Safeguarding Compliance Investigator

Safeguarding Compliance Investigator

Deadline for Applications: 23:59 CET 24 January 2022

Contract Duration:  4 months with possibility for extension

Number of Posts: 2 immediately. In addition we accept applications for our roster and for possible future hiring needs. Please indicate in your cover letter whether your availability is for immediate start or for future hiring.

Location: Remote with possibility of travel as required

Organizational Context:

The Independent Special Commission (ISC) was appointed by the SOS Children's Villages International Senate on 1 October 2021. The ISC investigates and analyses the most serious allegations of abuse, failures and other wrongdoing arising from the work of SOS Children’s Villages worldwide (including child abuse, gender-based violence, including sexual exploitation and abuse, physical harm, safeguarding failures, retaliation and serious financial wrongdoing), including the conduct of SOS Children's Villages safeguarding investigation and oversight functions.

Visit our website: https://independentsc.org/home

In that context, the Safeguarding Compliance Investigator will assist the ISC in fulfilling its mandate to:

1. Assess, map and prioritize allegations and concerns raised, and initiate further investigations as deemed necessary;

2. Based on the findings of the investigations, confirm whether or not misconduct has occurred, or whether or not the concerns are justified;

3. Assess in a broader sense the allegations and concerns regarding the areas of child safeguarding, safeguarding in general, usage of funds, compliance, management and governance and other areas it deems important, and recommend the appropriate measures to the International Senate.

Duties & Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Investigations, the incumbent shall perform the following:

1) Plan, organize and conduct examinations, either individually or jointly, in order to evaluate whether: policies and procedures, governance, risk management and internal control processes related to investigations, safeguarding and other oversight functions at SOS Children's Villages, are in compliance with established international standards and best practices;

2) Plan, organize and conduct, either individually or jointly, investigations of serious misconduct, safeguarding failures, failures to protect whistle-blowers against retaliation, and related issues;

3) Conduct legal research to contribute to establishing comprehensive criterion and benchmarks used to conduct evaluations;

4) Design or contribute to designing related audit and investigation planning;

5) Engage, build trust, and maintain networks and relationships with internal and external partners, communities, intermediaries, survivors, victims, witnesses, and subjects;

6) Contribute to, and apply, age and gender-sensitive risk-assessment, security and protection protocols and measures;

7) Search for, identify, collect, record and preserve all potential or relevant information and evidence, ensuring that chain of custody is established and maintained;

8) Conduct investigative interviews, and secure testimonial, documentary and telecommunications, and other forms of evidence, from survivors, victims, witnesses and subjects;

9) Analyse evidence, and prepare complete and concise audit and investigation reports incorporating the evidence obtained, findings and conclusions, analysis of trends and patterns, identification and analysis of root causes and contributing factors, impacts and consequences, and recommendations for accountability and prevention;

10) Implement and maintain procedures to ensure professional competency and completeness throughout the audit and investigation process; and

11) Conduct other related audit and investigation tasks as assigned by the Chief of Investigations and Coordinator of the ISC following consultation of the Commissioners.

Qualifications

Experience:

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience conducting examinations or internal investigations of investigation, safeguarding or oversight departments and/or; relevant legal, internal/external compliance or audit work, and/or; relevant complex criminal, financial or administrative investigations; with non-governmental organisations, charitable organisations, governments, and/or the private sector, is required.

Three (3) years of such experience at the international level is highly desirable.

Two (2) years of such experience related to work with children, or sexual exploitation and abuse, or other forms of gender-based violence, is desirable.

Two (2) years of such experience related to auditing financial conduct and governance in a non-governmental or charitable multinational organization is desirable.

Experience of working in the global south is desirable.

Expert knowledge, or otherwise substantive experience, of researching, or developing and implementing, investigations, safeguarding or oversight policy and procedures according to international standards, such as the Keeping Children Safe and Conference of International Investigators (CII) common standards, and related best practices is desirable.

Knowledge of, and/or experience working to/with, the Institute of Internal Auditors’ (IIA) International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF), or similar safeguarding audit or other audit frameworks, is desirable.

Education:

University degree in law, investigations, risk management or any other related field, is required.  

Training and/or accreditation in the field of compliance, such as certification as a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or similar is desirable. Professional training and/or accreditation in concepts, approaches and practices relevant to investigations is desirable.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Spanish, Arabic, French, Swahili, Hindi or any other language is desirable.

Core Competencies

Professionalism:

1) Ability to independently and as a team plan, organize and conduct relevant examinations or investigations.

2) Timely and quality application of professional and technical expertise;

3) Strong applied knowledge of relevant concepts, approaches, practices and professional standards;

4) Produces workable solutions to a range of problems;

5) Acts with impartiality and integrity, and maintains confidentiality;

6) Incorporates sensitivity to age, gender and intersecting inequalities into work;

7) Adapts work in accordance with the mission and principles of the organisation, the best interests of children, and responsive to the needs of survivors, victims, complaints or clients, as relevant;

8) Accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm;

9) Takes responsibility for, and monitors and maintains, personal productivity and performance.

10) Presents a positive image of the organisation during external discussions.

Teamwork:

11) Listens, consults and communicates proactively;

12) Handles disagreements with tact and diplomacy;

13) Keeps to agreements with others;

14) Recognises and rewards the contribution of others;

15) Adapts communication to the context and audience.

Handling Unexpected Situations:

16) Plans activities and projects in advance and takes account of possible changing circumstances;

17) Acts proactively to manage risk;

18) Adapts to changing circumstances;

19) Deals with ambiguity, making positive use of the opportunities it presents;

20) Manages time effectively.
The ISC will only contact shortlisted candidates for interviews. Selected candidates will be subject to further reference and background checks. This includes but is not limited to verification of the information provided in your application. The ISC may retain applications as part of a roster of suitable candidates for future positions as a result of this recruitment process.

Interested candidates should send their CV and cover letter. Please indicate in your cover letter whether your availability is for immediate start or for future hiring. Applications should be sent for the attention of the Secretariat of the Independent Special Commission, care of Ms Million Berhe to: Million.Berhe@sos-kd.org