Head of Investigations

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability. 

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. 

IFRC’s Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) comprises two teams: audit (internal audit and external audit coordination) and investigations. OIAI provides independent assurance and investigation services to IFRC. 

The OIAI team is based across three locations (Geneva, Budapest, and Delhi). To ensure independence, the Director of OIAI has a dual reporting line to the Secretary General and the Audit and Risk Commission.

OIAI’s investigations team responds to instances of misconduct; owns IFRC’s whistleblowing system (Integrity Line) and its intake function; carries out prevention activities; and provides training and capacity building on investigations, audit, assurance, and other integrity topics to IFRC and its members.

This role may require frequent travel, including occasional travel to fragile and conflict-affected locations. This could require extended time working away from the staff members assigned duty station.

The Head of investigations provides leadership and direction for the OIAI investigations team and develops the OIAI investigations strategy. The Head of Investigations acts as IFRC’s professional and technical lead on investigations, fraud and corruption, and sexual misconduct prevention and ensures OIAI’s investigation strategy, methodology, and approach comply with global best practice and support IFRC to achieve its mission.

The Head will lead and support IFRC’s global investigations team (approx. 13 staff members) and oversee the provision of IFRC’s global investigation services. The role will also support the development of assurance and integrity systems across the membership.

OIAI and investigations leadership:

• Provide leadership and direction to OIAI as part of its management team, deputizing for the Director of OIAI.
• Ensure the delivery of strategic OIAI products (e.g. the annual report, annual appeal and report, donor briefings, and annual conference, etc.).
• Provide leadership and direction for the OIAI investigations team, acting as IFRC’s professional and policy lead on investigations, fraud and corruption and sexual misconduct prevention.
• Ensure the investigations strategy, related policies, methodology, and tools are up-to-date and aligned with global good practice.
• Maintain relevant professional qualifications and complete the required continued professional development (CPD).
• Role model IFRC’s values and principles in day-to-day operations. Proactively work to create a safe and inclusive environment.

Delivery of IFRC’s global investigations services:

• Plan, manage, and monitor the delivery of global investigations, in line with agreed KPIs.
• Provide expert advice, guidance and direction on complex investigations.
• Review, approve, and present complex investigation approaches.
• Review, approve, and present complex investigation reports.

Lead and develop an effective global investigations team:

• Provide effective leadership and oversight of a global investigations team, including direct line management of up to five staff members.
• Ensure the effective management and development of all global investigations team members.
• In partnership with the Head of Audit, ensure effective cross team working between audit and investigations, and across all OIAI locations.

Build effective relationships across IFRC and provide value-adding advisory services:

• Act as a critical friend and trusted adviser to IFRC leadership and provide ongoing advice, guidance, and advisory services on key risk areas to IFRC clients.
• Lead briefings and presentations on significant investigations and findings, root cause issues, and major control gaps for IFRC’s leadership and the Audit and Risk Commission.
• Provide training and workshops to IFRC teams on assurance and integrity topics.
• Maintain effective working relationships with relevant internal and external stakeholders (e.g. General Counsel, HR Director, Chief of Staff, Donors etc).

Deliver OIAI’s annual appeal activities and provide technical support to the membership:

• In partnership with the Head of Audit, develop annual plans for capacity building activities and oversee their delivery.
• Support the roll-out of Integrity Line and whistleblowing capability across the membership.
• Maintain the network-wide roster of fraud and corruption and sexual misconduct investigators and build effective working relationships with investigations professionals across the membership.
• Provide training and workshops to National Society teams on assurance and integrity topics.

Duties applicable to all staff

1. Work actively towards the achievement of IFRC’s goals. 
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.
   

Required

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• ACFE or equivalent qualification.

Preferred

• CHS IQTS qualification (or CHS tier three qualification).
• Internal audit (CIA, PIIA, CMIA) or equivalent qualification (ACCA, IRM etc).

Required

• Min. eight to ten years of professional experience in investigations, preferably in an international context.
• At least five years of experience in an investigation leadership role, managing and developing global, multi-location investigation teams.
• Experience in annual planning and strategy implementation.

Preferred

• Experience in working for a humanitarian, charitable or not-for-profit organisation.  
• International work experience in a relevant field.

Required

• Sound knowledge of global good practice on investigating fraud, corruption, and sexual misconduct.
• Sound knowledge of administrative investigations and administrative case law (e.g. ILO AT).
• An understanding of fraud, corruption, and sexual misconduct prevention and controls.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically to address complex challenges, applied with sensitivity.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and advisory skills. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, collaborate, and influence.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing with diverse audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritise simultaneously and prioritise effectively.
• Ability to gather, analyse, and evaluate facts and use judgement and experience to draw conclusions and reach appropriate decisions on complex problems.
• Effective leadership, people management, and strategic planning capabilities.
• High integrity, cultural sensitivity, and commitment to inclusion.
• Demonstrated core proficiency in (a) digital communication & collaboration, (b) basic digital content creation, (c) digital safety & security, (d) data literacy, and (e) problem solving with technology (including responsible use of AI assistants.
• Understanding of and commitment to IFRC’s mission and values. 

Languages

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English.

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.

Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others.

Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance, Managing staff development.

Application Instruction

Please submit your application in English only.