are suitable to compliantly and effectively manage partners under French donors requirements.
• Develop and maintain strong relations with IRC internal stakeholders such as other AMU departments, Finance, Global Supply Chain, Ethics and Compliance Unit, and Office of General Counsel as needed; and external stakeholders as relevant;
• Work with the Senior Compliance Officer – European donors to identify training needs and to design, communicate, launch and provide training on French donors rules and regulations.

Other responsibilities

Subject to workload and evolving organizational needs:

• Represent IRC in external fora and liaise with donors and partners;
• Participate in special projects and initiatives;
• Act as C&P focal point for and/or support on other statutory donors;
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the Senior Compliance Officer, European donors.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Essential:

• Fluency (native-speaker or comparable level) in both French and English;
• Strong interpersonal skills: the ability to work productively both independently and in a team environment;
• An understanding of compliance, risk, and ethics and a keen interest in learning and promoting donor compliance as an effective collaborative risk management tool and a way to create value for the organization;
• Keen attention to detail and solution focused/problem solving approach to work;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively convey complex topics in a way that is accessible to non-specialists;
• Experience of, and the ability to, read and analyse complex documents;
• Experience working with European statutory donors (ideally AFD, and preferably other French donors such as FID (Find for Innovation in Development) and CDCS (Centre de Crise et de Soutien) in the function areas of compliance, business development and/or grants management throughout the project management lifecycle;
• High level of tolerance for change; flexible work attitude and ability to meet unexpected demands;
• Ability to successfully liaise with a range of staff and external stakeholders.

Desirable:

• Experience working in the field of development and/or humanitarian aid with NGOs, government bodies, multilaterals;
• Experience in reviewing and/or negotiating donor awards and sub-award agreements/sub-contracts;
• Experience in interpreting and applying statutory and regulatory language in awards and contracts from statutory donors;
• Previous experience developing and providing (compliance) training in a multicultural setting and developing policies, guidelines, tools and templates.

For the UK office, candidates must have the right to work in the UK. For the office in Brussels, EU citizenship or a valid work permit is required.