Background
The mission of the IRC Integrity and Accountability Unit (I&AU) is to promote and ensure compliance with IRC’s Organizational Policies as housed within The IRC Way: Standards for Professional Conduct. The I&A Unit investigates allegations of worker misconduct and/or organizational policy violations, including allegations of nepotism, workplace harassment, conflict of interest, and beneficiary exploitation and abuse. It is also responsible for developing strategies for staff understanding of these IRC policies, expected standards of staff behavior, and improving internal complaints procedures. The I&A documents, refers, and conducts administrative investigations into allegations of worker misconduct and works in close conjunction with IRC’s General Counsel, Internal Audit and Global Assurance, and Human Resource function. The I&A Unit also oversees IRC’s duty of care to worker portfolio. This involves developing protocols and procedures in relation to critical incidents, occupational stress support to IRC workers
Scope of Work
Under the direction of the Director for Integrity and Accountability, the Senior Officer, Integrity and Accountability will play a vital role in the organizational response to allegations of worker misconduct, including documentation, complaint in-take and analysis, investigation planning, interviewing investigation stakeholders, and reporting writing. The Senior Officer will act as lead investigator for complex cases and will be expected to work closely with other organizational departments on these investigations. Consequently, the Senior Officer must have experience in planning and conducting investigations into breach of organizational policy or code of conduct, particularly allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace, nepotistic recruitment, conflict of interest, abuse of power, and abuse or exploitation of program beneficiaries.
He or she will also be expected to guide other functions in information collection when necessary, including program persons and the broader HR function. The Senior Officer, Integrity and Accountability will also conduct training on complaint documentation and analysis and on planning/conducting administrative internal investigations. He or she will be expected to use existing educational materials but also to develop new ones. The Senior Officer will work in close conjunction with the Director of the Integrity and Accountability Unit
The Senior Officer will also be expected to take on the following major responsibilities
Major Responsibilities
- Plan and conduct administrative investigations into allegations of violation of IRC policy, working with Internal Audit and General Counsel as appropriate. Investigations are conducted on-site and remotely in all IRC countries/offices.
- Produce high quality reports which present investigation or review conclusions and which contain clear recommendations for corrective action
- Assist in the updating and implementation of the Organizational Policies contained in the IRC Way; Standards for Professional Conduct
- Document and acknowledge allegations of worker misconduct, notifying appropriate institutional function if allegations fall outside responsibility of the I&A Unit;
- Ensure regular documentation and referral of complaints made to the organization, utilizing the internal incident reporting system, Ethicspoint;
- Provide investigation technical support to country teams to ensure compliance concerns are being appropriately evaluated, investigated, and resolved;
- Work closely with other departments to carry out investigations, coordinating organizational efforts as necessary with IRC’s General Counsel, Internal Audit, International Program Departments, United States Programs, and Human Resources.
- Anticipate needs, respond rapidly to challenges, and adapt priorities with a high level of diplomacy, discretion and strategic thinking.
- As requested, assist in the development of IRC’s Duty of Care portfolio as an institutional commitment and on-going project
- Participate in special projects as needed and other tasks as assigned.
Job Requirements
- Advanced Degree in social sciences, law, human resources, or public administration or other related field;
- 5-8 years’ experience working in the non-profit or humanitarian sector, preferably in ethics and compliance, human resources, or internal auditing capacity that involves regularly conducting investigations in allegations of employee misconduct or agency regulations.
- Ability to travel at short notice and manage priorities in accordance with rapidly evolving organizational, goals, interests, and situations.
- Excellent communication skills, including report writing, training and presentation skills;
- French, Arabic, or Swahili language ability welcome
- Proven ability to effectively manage relationships (e.g., with internal actors, peers, donors);
- Solid organizational skills: the ability to be flexible and work well under pressure in a fast-paced multi-tasking team environment; ability to be well organized and apply a flexible approach to work is essential;
- Strong document formatting and editing skills are required for this position;
- Strong computer skills: facility with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and email/internet software.
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